From free cookies to driver’s education to fresh flowers, making Sequim High School’s Winter Wishes happen was truly a community effort, organizers said.
Associated Student Body-elected and leadership students continued the school’s years-long tradition of granting students’ wishes on Dec. 13 in the high school gym, with teacher Sean O’Mera and student Hi’ilei Robinson making the announcements as students came down from the bleachers.
This was the first in-person Winter Wishes after COVID-19 protocols led students to record a video and deliver wishes in classrooms last school year.
Robinson, a senior and event co-organizer, said they asked students in November if they had a wish, one for a friend or staff member, or if they wanted a toy to go to a child in need.
More than 100 students asked for toys to be donated to local children, she said.
In October, organizers started reaching out to local businesses and received about $1,050 in cash as well as various types of donations and in-kind services.
Staff members donated many things including cookies for the whole school, musical instruments, and knitted gloves following student requests.
School clubs got involved too such as the Interact Club, which works with local Rotarians and Habitat for Humanity to “observe local need and work towards serving a solution” with the motto “Service above Self,” according to club advisor Chelsea Reichner.
She submitted a grant to Clif Bar and they received 900 Z bars to give out at the assembly and with about 100 left, club president Ayden Humphries suggested donating the rest to the Sequim Food Bank, Reichner said.
“Hunger or food insecurity is one need we’ve noticed and this gesture attempts to acknowledge and alleviate that need, if only temporarily, on a local level,” she said.
Also at the assembly, seniors Trinity McNulty and Jill Adolphsen received new laptops, with McNulty saying it was great timing as she’s been borrowing her dad’s since hers broke.
Malachi Williams, a sophomore, got an Xbox for his wish saying he’s “super grateful.”
Sophomore Adrian Dulfo received a hoodie to Stanford, where he hopes to attend college.
One of the more obscure requests, Robinson said, was for a baby chick, so they got the student a rubber chicken instead.
As for granting wishes, Robinson said, “it feels really good.”
She said her personal connection at the event was with fellow student Georgia Bullard, who received driver’s education lessons as her wish. Robinson said she drives Bullard, a friend, to school and hopes next school year she’ll be able to drive herself after Robinson graduates.
In-between rounds of wishes being granted, the varsity cheer squad performed a routine with flips, and the Select Choir and Vocal Ensemble sang holiday songs.
Winter Wishes organizers included Robinson, Skyler Kryzworz, Abby Pedrey, Becca Van Dyken and Ellie Woodford.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ At Sequim High School’s Winter Wishes assembly, hundreds of requests were granted, including new laptops for Jill Adolphsen and Trinity McNulty.
Sophomore Adrian Dulfo smiles after learning his wish was granted to receive a Stanford hoodie through Sequim High School’s Winter Wishes assembly.
Matthew Nash/ Sequim Gazette photos Becca Van Dyken hands Emily Post a present (stuffed animal) during the Winter Wishes assembly on Dec. 13. Post and hundreds of students received gifts through donations made from the community, classmates and school staff.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Danica Chen stands to receive her gift of knitted mittens from teacher Laura Gould during the Winter Wishes assembly.
Following a wish by two students, an anonymous staff member purchased cookies for all of Sequim High School on Dec. 13 prior to the Winter Wishes assembly.
