December 6, 2024 – McMillan Early Learning Center (MELC) opened its doors to the magic of the holiday season with its first-ever "Take Me to the North Pole" event, drawing about 200 families for a night of festive fun, creativity, and community connection.

The school's hallways and classrooms were transformed into a winter wonderland, featuring holiday-themed decorations that set the stage for an enchanting evening. Families were greeted with activities designed to spark joy and foster learning, making it a night to remember for students and parents alike.

Dr. Anne Billington, principal of McMillan Early Learning Center, expressed her pride in the staff's efforts to bring the vision for this event to life.

"A few months ago, we had a vision and asked our specialists if they would like to host a holiday event," Billington said. "We wanted something that brought Title I, the school counselor, and our art department together. Then, our C2C school coordinator, Callie Paige, got involved. What started out as a small idea turned into a winter wonderland. We had an amazing turnout for our first 'Welcome to the North Pole' event. It was an evening that will be etched in our memories forever."

Night Highlights included a Christmas Post Office Writing Station, where children could unleash their creativity with markers, pens, paper, and envelopes. Each child took home a copy of the classic holiday book How the Grinch Stole Christmas and had the chance to mail their letters to Santa via a special North Pole mailbox.

Hands-on activities like decorating holiday sensory bottles and creating personalized ornaments provided opportunities for students and their families to engage in calming, creative fun while making keepsakes to cherish. The evening concluded with children sharing their Christmas wishes with Santa Claus, a magical moment that brought smiles to young faces.

Community partners played a vital role in making the event a success. The Mexico Public Library and Wendy Lentz, the district's Attendance Coordinator, were on hand to share valuable resources with families, underscoring the importance of community collaboration.

Callie Paige, the C2C school coordinator, helped organize the event and spoke about how partnerships enrich the school community.

"The Cradle to Career initiative is all about building strong connections between schools, families, and community partners to create meaningful opportunities for students," Paige said. "'Take Me to the North Pole' was a perfect example of what we can achieve when we come together. Seeing families engaged, students smiling, and the joy that filled the school was incredibly rewarding."

"Take Me to the North Pole" demonstrated the power of collaboration, creativity, and holiday cheer in bringing families and the community together. With its resounding success, the McMillan Early Learning Center is already looking forward to making this event an annual tradition.