Pam Dudding
Contributing writer
Many students look forward to the annual Penguin Patch Holiday shopping spree the school holds for their elementary students.
This year it is hosted by the PTA and will be open from Dec. 11 through the 15.
It is a holiday shop for all McCleary Elementary School students to come in and shop for their family and friends.
“Last year Mrs. Stevens ran the penguin patch, this year since we have a McCleary PTA, we are running it instead to take it off her plate!” Lauren Deel shared. “Each child can buy however many things they want and can afford, there are a lot of different things to buy.”
“The prices are very reasonable and there are lots of little knick-knacks for the kids to choose from,” she added. “Some are personalized for grandmas, grandpas, moms and dads, sisters and brothers, aunts and uncles and etc.”
The students will shop similar to how they shop for the book fair. They will have a set time one day during that week that they will go to shop.
“A lot of kids buy for their moms, dads, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, teachers, and some buy things for themselves as well,” Deel said.
Envelopes were sent home with each student for parents/guardians to help their children decide on how much they can spend and on who they want to spend money on. They keep their monies until the day they shop.
The things they can buy range from toys (like slime, small fidgets, etc.), keychains (things that say “#1 grandpa,” for example), coffee mugs, little jewelry items such as necklaces and rings and lots of other items will be available.
“If there are family members wanting to come in to help shop, they would need to reach out to their child’s teacher prior to see if that is okay,” said Deel. “We have advertised needing volunteers, and we have already had a lot of people sign up to help shop so students will have help shopping from volunteers on their set day to shop.”
Cash and checks are accepted. They will not be able to accept debit or credit cards.
Those who would like to volunteer may call the school or email Ideel@craig.K12.va.
