Tiger Holiday Spirit is Alive and Well!

The annual tradition of building and refurbishing gifts for the Christmas Cheer Fund campaign is once again in full swing in the Westgate Collegiate and Vocational Institute the Technology Department. Westgate CVI students and staff have been working hard as they continue the tradition of building, refurbishing and gathering toys for a donation to Christmas Cheer.

“The emphasis this year is on traditional wooden toys and our students have built wooden Tic Tac Toe, Peg, and Ring Toss games,” explained Technology teacher Tom Charlton. He added, “The toys may seem old-fashioned to some kids who love their electronics, but we think they will find the simple toys very engaging – there is a lot to be said for simple play for children.”

The annual effort by the Westgate students and staff not only provides much needed goodies for the Christmas Cheer Fund, but it also provides practical technology experiences for students.

Technology students have also designed stickers for the paying pieces and have engraved the rules of the games on the wooden toys. The cutting edge technology available to students at Westgate CVI has provided the means for the students to design, program and produce the special stickers.

As in previous years, the Transportation Technology students have worked to refurbish bicycles received from Bicycles for Humanity. This process has been greatly enhanced through a dynamic partnership between the Westgate students and Grade 8 students from the Westmount Public School Academy. This partnership has provided a unique collaboration of skills, energy and commitment as the Grade 8’s work with students in Grades 9 and 10.