MANSFIELD — Superintendent Teresa Murphy is pleased to announce that Mansfield Public Schools has taken part in several community projects to spread holiday cheer and help those less fortunate during November and December this year.
Roland Green Preschool
The Roland Green Preschool Parent Group organized a clothing drive to benefit West Side Benevolent Circle. The group collected socks, underwear, pajamas, and stocking stuffers to donate to those in need. Roland Green staff also donated gift cards to the Circle.
Robinson Elementary School and Jordan/Jackson Elementary School
Robinson and Jordan/Jackson staff organized two separate Holiday Giving Trees to benefit the West Side Benevolent Circle. Teachers chose a mitten from a giving tree denoting items requested by specific children in town, and then purchased the items for that child. All giving tree requests were filled.
Students, staff and families at both schools also donated hats, mittens, socks and underwear to support the Circle, organized through Mansfield Elementary School Association (MESA).
Both schools participated in an annual food drive to benefit Our Daily Bread, organized by MESA. Approximately 4,699 pounds of food were collected. This exceeded last year’s donation by nearly 600 pounds.
Additionally, Jordan/Jackson Elementary School Art Teacher Tara Kanevski and her students decorated posters for a Toys for Tots drive that was organized by the Mansfield Rotary Club. The posters were displayed on collection bins around the town and in public buildings.
Qualters Middle School
Students, families and staff participated in an online Giving Tree to support the Westside Benevolent Circle. All giving tree requests were filled. Also after Halloween, students voluntarily donated their excess candy to be shipped overseas to American troops serving abroad. A total of 470 pounds of candy was collected.
Students in teacher Kristin Morris’ seventh-grade Social Studies class created holiday cards for soldiers serving in Naples, Italy.
Mansfield High School
A gift card drive was held to benefit the West Side Benevolent Circle. The pick-a-snowflake drive allowed staff to purchase a gift card for a teenager in the community.
In collaboration with Student Service Corp (SSC), the school held a sock, mitten and gloves drive to benefit the Attleboro Area Interfaith Collaborative, a local network of volunteers who help those in need.The high school also collected unwrapped toys for children in need through a collection box in the lobby.
Leading up to Thanksgiving, the SSC participated in a Turkey Bridgade with Personal Best Karate. As part of the project, the SSC collected Brownie Mix from staff and students to help fill 2000 roasting pans with Thanksgiving Dinner supplies. Members of the SSC also made Thanksgiving Cards to accompany the dinner and took part in the assembling of the meals.
“Each year, I am astounded by the generosity of our community members through these holiday clothing and food drives, and I thank everyone who participated this year,” Superintendent Murphy said. “The holidays can be a difficult time for many, so they should be proud of finding ways to make this season a little more special for those in need. On behalf of Mansfield Public Schools, I wish our entire community a happy, healthy and safe holiday season.”
Additional Holiday Events and Activities
- The High School will hold a Caroling at Home event on Dec. 19. High school students will perform songs for elementary students.
- The Mansfield High School Chorus provided entertainment at the Mansfield Council on Aging’s Annual Holiday Luncheon on Friday, Dec. 9.
- Mansfield High School Performing Arts presented “Elf The Musical” from Dec. 9-11.
- The High School held a Winter Concert on Dec. 15 and the entire community was invited.
- Qualters Middle School held a Winter Concert on Dec. 14.
- The Mansfield High School Marching Band and Color Guard, under the direction of Justin DeJoy, marched in the Veterans Day Parade on Nov. 11 and the Town of Mansfield Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony on Nov. 27.
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