Leading up to winter break, the Pearson Middle School community gathered to celebrate the school’s 3rd Annual Breakfast with Santa.

More than 600 family members attended the memory-making event. Not only did the 500 children who attended have an opportunity to take a free photo with Santa, but they also took home a free toy.

Breakfast with the jolly fellow in red included homemade waffles, pancakes, bacon, sausage, desserts, and other mouth-watering treats. 

This fantastic event would not have been possible without the contribution and generosity of those in the community. Pearson’s feeder elementary schools, Green Acres Elementary School, and Fair Oaks Elementary School played a crucial role in ensuring their families knew of the event by distributing flyers. Allatoona High School’s Math Club, led by math teacher Amanda Edwards, helped to provide Santa with over 300 toys! Pearson’s Partners in Education and Pearson team members generously supplied food and toys, and Pearson volunteers put in countless hours to make this holiday event memorable. 

Santa’s elves did not only supply the toys. Santa’s elves included team members from the front office, cafeteria, administration, and classroom who spent many hours preparing pancakes and waffles, frying bacon and sausage, baking cakes, taking pictures, setting up, and breaking down. 

The highlight of the event was undoubtedly Santa himself. The visitor from the North Pole received a police escort thanks to the Cobb County Sheriff’s Department. Santa sat with over 500 children and their family members, staying well past his scheduled departure time to ensure every child received a picture and a small gift from him. 

“The 3rd Annual Breakfast with Santa was a magnificent community event that brought people together and created memories that will last a lifetime,” praised Pearson Principal Dean Yoder.

Pearson’s Breakfast with Santa follows the school’s annual Thanksgiving Dinner for the community.

About 200 family members planned to attend the Thanksgiving dinner served up by Pearson school staff and other members of the school community. 

This was the second year Allatoona High School’s CTAE Culinary Department, led by Chef Anne Alejandro, made all the trays of sweet potato souffle, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pies, and cake for the Pearson Thanksgiving feast. That was not the only support Pearson received from Allatoona. Lisa Tatum, an Allatoona chemistry teacher, Chess Club Sponsor, Interact Club Co-Sponsor, and Helm Co-Sponsor, coordinated to have students donate turkeys, ham, and drinks.

In addition to the outside support, Pearson team members, along with their spouses, their children, and their relatives, volunteered their time during the Pearson Community Thanksgiving.

“It was heartening to see many family members express their appreciation for our continuing the tradition of the family dinner,” shared Principal Yoder. “It was touching to hear some of them express their desire to continue attending even after their child moves on to high school. Knowing that we are able to provide this service to our community is a source of great joy for me. I am also grateful for the support we receive from Candice Wilkes and her Allatoona team, as well as from my team at Pearson, who are always willing to take time out of their day to serve our community, especially on special days like ones that are meant for relatives, friends, and loved ones.”