Youngsters who attend Wantagh High School’s play group were in for a treat on Dec. 20, with a visit from some popular holiday characters.

The Child Development class hosts a program for preschool-age children in the community every Tuesday and Thursday. There are morning and afternoon sessions, which provide Wantagh High School students with valuable teaching experience.

“They get to apply the skills that they are learning in the Child Development class through hands-on activities,” teacher Valerie Gompers said.

On Dec. 20, the high school and preschool students visited the library for a holiday celebration. There were visits from Santa Claus, the Grinch and Buddy the Elf. The parts were enthusiastically portrayed by Assistant Principal Dr. Christopher Widmann, Principal Dr. Paul Guzzone and Assistant Principal Nick Pappas, respectively.

Each child received a book from Santa as a gift, which were donated by the English Language Arts department. High school students then worked with the children on crafts, coloring and reading. 

Ms. Gompers said that there are morning and afternoon session play groups, which are centered on development such as knowledge of the alphabet, socialization, speech and fine and gross motor skills. The high school students design and implement activities that foster this growth.