Students at West Hartford’s Northwest Catholic conducted a card-writing campaign, sending Christmas cards to hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation facilities.

Northwest Catholic students Annalie Delgado, Riley Esposito, and Cecilia Davis spend time during Ms. Sanchita Maitra’s advisory period signing Christmas cards. Submitted photo

Submitted by Maureen Scudder, Northwest Catholic High School

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 Dec. 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 10 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.

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Giovan Cuevas signs Christmas cards during Ms. Sara Avery’s advisory. Submitted photo

Myles John holds up two cards he signed as part of the school-wide project.

Members of Northwest Catholic’s Global Awareness Club, Sarah Cioffi and Holly Gustavsen, help organize almost 500 Christmas cards signed by students and sent to hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation facilities in Greater Hartford. Submitted photo