Pasco: Lifting young spirits

Lifting young spirits

Wesley Chapel High students bring cheer to elementary pupils whose school was vandalized.

By MICHELE MILLER

WESLEY CHAPEL -- It was one of those sweltering Florida mornings that seemed even hotter on the basketball courts at Sand Pine Elementary School. But the kidsdidn't seem to mind.

First off, they were getting some time out of class. Second, they were being entertained and actually encouraged to yell their heads off at a pep rally sponsored by students from Wesley Chapel High School.

Wesley Chapel's cheerleaders, band members and students on the school yearbook and newspaper staff made the trip to the elementary school as a special effort to lift the youngsters spirits after a Labor Day ransacking of the school. Ten Wesley Chapel High School students were arrested for the vandalism that according to Sand Pine principal Ginny Yanson, has come at a cost of roughly $115,000.

Soon after the vandalism, Yanson got a call from Wesley Chapel High School principal Andy Frelick. "He wanted to let the children see the Wesley Chapel students in a positive light," said Ms. Yanson, who agreed that a pep rally would definitely help nurture the healing process.

"We kept it (news of the vandalism) low key," said Assistant Principal Cara Allen, adding that for the most part, students handled the news well, "but a lot of our little guys were afraid. Some parents were telling us their children were having nightmares."

"If I was a little kid I'd be really hurt," said senior David Gillis, the assistant editor of the Wesley Chapel high school newspaper. David was in charge of handing over a $1,000 check to Sand Pine -- $400 raised by passing the hat during student lunches and open house along with a $600 a donation from the high school. "You think everything is untouchable at that age and when you find out people actually do things like that it can be a rude awakening," David said.

"I was pretty mad (about the vandalism)" said second-grader Melissa Cabrera, making a pouty face, "It made be (feel) mean."

But later at the pep rally, Melissa, dressed in a Tampa Bay Buccaneer football jersey, and her friend Marissa Ashby were having a great time, trying their own cheerleading moves in the audience and giving high fives to Wesley Chapel cheerleader Misti Neely. A highlight for the twowas watching principalYanson do a little baton twirling. "It was fun," said Marissa sporting a bright smile as she got in line to file back to class, "I thought it was wonderful."