The joy of Christmas came early this year for the children of Mrs. Dobbs' Pre-Kindergarten class. On Friday the 30th, toys were delivered to Davis Elementary School, courtesy of E.T. Toy Company. The "company" consists of Mrs. Susan Millican's fourth block Engineering and Technology class from Dade County High School with the help of Mrs. Margaret Barton's art class.
A toy was specially designed and constructed by hand for every child in Mrs. Dobbs' class. The children discovered a surprise with their gifts...books! The books were created by the high school students and were written exclusively for each child.
Earlier in the school year, Mrs. Dobbs' students participated in filling out a questionnaire of their favorite bands, colors, television shows, likes and dislikes. These surveys supplied Mrs. Millican's class with the information they needed to manufacture a storyline, art, and designs for the individual child's toy and book.
Each child was called up one at a time to meet their builder and writer and was then brought to their specifically designed toy to have their book read to them. The children played with their toys, alongside their high school companions in the Davis Elementary gymnasium.
The event had a positive impact on students from both schools. The teens reflected on the remembrance of their childhood. The pre-kindergarten children looked on in admiration of who they could someday become and what they could someday achieve. Overall, the experience will not soon be forgotten by all students involved.
