The Dolphin Giving Tree
The Dolphin Giving Tree is a service project that Andersen Elementary School’s Anchored 4 Life Club, Yearbook Club, and Kindness Club worked on. The club members asked D. L. Perez School, a local Guam school, if they would benefit from AES supporting kids’ holiday wish lists. There was a tree by the counseling offices where they had 50 kids' wish lists hung on the tree as an ornament. Within a week, all of the ornaments had been pulled off the tree! The club members asked for 50 more. The principal gave them more wishlists and those too were gone very fast! The AES families that got an ornament were supposed to buy the items on their list and deliver them to the counselors’ office by December 11, 2024. AES Counselor and Anchored 4 Life club sponsor, Ms. Johnston shared, “I most enjoyed seeing the joy in the students’ faces who received the gifts from our school community. It was such a wonderful feeling to be able to be a part of bringing holiday cheer to others.”
On December 12, 2024, AES had a “Big Wrap” after school where there were over 300 gifts to wrap for over 100 children! Staff and students volunteered and assisted in the wrapping party. Everyone was excited to wrap all the presents in beautiful ribbons and bows. Kindness club member Layla Danao said, “I enjoyed seeing all of the cool presents that were collected for the kids!”
There were snacks and goodies for all the participants that helped and Christmas music playing throughout the area. The counselors, Mrs. Elliot, Ms. Johnston, Dr. Mesa, and Dr. Buniag were standing by to help and pack up all the wrapped gifts.
Anchored 4 Life, Kindness Club, and Yearbook Club were lucky enough to be able to hand deliver the gifts on Wednesday, December 18, 2024. That morning, the club sponsors and students started out on the road. At first, there was an awkward silence. Then everyone broke out into Christmas carols! They happily sang songs like “Jingle Bells”, “Christmas on Guam”, “Last Christmas”, “Frosty the Snowman”, “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer”, and a lot more.
When they arrived, they offloaded the gifts and brought them into the D. L. Perez library. There were many wonderful students sitting there, waiting for their gifts patiently with excitement in their eyes. Dr. Roberto (the principal) happily greeted the AES group and welcomed them to the school. After that, their kindergarteners did a dance to the song “Ho-Ho-Ho-Hee-Hee-Hee”. Everyone burst into applause at the end because they did so amazing!
Then, they announced that someone special from the North Pole was on his way. It was Santa! Once Santa sat down on his special chair, the gift giving began! AES students helped Santa hand out the gifts. The excitement on the children’s faces was so joyful. AES Yearbook club member, Brielle Beamon said, “I felt very helpful to give something to other kids that they may not have.” Once everyone got their presents, Dr. Roberto announced that they could open them. Seeing the children open their presents was a joy and filled the AES students’ hearts with happiness!
Later, some of the fifth graders gave a tour of their entire school. This was an amazing experience because the students were excited to share their learning environment with them. AES students were able to compare D. L. Perez school on their own. Although both have differences, they are each filled with love, joy, and learning.
After all the fun, AES students boarded the bus and headed back to their own school. Once again, they sang and enjoyed each other's company. Kindness club sponsor Dr. Buniag shared, “My favorite take away from the Dolphin Giving Tree field trip was seeing how appreciative the students from D.L. Perez were with their gifts and how humble and kind the students from Andersen Elementary School were.” Staff and students reflected on how grateful they were for the opportunity they had to support D. L. Perez and the wonderful students during the holidays.
