Choice students describe annual winter celebration and student‑led service projects to board

Principals and students from Choice School presented the history and purpose of the school’s winter celebration, telling the board the event is student‑run and designed to welcome families.

“Some of our students were already parents themselves and wanted a celebration for their young families,” Principal Vernon Bruni said, introducing student body treasurer Aliyah Fox. Bruni described Choice as a leadership environment and said students manage most aspects of the event.

Aliyah Fox, who identified herself as student body treasurer and a ninth‑grade Choice student, traced the celebration to 2001 when Stacy Anderson and students organized a full ham dinner, activities and presents for children. “The heart of it remains the same: Choice students running the show and giving back,” Fox said. She described this year’s activities — face painting, wreath making, cookie decorating, crafts, a Grinch room, prize giveaways, hot dogs and photos with Santa — and said students planned, ran and cleaned up the event.

Bruni and Fox noted the program partners with the district’s newcomers program and the student and family support center. The presentation highlighted student leadership, community connection and hands‑on learning; board members praised the students’ work during the meeting’s recognition segment.

The board acknowledged the presentation and thanked the students and staff for their efforts.