P.S./I.S. 78, The Robert F. Wagner Jr. School (LIC Post)
Dec. 3, 2021 By Allie Griffin
The parent-teacher association at a Long Island City public school is hosting a “Winter Wonderland” event to inspire some holiday cheer in the neighborhood this Saturday.
The PTA at P.S./I.S. 78 is hosting the activity-packed event and holiday toy drive from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Culture Lab at the Plaxall Gallery, located at 5-25 46th Ave.
The event is open to the entire community and includes a host of kid-friendly activities — like carnival games, bounce houses and slides, sand art, face painting, a photo booth, arts and crafts, a bake sale, a bungee obstacle course and more.
Santa Claus himself will also be attending the winter soirée to check off children’s Christmas lists and take photos.
The “Winter Wonderland” event will have things for parents to enjoy, such as mulled wine and other adult beverages as well as food and music, too.
The PTA will also be collecting new, unwrapped toys at the event entrance. The toys will be sent to Hour Children, a LIC-based nonprofit that helps incarcerated and formerly incarcerated mothers and their children.
P.S./I.S. 78 Principal Louis Pavone thanked the PTA for organizing the event.
“During these very challenging times, it is important that we all work together and always look for ways to engage our families and keep connected with our community,” Pavone said. “Having a ‘Winter Wonderland’ allows both our students and their families to participate with our entire community to support our school.”
The “Winter Wonderland” event is the second event that the PTA has organized this year. The PTA planned to host its annual Fall Fest in October but was forced to cancel it due to bad weather. The PTA decided to postpone the event and rebrand it for the winter rather than cancel it altogether, P.S./I.S. 78 PTA President Kelly Craig said.
“When it rains on your pumpkins… add snow and make it a Winter Wonderland!” Craig said. “While we were devastated to cancel our annual Fall Fest due to rain and high winds, we are enthusiastic about Winter Wonderland for a magical and festive holiday kick-off!”
The event has been made possible by several sponsors from the surrounding community.
Gotham, the development company behind Gotham Point, donated funding for the bounce houses and carnival games; Culture Lab/Plaxall offered its space for use; LIC Dental supplied the photo booth; Hunters Point Parks Conservancy, the face painters; and Sugrue Contracting, Mr. Claus.
“We are so grateful to Gotham and Gotham Point for being our main event sponsor,” Craig said. “We are also incredibly thankful to Culture Lab and Plaxall for donating their space, LIC Dental for donating a photo booth and Hunter Point Parks Conservancy for donating face painting. It’s incredible to have a public school in such a supportive community with amazing school staff!”
LIC Relief, New City Church and Hunters Point Civic Association has also helped out.
