Salem Elementary School’s Christmas dinner brings sense of belonging to students

SALEM - Over 100 excited students from Salem Elementary School neatly filed into their school's cafeteria for the building's annual Christmas dinner. As the students waited patiently for their tray with special fruit and ham, they chatter excitedly.

First-graders Madyson Lewman and Kaylee Barton, both dressed in festive red dresses, are beaming as they slowly inch forward in the line into the lunch room. Occasionally, the girls stick their heads out to catch a glimpse of the cafeteria, lit only by string Christmas lights and a large, decorated tree that sits in a corner as kids dig into their food.

'We get to drink out of glass cups,” Barton exclaimed.

'And it's all dark inside,” Lewman added in a whisper.

The now-yearly tradition was started about 15 years ago by school administrators who heard about other local schools and their Christmas dinners.

Beth Sandersfeld and Cindy Sparrow were part of the original group that spearheaded the first Christmas meal at Salem.

'They look forward to this,” Sandersfeld explained.

'It's a highlight for many, especially those who don't have Christmas dinners and such,” Sparrow added.

'They have glass water goblets, lots of kids don't usually get to experience that,” Sandersfeld continued.

The school goes all out for the children, stringing up lights, cooking special food and even inviting Santa to come visit. When the jolly resident from the North Pole entered the room, shrieks echoed off the walls of the cafeteria. Students reach out for a hug and a small chat with Santa, including Logan Cowick, a first-grader.

'I said ‘hi' and I told him about all of the food we're eating,” Cowick said.

Ava Comayagua, a fourth-grader, enthusiastically pointed to oranges on her plate, her favorite food from the Christmas meal, as she hugged her best friend, and waved to Santa as he walked by.

'The most fun about the Christmas dinner is that I get to be here with all my friends and other people,” Ava said, after high-fiving Santa.

Principal Michael Gossen explained that the school's staff and parent association comes together to make the event special for the students.

'This is something that is really special … it's a real community builder. It's really great for culture and climate. One of our big mantras is ‘Where we go, we go together,' and so this is just one way we can be together and celebrate together,” Gossen said.

First-grade teacher Victoria Hatfield echoed Gossen's words on why the event is important to the school.

'I think it just adds to the family-feel of our school and community and how positive it is for the children … it helps children feel like they belong,” Hatfield explained.

Erica Redgate, a member of the parent association who was volunteering for the event for the first time explained that she felt the dinner 'establishes a closer bond between students and faculty.”

'Every kid needs someone they can count on and know they can turn to. Establishing this bond with people in positions of authority, hopefully they feel more comfortable connecting with somebody. It may seem like a little thing but it can translate into something much bigger,” Redgate said.