TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – A local program is stepping in this holiday season to support kindergarten students and their families at Title I schools in Tallahassee.<\/p>\n
Just days before Christmas, a class of kindergarteners at John G. Riley Elementary School was surprised with presents, filling the room with cheers and excitement.<\/p>\n
For the past four years, Ashley Thomas, owner of Sparkle Tallahassee, has sponsored a kindergarten class at Riley Elementary and their siblings, ensuring they have gifts to open on Christmas morning. This year\u2019s donations included toys, clothing and bicycles.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt feels so good to know that these kids, they understand what\u2019s sitting there, and it\u2019s huge to them,\u201d Thomas said.<\/p>\n
She said helping ease the financial burden on local families and caretakers, especially during the holidays, is what motivates her to continue participating in the program.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese families getting to realize that they\u2019re seen, they\u2019re loved and the community around them loves them and cares for them and for me that\u2019s what its about,\u201d the local boutique owner said.<\/p>\n
More Tallahassee news:<\/p>\n
The surprise was organized through Classroom Connection, a program that partners local businesses and community members with Title I classrooms throughout the year. Sponsor Shannon Smith said the need at Riley Elementary is especially great.<\/p>\n
Riley Elementary is located in the center of Florida\u2019s poorest ZIP code, 32304, according to Smith.<\/p>\n
She said, on average, two students in each classroom at the school experience housing insecurity or homelessness. These are challenges that can significantly affect a child\u2019s ability to learn.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen a child doesn\u2019t know where they\u2019re going to sleep at night, or they don\u2019t know if they\u2019re going to eat when they get home, those are all stressors and all of those stressors raise the cortisol level of a child,\u201d Smith said. <\/p>\n
Smith said kindergarten performance is often a key indicator of future academic success, including third-grade achievement and long-term outcomes such as graduation rates.<\/p>\n
By addressing basic needs, or even by fulfilling a child\u2019s Christmas wish, Smith said students are better able to focus, learn and succeed in the classroom.<\/p>\n
To keep up with the latest news as it develops, follow WCTV on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, Nextdoor<\/a> <\/a>and X<\/a> (Twitter<\/a>).<\/p>\n Have a news tip or see an error? Write to us here<\/a>. Please include the article\u2019s headline in your message.<\/p>\n Be the first to see all the biggest headlines by downloading the WCTV News app. Click here<\/a> to get started.<\/p>\n Copyright 2025 WCTV. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n