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December 18, 2009

Annual stuffed-animal ‘parade’ teaches Maple Elementary students lesson in giving

BY AMANDA ARNOLD The News and Tribune Fri Dec 18, 2009, 06:57 PM EST

JEFFERSONVILLE — On Friday, Santa Claus made a very special trip to Maple Elementary School in Jeffersonville. Because all the students were so good this year, Santa brought more than 400 stuffed animals that lined the gymnasium, for the eighth-annual Bears on Parade program.

Each child received a small stuffed animal and drew a number that helped them locate a larger animal. This year, 7-year-old Robert Lee received a rainbow-colored cheetah.

“I feel awesome about getting the cheetah. I will take it home and put it on my shelf or use it as a pillow,” said Lee.

The idea to give stuffed animals to all of the 306 students occurred to physical education teacher Katrina Pierce eight years ago.

“The first year for this started with my nieces cleaning out their closet for Christmas. They had a bag of stuffed animals and asked if I could use them at school,” Pierce said.

Since then, Bears on Parade has grown, and through word-of-mouth it involves the community. For the first time, Z Salon, in Louisville, donated books, a hat and gloves, and River Valley Middle School donated socks.

“A teacher was getting her hair done at Z Salon and they were talking about different charities and Z Salon wanted to do something, so they jumped on board,” said Pierce.

Tonya Snow, parent of fifth-grader, Sariah, volunteered to help the morning of Bears on Parade, and is very happy the school does this every year.

“It is a chance for the kids to see that there are people who care about them and it gives the adults a chance to do something good,” Snow said.

She also recalled her 16-year-old daughter received stuffed animals while in grade school, and one year she traded it with another friend. Her daughter continues to hold onto that bear.

Principal Lauraetta Starks explained that the students look forward to Bears on Parade because it brings them joy.

“The fifth-graders ask me if we are doing it, and I said I didn’t know. This year, instead of making announcements, we are privately calling in each classroom so the fifth-graders were wondering if we would have it this year,” said Starks.

The children were all excited and cheered when introduced to Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and Santa’s brother, Fred.

The students also are learning a valuable lesson. Because Lee received two stuffed animals, he said he might give one of them away, which is a lesson that the teachers and parents are proud of.

“I know for several years in a row, I get stuffed animals for Christmas. It gives my children the opportunity to give back. The little stuffed animals they get will go to grandparents, aunts or other family members,” said Snow.

“The kids are at the point where they want to give, so they give the other animal to a brother or sister. When we knew they were giving [them] away, we wanted to give them two stuffed animals,” said Pierce.

Maple Elementary School welcomes appropriate stuffed animal donations from the community, but will not accept battery-operated toys. Pierce said that most of the donations occur the day after Thanksgiving.

The school’s phone number is 812-288-4899. It is located at 429 Division St.

— Amanda Arnold is a freelance journalist who lives in Southern Indiana.