Students Send Christmas Cards To Hospitals And Nursing Homes

Northwest Catholic High School in West Hartford takes the Christmas season very seriously.

Before the pandemic, Northwest Catholic buzzed with excitement as Christmas approached. This year Northwest continued with full, in-person learning until December 18, which allowed the students to celebrate a few of its important Christmas traditions, including the Advent candle lighting, the annual door-decorating contest, and the holiday dress-down days. The most important tradition, however, continues to be the school’s commitment to community service during the Christmas season, and not even a global pandemic could thwart this mission.

Under the direction of Claudia Hart, a ’78 alumna and long-time math teacher and club advisor at the school, the students conducted a Christmas card writing campaign. Director of Performing Arts and Senior Class Advisor Sara Avery jumped aboard the project and helped rally the troops for the card-writing activity. And student leaders in the Global Awareness Club spearheaded the project getting cards into the students’ hands. Then last week during the school’s advisory periods, students set upon an ambitious Christmas card writing campaign.

Close to 500 cards were signed by students, all with personalized messages, some even in Spanish, and were mailed to veterans hospitals in Rocky Hill and West Haven. Cards were also sent to residents and healthcare workers at Parkville Care Center, Park Hill Manor, McLean Home, Arbor Rose, Jerome Home, Grandview Rehab and Health Care, and St. Mary Home.

Service has looked different these past ten months, and the Northwest Catholic community has gotten creative with socially-distanced ways to give back. Because he pandemic has left many people feeling isolated at hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation facilities, Northwest Catholic students hope these Christmas cards bring joy to their many recipients.

Northwest Catholic High School in West Hartford is a diverse, Catholic, co-ed, college preparatory community, educating the whole person — mind, body, spirit, and imagination since 1961. Learn more at northwestcatholic.org.