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Celebration a draw for migrant families

Pinecrest Elementary's Advisory Council wants more participation in school activities. Nearly 300 people show up for this event.

By BRYAN BURNS
Published December 23, 2005

Maurillo Cedillo looked on while his classmates ripped open the gifts Santa Claus had given them. The Pinecrest Elementary fifth-grader was anxious to join in, but he didn't want to appear too excited.

"I'm going to wait until I get home to open my gift," he said.

Moments later, Maurillo gave in, ripping open a small piece of wrapping paper to peek inside.

"It's a remote-controlled car," he yelled.

Cedillo's brother, Jonathan, and sister, Judy, also attend Pinecrest. Their parents are migrant workers.

They got their gifts last week when Pinecrest hosted a Migrant Winter Holiday Celebration. The brainchild of the Pinecrest Advisory Council, the event encourages migrant families to become more involved in activities at school.

"A lot of the migrant workers are worried because they don't know English. They're intimidated," said Ines Colon, Pinecrest's migrant advocate. "I tell them not to worry. We just want them to get involved."

The dinner and activities afterward had been scheduled for the school's media center. But the response from the migrant community was great enough that organizers had to move it to a large hall at the Welcome Baptist Church.

"We had about 275 to 280 chairs out and pretty much all of them were full," Pinecrest principal Vicki Dotson said. "(The event) was extremely well-received."

The parents volunteered to make traditional cultural foods. Dotson said that most of the families are from Mexico.

As most of the families finished eating, Dotson arrived wearing a Mrs. Claus outfit.

Her arrival, along with that of Santa Claus, sent the 100 or so children in attendance scurrying toward the Christmas tree. The children had been eyeing the presents near the tree all evening and looked on as Dotson read off each child's name. Most of the children returned home with a new doll or action figure, or, like Cedillo, a remote-controlled car.

The school's business partners - Bank of America, Joseph Scott Financial and Roadmaster Drivers School - sponsored the gifts.

"More sponsors are lining up for next year," Colon said.

The Advisory Council hopes to make the event an annual tradition.

[Last modified December 22, 2005, 09:29:03]