Breakfast with Santa (BWS)

Volunteering at BWS

We will need volunteers on December 4 to decorate and December 5 to help with the event. Signups will be posted here in November.

Breakfast with Santa (BWS) – details for beginners and a refresher for returners

By Tiffany Brown

Breakfast with Santa (BWS) is an event that the CHS Band and Choir host together. While this is a fundraiser for both groups, that is not the main focus of this event. BWS is a morning that brings joy, holiday spirit and excited squealing to hundreds of children. That sounds really cliche but it’s also really true. We decorate the CHS cafeteria until you’d never recognize it as a school. Instead, it is a magical winter wonderland complete with snowflakes, craft activities, a yummy breakfast, games, live holiday music provided by the band and choir students and of course - a visit with Santa, live and in person. We also take photos of the kids with Santa (with their parents’ phone because that is just easier).

As you can imagine, it takes a lot of coordination to make the magic happen. Our “front of the house” crew (yes, I come from the restaurant world) is responsible for all the decorating, which starts in the cafeteria on Friday afternoon. The CHS art, band, and choir students help with this and make a lot of pieces ahead of time, but it takes students and adults alike to create our holiday winter wonderland. If you like crafts and decorating and that type of thing, there is plenty for you to contribute in this area. For my part, I just show up and put tape where someone points. I’m not very crafty. Luckily, Rebekah Wirt is! And she will be coordinating the front of the house this year and she will have more info on how you can help in November.

During the event, we dress students up as elves and they help with serving drinks and clearing dishes, with adults around to supervise. Mr. Miller handles arranging all of the musical ensembles and their schedule. We’ll have a Kids Corner Coordinator to manage the crafts and games (thanks Bethany for coordinating!). We’ll have a Santa handler and photo taker. We’ll have people taking money at the ticket table (thanks Shannon for coordinating!). You get the idea. Lots of volunteer options.

If you’re not into the decorating/crafty stuff like me and are fine with getting up early so long as you don’t have to talk to anyone (we all have our strengths), you can join me in the “back of the house”. This is where we make pancakes (So. Many. Pancakes.), brew the coffee, prep fruit, do dishes, restock milk and juice, and serve the food. You do need a semi-cheery face for that last one, but the kid's smiles will help with that.

And what happens when the last child has sat with Santa and the last pancake has been served? We have to take it all down to be stored for another year and clean up the kitchen. The clean up crew is crucial here and very much appreciated for their careful demolition.

As you can see, there are plenty of volunteer opportunities for everyone to find something they are comfortable with. We hope you will be able to find a couple of hours (or more!) on the BIG day to plug in and help the music department at CHS!