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Homosassa Elementary pre-K kids chose Valentine's Day to thank children from Crystal River Primary for offering their school.

By PAULETTE LASH RITCHIE
Published February 24, 2005

HOMOSASSA - After school had started on Valentine's Day, a bus pulled up to Homosassa Elementary School. The Crystal River Primary School children inside the bus could see Homosassa children on the sidewalk holding a sign: "Welcome Crystal River Sweethearts."

"When our school was under construction, we all went to Crystal River Primary School," said Homosassa Elementary prekindergarten teacher Janet DeRosa. "And they doubled up for us and shared everything they had and they were so gracious, so they are our sweethearts."

After their return to Homosassa - once they got settled into their rooms - DeRosa and prekindergarten teacher Dorothy Scott decided to invite their former hosts to a sweetheart party to thank them for being so hospitable.

The party began with crafts, music and stories and ended with a banquet. Publix donated carrots and potato chips; Homosassa Elementary provided the sandwiches; and a parent made cookies for everyone.

For the activities, the children were divided between the two prekindergarten rooms. In one classroom children danced, clapped and strummed imaginary guitars with DeRosa, while others strung beads, including some shaped like hearts, with the help of teacher assistants Nichole Richards and Gail Votta and volunteer Sue Taylor.

In the adjacent room, Scott read a story called Roses Are Pink. Your Feet Really Stink by Diane de Great, about overcoming hurt feelings and being kind. "Everybody liked each other at the end and they all had nice Valentine cards," Scott told the children.

Outdoors there was playtime before lunch. Each child could choose to have a red heart drawn on his or her face.

Prekindergarten teachers Michelle Spikes and Sharon Finley brought 28 children from Crystal River, along with teacher assistants Lesia McKinnon and Maria Klitzsch. "I thought it was very nice of them," Spikes said about the invitation. "I hadn't seen the new school."

Finley also was pleased. "We were very surprised and honored to be invited to visit them on their turf," she said. "We loved having them with us."

The children agreed. "It was fun with them," said 5-year-old Crystal River student Alex Rayborn. He said he liked making the bead bracelet. "I love this. I do," he said about the bracelet. "It was so fun at this new school."

Four-year-old Cameryn Holloway, also from Crystal River, said he enjoyed making the bracelet very much and he "really liked" the sign he saw as his bus arrived at Homosassa.

Some of the Homosassa children recalled their time at Crystal River, and they knew why they were having the party. Hunter Cartwright, 4, remembered going outside at Crystal River to "play and do everything." And he knew the Crystal River children were at his school so he and his classmates and teachers could say thank you.

Cierra Garrison, 4, remembered, "We had lots of fun and got to go outside and play." The Crystal River children were visiting them "because they are our friends and they let us have their room."

When it was time for the Crystal River children to leave, the Homosassa students received gifts from them. The Crystal River children had made them each a sun catcher with colored tissue paper.

Crystal River also gave a thank you gift to each host classroom. They had made hand-shaped flowers "growing" on green pipe cleaners and "planted" in pots. Written on the pots was "Crystal River Primary School loves (actually a drawn heart) Homosassa."

[Last modified February 24, 2005, 00:54:17]