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Westlake Middle School Gets in Holiday Spirit

MOUNT PLEASANT, N.Y. – Each December, Westlake Middle School in Thornwood provides the opportunity for students in the school to purchase gifts for family and friends in the confines of their own school through their Holiday Boutique.

“The kids get very excited about it. It’s always a lot of fun every year,” said middle school PTA member Mary Ryan, head of the Holiday Boutique event.

The PTA holds the event every holiday season in the school’s cafeteria. Various items are sold ranging in price from $1 to $11. It gives the opportunity for the middle school students to purchase gifts during their lunch periods to surprise their loved ones with.  The sale began on Tuesday and ran through Thursday. Not only does it benefit holiday spirit in the school, but also other school programs as the event is one of the larger fundraising events for the PTA.

“All money we raise here through the sales goes back to the kids,” Ryan said. “Plus all of the gift items are on consignment so nothing goes to waste,”

In past years, the Holiday Boutique has raised money to aid programs involved with the school’s art and culture departments. The PTA also donates money raised from the event to Rachel’s Challenge, a not-for-profit organization that promotes positive culture in schools.

Students also learned the process of handling and exchanging currency independently.

“The students here are getting older now so they know when they come here and grab multiple items they know when they go to the cashier how much they owe to pay for those things,” Ryan said.

Ryan said some of the biggest sellers at this year’s sale were tree ornaments, ‘I Love Mom’ and ‘I Love Dad’ mugs and NFL memorabilia from the Jets and Giants. She also added that the PTA hopes to do a similar sale in the spring months around Mother’s Day. 

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