
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, December 22, 1994                   TAG: 9501160001
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: S1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

LEARNING TO HELP OTHERS

Dressing up as Santa Claus and his elves may not seem like a typical educationsl activity for technical students. But recently members of Patrick Henry High School's chapter of the Vocational Industiral Clubs of America did just that at Grandin Court Elementary School in Roanoke.

As part of a 10-year-old Christmas activity, 13 students from the 200-member chapter delivered presents to eight learning disabled children from Grandin Court's REACH program. VICA club members raised $350 to buy each child two outfits, gloves, hats, coloring and reading books, educational toys and "one big, special gift to be opened on Christmas morning," said Patrick Henry VICA sponsor Sandi Johnston.

The students like playing Santa because it gives them a chance to make some children's Christmas a little brighter. Johnston likes the activity because it develops in her students a sense of community involvemten. "This is not the only activity of the club but I feel it's one of the most important because [students] are learning to help others," she said.

by CNB