More than a dozen Middle School students volunteer for this morning event, which welcomes a group of 20 Head Start children. Thayer students run various activities, including story telling, face painting, cookie decorating, and Polaroid photos with the Thayer tiger mascot. The Holiday Toy Project is a decade-long Thayer tradition that involves the entire school community. Middle and Upper School students bring in brightly wrapped holiday gifts to be distributed to more than 500 South Shore children affiliated with the Department of Social Services, Head Start, and the Dianne DeVanna Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect. Thayer students receive an index card with the name and age of a child, as well as ideas for gifts.
Many students request more than one name and bring in several gifts.
In past years, close to 90 percent of Thayer students have participated. Senior Citizen Prom More than 75 senior citizens from six local nursing homes attended Thayer's Senior Citizen Prom in April 1999. Many of the prom-goers had no trouble remembering their dance moves as they moved to music from the Big Band Era. More than 30 student volunteers made sure that the prom-goers enjoyed themselves. The Upper School Community Council sponsors this annual event.