Santa Claus came to Grace Playschool

More than 200 Grace Playschool family members and friends ate bagels and fruit at the preschool’s gymnasium as they waited intently for Santa Claus to arrive on Dec. 8.

Then, once Santa Claus showed up, the students and their families were able to talk and take photos with Santa. Karen Parker, the school’s music teacher, then led the students in Christmas carols for 20 minutes.

“They all had a great time,” said Nora Laboy, a parent board member at the school.

To prepare for the breakfast, students in each class made decorations that adorned the walls of the gymnasium at the event. Grace Playschool Director Kate Rossetti said that one of the classes even painted a Christmas tree with the faces of each of the students glued to it to look like ornaments.

Cathy Schwarz, a parent on the board who helped organize the event, and other parents then hung the decorations and worked the event, doling out food for the families. Schwarz said that this was her third year running the Breakfast with Santa, and she thought the event went smoothly this year.

“I think it went really well,” she said. “I thought it was a great day.”

Grace Playschool has been hosting the Breakfast with Santa event for more than 20 years. The event is optional for Grace Playschool families, but Rossettti said, it is a way to build the school community.

“It’s just a really nice family event,” she said.