Students’ well-earned ‘Holiday Bucks’ well-spent

Three Rivers Elementary School in Sunriver held its very first Holiday Shop on Tuesday, all thanks to generous members of the community.

For the past month, kids have been saving up their “Holiday Bucks,” and they finally got to splash out.

They were earned for such good deeds as “being kind to peers in the classroom, getting your homework done,” said Principal Tim Broadbent, better known to the kids as “Mr. B.”

What else did they do to earn all that “dough”?

“Cleaning up when it was, um, over lunchtime,” kindergartner Reed said.

“But also listening to directions,” second-grader Lily said.

All these things are worth a holiday buck.

“We’ve been really trying to focus on positive behavior and recognizing the kids that are doing right in the school,” Mr. B said.

“Every day, that energy kept building and kept building,” said Student Services leader Mary Doyle.

The shop was a room full of gently used items, donated by the community.

“Truckloads, car loads and truckloads coming out!” Doyle said.

Those truckloads were sorted by the school’s fourth-period leadership class.

“At first, they were a little overwhelmed when they saw the amount of boxes that were in the room,” Doyle said.

Items ready to be picked over by the littlest of shoppers.

“I’m trying to get something for everybody that’s in my house,” Lily said.

After looking long and hard, “it was really hard getting something for my dad,” Lily said.

Purchase complete. But wait, there’s more!

“Go get them wrapped!” Mr. B said.

Wrapped by the elves who have donated their time, that is — just another charitable act that made it all possible.

“Coming here, my first year here at the school, I’m overwhelmed by the general support this community has for this school,” Mr. B said.

For many the kids, this was also a first.

“Well, these are the first presents that I’ve got,” Lily said.

Creating an even more memorable holiday, while learning the most important lessons.

“Really looked for those things that they were doing right and just tried to precisely praise those activities,” said Mr. B. “And really, the idea is they get to come in and get some things for their loved one.”