Armstrong SADD hosted its second annual “Christmas Cheer” event for life skills students from six different local schools. This year’s Christmas Cheer party was branded “Elf Day,” which featured sophomore Donavan Hutchens dressed as Buddy from the 2003 movie Elf.

SADD advisor Melissa Bowser invited twelve life skills classes from Butler Area High School, River Valley High School, Freeport Area High School, Apollo-Ridge High School, and Leechburg Area High School to partake in the Armstrong Junior-Senior High School life skills celebration.

Several different clubs and organizations contributed to the Christmas Cheer event, including student council, senior high chorus, girls basketball, boys football, cheerleading, girls volleyball, and art club. 

STUCO held a table to create elf hats and art club held a table where participants painted paper snowflakes. The sports teams held a beanbag toss station and a parachute station. 

SADD members participated in stations such as bingo, snow globes, face painting, and more. 

According to SADD President and senior Cecilia Boswer, Christmas Cheer was created by former SADD President Ava Formaini in 2022. The goal of Christmas Cheer is to bring together students in life skills classes, allow them to take a break from their usual commitments, and enable them to have fun during the Christmas season by participating in artistic and athletic activities. 

Last year’s theme was based on the 2004 movie The Polar Express, with then-senior Phoenix Petrosky dressing as the conductor from the movie. 

Cecilia said that due to the success of last year’s Christmas Cheer, SADD didn’t change much except for the theme and amount of food provided to students. Her favorite part of hosting the event is promoting the “Christmas spirit.”

View the exclusive images taken by Liliana Plank!