Imagine a room filled with pancakes, the sound of carols and the excited chatter of children. A scene from a holiday movie? No, it’s Breakfast with Santa at the West Bend High Schools.
Breakfast with Santa was a community event held Dec. 13 in the East cafeteria. Families had the chance to have fun with the community by decorating cookies, coloring, making crafts and meeting Santa, of course. The idea was to transform simple things like food and music into a morning of unforgettable memories.
Many people helped to organize this holiday event. Students and teachers from Culinary I and II, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, Key Club, orchestra and choir combined forces to plan Breakfast with Santa.
Culinary teacher and FCCLA adviser Matasha Albanil has fond memories of bringing her kids to this event in the past. So does Ralph Schlass, the district’s director of community relationships and engagement.
“Breakfast with Santa builds strong family and community connections,” Schlass said prior to the event. “I hope we have a great turnout so members of our community can see for themselves the creativity, dedication and skill of our teachers and students.”
Albani and Key Club advisor Hailey Dougherty, an East English teacher, did most of the planning. They worked very hard to ensure that it would be a successful and positive experience for families. They met multiple times to plan and coordinate stations with crafts, cookie decorating and coloring. The culinary students, along with Key Club students, helped to set up by making decorations and food. The teachers also ensured participants had all the supplies they needed.
Culinary students made pancakes, sausages and cheesy potatoes, and provided milk and juice.
The orchestra and members of the Madrigal Singers also performed, adding to the holiday cheer of the day.
Photos courtesy of Hailey Dougherty.
The West Bend Current 
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