Dec. 25, 2007 — Members of PTSA served students and staff at Westwood High a hot lunch Monday, Dec. 17, to celebrate Christmas. “Last year we distributed Christmas cookies so this year we decided to do a luncheon for the entire school. We called all our members and asked them to donate a soup, bread or dessert and everyone came to our aid,” said Alisa Turner, president of the Westwood High PTSA.

Long tables set up in the multi-purpose room held the bounty that included a wide selection of soups such as potato, chicken noodle, cheddar broccoli, minestrone, Mexican, vegetable and clam chowder.

Turner said she hoped future PTSA presidents would continue to host special Christmas events. The idea was to set a pattern to follow with each president coming up with an activity. In 2006, PTSA purchased 158 gingerbread men and packaged them with a candy cane to give to students and staff members.

Last year’s PTSA president, Gail Brown, said then that they handed out cookies because Christmas is the season of giving.

The PTSA board initiates fundraisers in order to earn money for special events and activities for high school students.

Last year, the organization did a multitude of activities to benefit students and the Westwood School District. They hosted a Scholastic Book Fair that raised $200 for new library books. Frequently, PTSA members provided refreshments for special school activities. For example, they set up a breakfast bar for the businessmen and women who sat on the panels for the Senior Portfolio Presentation and Interview program.

Monthly, the PTSA board serves a free continental breakfast at Westwood High for its members. They continue this popular practice this school year.

Partnering with other campus clubs often makes the dollars stretch further, so frequently they will form such partnerships to host events such as school dances.

There was no shortage of food at the PTSA luncheon or shortage of help either. Those serving included Turner, Brown, Lana Beal, Brooke Patton, Sheri Binswanger, Rhonda Brewer, Lyn Uchida and Elizabeth Krier.