Before getting out of school for the long Christmas-New Year holiday period, there was plenty of excitement and entertainment at the rural Farmington and Collegeville Elementary School campuses.

Under the direction of Mr. Charles Farwell, one of Escalon Unified School District’s TK-fifth grade music teachers, Farmington Elementary students from TK/kindergarten through fifth grade performed a variety of festive holiday songs to “the delight and appreciation of parents, guardians, and extended family members,” said Principal Dr. George Megenney.

The entertainment was provided during the annual student winter concert, with the students taking the stage in the cafeteria/multi-purpose room on campus for the musical extravaganza.

Meanwhile, at Collegeville Elementary, it was an unexpected gift that put smiles on the faces of dozens of youngsters.

“A generous donor from the St. Francis Yacht Club of San Francisco, in collaboration with the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, made it possible for an extra-special holiday,” Dr. Megenney noted.

He said the gift giving focused on Collegeville Elementary School’s TK and kindergarten students.

“In all, 54 students received a brand-new bicycle to enjoy for many years to come,” said Dr. Megenney. “Fittingly, the bicycles were delivered by both truck and boat by Sheriff’s Officers and moved onto the campus by the school’s eager-to-help fifth grade classes.”

Students at Collegeville, from TK through fifth grade, also performed in their winter concert prior to the break, with the first concert kicking off with the TK students on stage, continuing through each grade level and rounding out with the fifth grade performance. The students gave both a morning and afternoon concert.