Happy holidays at Sequim High

Published 2:03 pm Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Some gifts were small, others for a chuckle.

And some simply warmed a gym full of hearts.

Sequim High School’s 2009 Winter Wishes assembly on Dec. 17 saw more than 135 gifts of varying size and scope — from a game of poker with teachers to gift cards, parking permits and winter coats — and totaling more than $3,000 in prizes.

But it was the sentimental gifts that wish granters and receivers warmed to, highlighted by two particular gifts.

Senior Shelby Bush had asked for travel fare to see his father in Texas. Bush noted he hadn’t seen his father in three or four years.

“He did not expect it at all,” said senior Meredith Roberts, one of several Leadership class students in charge of collecting donations, buying and distributing gifts.

“(That) made me feel really happy I could help,” said fellow Leadership student Kyla Hall.

The group also helped Myshelle Failes with funds to help her fund an apartment as she raises a young child.

From rent money to bags of skittles, Sequim High students granted dozens of wishes as a kind of send-off to the holiday break. Mustang Riggins now has a chance to hit the slopes during his break after his wish for a snowboard was granted, thanks to the Carlsborg-based LibTech company.

“I’ve snowboarded once before; I had to borrow my friend’s snowboard,” Riggins said.

And while gifts varied from the amusing to the endearing to the plain goofy — two-dollar bill, air freshener and orange duct tape notwithstanding — the theme was the same: while enjoying the holidays, pass along the gift of giving to others.

“The last week-and-a-half was crazy,” said Leadership student Sarah Donahue. “But it was worth it.”
 
Reach Michael Dashiell at miked@sequimgazette.com.