Maya McFadden Photo
Student celebrate new donated gifts.
Kindergarteners at Wexler-Grant School got a colorful donation Wednesday from an 11-year Danbury artist.
That artist is Chelsea Phaire, founder of Chelsea’s Charity, which gifted Wexler’s two kindergarten classes with 30 art bags.
Member of the Theta Epsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (AKA) and Wexler speech therapist Sondi Jackson helped organize the bag hand-off Wednesday after sorority sister Jennifer Blue arranged for Wexler to be supported by Chelsea’s Charity.
Jackson distributes bags.
After returning from recess, the kindergarteners were welcomed back with a surprise.
“It’s a present before Christmas!” one student called out.
Jackson distributed a bag of surprises to each student.
Each of the blue bags was filled with a coloring book, drawing pad, crayons, colored pencils, paint, and another gift bag from the sorority. The AKA gift included a candy cane, masks, and children’s gloves and mittens.
“This is the best day ever!” another said.
The students cheered even more loudly once their teacher let them know the gifts were for them to bring home.
On Dec. 12, founder Chelsea Phaire was honored at CNN’s 15th Annual CNN Heroes All-Star Tribute as a 2021 Young Wonder.
“Stop, look, and listen,” teacher Ashely Stockton sang out to the students. “O‑K,” they responded back in a sing-song response.
“Chelsea is a little girl just like you guys, and she does kind things for others,” Stockton said.
Teachers Doreen Tisdale, Ashley Stockton, and Sondi Jackson with kindergarteners.
“When you guys do kind things, you get kindness back.”
Stockton referred to the class’s most recent project of making personalized coloring book pages of their favorite places in New Haven. The kindergarten and first-grade students made drawings that will be copied into black-and-white pages and bound into coloring books of New Haven places to visit. The handmade coloring books will be donated in January to preschoolers at Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (IRIS).
The AKAs also plan to donate crayons to IRIS youth to go along with the coloring books.
The students put their gloves and mittens to the test, some attempting to keep them on for the rest of the day. “These are so warm. I never had mittens that matched my shirt,” onne student said.
As another student tried on the gloves, he added, “These make me feel like Michael Jackson.”
Some immediately dived into their coloring and activity books, putting stickers of snorkels on swimming cats and sombrero stickers on penguins heads.
“You guys are going to have so many fun activities to do for vacation,” Jackson said. “I can’t wait to see what you draw for the holidays.”
“Now when we go to art, we’ll have our own supplies,” a student said.
The students and teachers gave Jackson a big thank-you in unison for the gifts.
Next door to Stockton’s and Doreen Tisdale’s kindergarten class was Alexander Oji and Mrs. G’s kindergarten classroom.
“This is a little girl that decided she wanted to always make sure boys and girls have art supplies,” Jackson said to the class before distributing the gifts.
The students delve into the bags excitedly, getting more and more excited as they revealed each item inside.
“Now me and my sister have extra mask!” said one student.
"This candy cane wants me to eat it right now!"
Six year old Kevin’s eyes got wide and couldn’t help but let out a “OMG” when he pulled out a paint set. “I love painting,” he said while admiring the colorful set. “I can even paint my mom. She knows I’m going to be an artist.”
The Wednesday surprise donation came one day before Wexler’s final day of school before the districts winter break. Students will have a half day Thursday and return in January.
Kevin, at left, future painter.
Thank you to Chelsea Phaire, the Theta Epsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (AKA), Sondi Jackson and Jennifer Blue for donating and volunteering at this event.