Our “Giving Tree” Christmas service project and contest concluded on December 21 and generous gifts from family members and friends helped raise over $4,500 to be distributed to charities serving in our local community and around the world.

Twenty-four classes from kindergarten to the 12th grade participated in the project, each decorating a Christmas tree in their classroom with a theme reflecting the charity that the students chose to support and seeking donations to support their charity.

Congratulations to the students in Miss Williams’ 2nd grade class for raising the most overall for their charity, the Atlantic City Rescue Mission, and also winning the Elementary Division, raising $617.50. The students in Mrs. Coates’ 6th grade class won the Middle School/High School division, raising $422.50 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Two other classes won first place for the best creativity in decorating their tree to reflect their chosen charity. Mrs. McCarthy’s 3rd grade class won in the Elementary Division, with a tree decorated for their charity — the Scullville Volunteer Fire Department, and Mrs. Flath’s 11th grade class won first place in the Middle School/High School division, with a tree decorated for their charity — the Humane Society of Atlantic County. Each of the winning classes will receive either a free pizza party or an ice cream party in January.

“We are thrilled with the way our students and our school families responded to this new service project and got involved in helping raise funds to give back to many worthy organizations who are serving in our community and abroad,” said Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen.

The charities who were supported in the Giving Tree Project were: the Alex’s Lemonade Stand; the American Red Cross; the Atlantic City Rescue Mission; the Cape May Zoo; Camp Haluwasa; the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, Southern Branch; Compassion International; the Fellowship of Christian Athletes; the Funny Farm; the Hope Pregnancy Center; the Humane Society of Atlantic County; If Not for Grace Ministries; the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation; the Northfield Dyslexia Center; Rio Missions; the Ronald McDonald House; Samaritan’s Purse; the Scullville Volunteer Fire Department; St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital; Toys for Tots; Wounded Warriors; and 4Ocean. All donations received are being given to the designated charities.