LIVE OAK, CA (MPG) - Live Oak Middle School families and staff were invited to a festive holiday drive-thru at the LOMS campus Thursday, December 17^th.

The free, three-hour event was packed full of merriment, with tunes provided by a DJ, holiday lights, and goodie bags full of hot cocoa, candy canes, chocolates, school supplies and more for all that chose to drive through. Staff members, parents and teachers donned Santa hats, Christmas light necklaces, ugly Christmas sweaters and the obligatory COVID mask as they waved to students and their families, handing out treats and wishing them all a Merry Christmas. Even the students got into the spirit, pasting signs to the side of their vehicles, wishing a “Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to ALL teachers and staff!!!”

Parent Dawnita Harwood says her two girls were so excited for the drive thru that they had the event marked on their calendar. Harwood was impressed at how organized the event was and how the teachers took the time to engage with each carload of students, calling them by name and taking the time out to have a conversation, even if it meant the line backing up a little. “It makes me feel like the teachers really care about these kids…Just the thought that they (teachers/staff) take the time out to do all these little special things for the kids…it’s really good.” She continues, “I think a lot of kids are, you know, a little depressed actually. So that just gives them a little hope and a little encouragement that good things are coming!”

Vice Principal of LOMS, Erin Walton says, “We wanted to find a way for students and staff to celebrate the holidays, while also involving the parents before our winter break. Our goal was to show students how much they are missed. At a time when all of our lives are disrupted from the normal routine, this was a great way to make spirits bright. We wanted to do that for our LOMS families, but discovered they did the same for us by attending the event."

Over 275 families came out for the event, and the consensus is that LOMS definitely succeeded in making spirits bright this Holiday Season.