Saint John’s Prep Sixth Grade Students Raise Money to buy gifts for Toys for Tots

Hard work creates some merry results for our 6th grade Toys for Tots campaign.These creative kids turned root beer floats into Christmas presents for families in need. 

They’re Saint John’s Preparatory School‘s Santa’s helpers!

Whiffle ball sets, footballs, craft kits, books, puzzles and board games are all delightful Christmas treats Prep sixth graders picked out for children in need. Saint John’s Prep School’s sixth graders raised $500 to support Toys for Tots. Students raised the money throughout the fall semester by selling $1 root beer and orange pop ice cream floats to middle school and upper school students, faculty and staff.

Saint John’s Prep 6th grade teacher Mary Anderson has coached students in this endeavor for the last seven years. “It’s a fun tradition at Saint John’s Prep. Our older students really get into it and support their younger schoolmates during the ice cream float sales. They remember the experience and want the 6th graders to do well.”

Students used the proceeds to purchase the toys from area stores. Parent volunteers worked with the students to help them to plan and budget for the toys during a shopping excursion. The 6th graders picked out gifts that children their own ages would enjoy.

“We picked out stuff that we would want,” 6th Grader Olivia Pauly said. “Our group bought a soccer ball, flip flops and some sports stuff. It was fun to pick everything out.”

The students wore Christmas hats and delivered the items to the Great Hall on the Saint John’s campus where volunteers greeted them with hot cocoa. Students posed for photos as they filled their Toys for Tots boxes.

Founded in 1857, Saint John’s Preparatory School is a Catholic/Benedictine, co-educational, day and boarding, International Baccalaureate and college preparatory school. We serve students in grades 6-12 from Central Minnesota, 5 states and14 different countries.

Visit us on our next Discovery Days January 15, March 16 and April 20, 2018. For more information, call 320-363-3321 or visit www.sjprep.net/visit.