With the holiday season approaching it is a time to remember the importance of giving to others. By sticking with the Macy’s Make-a-Wish Santa letter tradition, the Penn-Trafford school district is doing just that.

    For the past 10 years, P-T has participated in the letter-writing campaign, which grants wishes to children with critical illnesses. 

     In many classes, teachers hand out letters for their students to contribute to the good cause. Some teachers even come up with creative ways to connect their class to the student’s letters. 

     High school math teacher Stephanie Bruggeman has her calculus students writing their Santa letters on the different topics covered in the class. Bruggeman even has her students make a wish on behalf of another calculus student. 

    “I like to do my Santa Letters this way because I like to know what stood out to them good or bad. And having them ask for something for another friend is just for humor,” said Bruggeman.

     Christa Cerutti and Meghan Coleman, two elementary teachers within the district, have been working together for the past four years to collect the letters and deliver them to Macy’s. 

    Both Cerutti and Coleman deliver the letters on National Believe Day, which makes each letter a $2 donation instead of $1. 

    Last year the district was able to write and deliver 15,128 letters, raising $30,256. With it taking $4,400 per wish, P-T helped grant seven wishes to seven very deserving children across the country, said Coleman.

    “It’s a great fundraiser for the whole district to do and it helps children receive their wishes by simply writing letters to Santa,” expressed Cerutti.

     Coleman added how the purpose of writing the letters to Santa is so much more than getting into the holiday spirit. The money donated to Macy’s goes toward making life-changing wishes come true for children all across the country. 

     With high expectations for this year’s outcome, the district is hoping to be able to give back for the holidays.