Giving Spirits Celebrated at Christmas Party for Kids Surviving Cancer

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Record Number: 13347
Displayed from: Dec 03, 2015 , until: Dec 31, 2015
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Students at North Side High School are getting ready for the school’s 29th annual Christmas Party for Kids Surviving Cancer, which will be from 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, at North Side, 475 E. State Blvd.

North Side students and staff work with Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana to host the party. This year, 21 families are expected to attend the party, which will include food provided by Olive Garden, music, face painting, dance performances and a visit from Santa.

Preparing for the party includes raising money throughout the year, making contacts with community members for donations, shopping for gifts for each child in every family attending, wrapping the gifts and organizing entertainment. Dozens of students from several student groups, including those focused on community service, as well as those connected to the arts and academics, participate in raising money for gifts and organizing the annual event.

Prior to the shopping excursion, students adopt a specific family and shop for Christmas presents for each of the children in the family. Students then wrap their presents and attend the event alongside their designated family. This year, students made sure each child in attendance will receive a book to read.

With nearly 30,000 students, Fort Wayne Community Schools is one of the largest school districts in Indiana. FWCS proudly allows families to choose any of its 50 schools through its successful school-choice program creating diversity in each school, including some with more than 75 languages spoken. FWCS offers seven magnet schools focusing on areas such as science and math, communication, fine arts or Montessori at the elementary and middle school level. In high school, students can choose from the prestigious International Baccalaureate program, Project Lead the Way or New Tech Academy as well as other rigorous academic and specialty training programs.