One Coronado elementary school’s students have completed Christmas shopping for their families inside their school cafeteria.
The Silver Strand Elementary School Holiday Shoppe on the morning of Dec. 12 welcomed a group of third-grade students, with reusable plastic bags in hand, to shop for family members listed on each of their cash envelopes.
Each year, the school’s Parent Teacher Organization presents the Holiday Shoppe for the more than 300 students in the TK through 5th-grade classes. Before the week-long event and throughout the year, the organization does inventory of past items, shops for deals online and accepts donations.
“It’s just for the kids to be able to take part in holiday shopping and buy gifts for their families,” said PTO Vice President Emily Delgado.
More than 20 volunteers host event
With the help of more than 20 volunteers over three days, the event came to fruition for this year.
Throughout the 30 to 45-minute slots dedicated to each class over the three days , staff members and volunteers help students by answering any questions, to check out and to carefully wrap each individual gift.
“This is their favorite event to volunteer for because the kids are so happy and wonderful,” said PTO President Leslie Steele. “Students feel ownership of what they’re doing, and some of them are super-duper thoughtful.”
After the last day, staff and parents may also participate in this holiday shopping for affordable $1, $3, and $5 goodies on Friday morning.
“We try very hard to make sure everything is affordable for all of our kids. We have had people in the past that have donated money to sponsor children. We as a PTO also do the same thing if kids are unable to afford coming here. We make sure everybody has a good time and a good experience at the Holiday Shoppe,” said Steele.
And that is the case for students like Isabella Redick, whose older sister now at the middle school brought home gifts for her from this very Shoppe in prior years.
“It’s really fun to do this,” said third-grade student Redick. “Everyone’s always excited to get something.”
While there is no limit as to how much students can buy, they usually spend up to $20 and donate any remaining balance to the PTO, like Redick and classmate Carter Speight.
After selecting items, the students make their way to a check-out station, followed by gift wrapping and name tagging. And while each day has dedicated helpers, Steele said additional volunteers are always needed.
Silver Strand Elementary School PTO President Leslie Steel and volunteer Giselle Hanik help out with check out at the school’s Holiday Shoppe. Staff photo by Julieta Soto. 
Students write the names of all their gift recipients at the Holiday Shoppe. Staff photo by Julieta Soto. Silver Strand Elementary School students’ gifts for family members. Staff photo by Julieta Soto.
At one of the gift wrapping stations, Gabriela Madero, who was a previous preschool teacher at the site and currently has two students at the school, shared her excitement about volunteering.
“I love how it gives the kids autonomy to decide,” said Madero.
