KIWANIS WISHES PUPILS MERRY CHRISTMAS — Members of the Steubenville Kiwanis Club, along with students in the Steubenville High School Key Club, met at East Garfield Elementary School Monday for a special celebration. First-grade pupils received an early Christmas surprise as the Oglebay Good Zoo paid a visit to the school and T-shirts and other school supplies were distributed by the Kiwanis Club. Those attending the event, at top, were, from left, front, Norah Younce and Isabella Cadile; and back, Tom Timmons, Julia Gentile, Natalie Romanyak, Gabriella Vein, Emily Byers, Kiwanis President Laura Rauch and Paul Brandt. Below, Decklyn Scott, education curator for the Good Zoo, brought along Garnet, a 40-year-old tortoise. He also brought a corn snake and opossum to show. -- Julie Stenger

STEUBENVILLE — It was a momentous occasion for many first-grade pupils attending East Garfield Elementary School on Monday. For many, it was their first time seeing an animal from the Oglebay Good Zoo. Some were excited. Many found it educational. Everyone appeared to love it.

It was a day made possible by members of the Steubenville Kiwanis Club. Kiwanian Tom Timmons explained members wanted to get the children ready for Christmas, noting the club has been holding such events for almost 25 years, beginning at Lincoln School.

Members of the Steubenville High School Key Club assisted with the event. Ice cream sandwiches were distributed in the cafeteria while pupils waited patiently for the Good Zoo to arrive. Kiwanians Emily Byers and Paul Brandt helped the children wait by leading in the singing of “Jingle Bells.”

At the conclusion of the event, members distributed a school sweatshirt, an eraser, crayons and a “terrific kid” pencil to each child as a Christmas gift. Kiwanis member Bobbyjon Bauman, executive director of the Sycamore Youth Center, stated he was in attendance because part of what the organization does is to give back to others.

“I am thrilled to be here because I work with many of these children every day at the Sycamore Center,” Bauman commented. “Half of this school attends Sycamore every day after school and I know a lot of them. We want to put a smile on their faces this holiday and bless them with some words of encouragement.”

Kiwanis President Laura Rauch is the executive director of the United Way of Jefferson County.

She stated, “This is a way for Kiwanis to give back to the children of the community. This is an annual party we sponsor every year and we have just as much fun as the children do.”

Key Club member Norah Younce, a high school freshman, stated, “This is a great opportunity to bond with the little ones and show them how high school students conduct ourselves.” She added the club wants to be people the elementary children can look up to.

Freshman Julia Gentile agreed, saying, “This is a chance to help them learn Big Red pride.”

Freshman Isabella Cadile said being there was a way to show the pupils what they can do when they get to high school, as this “is a way for us to give back to other students in the district.”

Seniors Natalie Romanyak and Gabriella Vein said they are happy to help the first-graders celebrate the holiday. “This is a way to get them excited about Christmas,” Romanyak said. “I like seeing them happy and getting them excited about activities like this.”

Vein said, “This is a great way to give back and get involved with the community. We just want to bring some Christmas cheer to the children.”

Pupils Monica Miller, Adrianna Taylor and Amelia Montgomery discussed the animals they hoped to see, with Miller wanting to see a lion. Taylor asked for an elephant. Montgomery noted she liked snakes and hoped the Good Zoo would bring one. She was correct. A corn snake, red-footed tortoise and a Virginian opossum were the animals brought in by education curator and biologist Decklyn Scott and volunteer Tiffani Helmick.

Timmons noted the club will continue to hold the annual Christmas tradition at the school next year. The reason is so every young child can receive the opportunity to see a few zoo animals at some point during their childhood.