News

By Kathi Nailling | Athens Daily Review
Original Story: http://www.athensreview.com/local/x853081961/Early-Christmas

ATHENS — Students from the Athens Independent School District were treated to an early Christmas on Monday.

The Athens ISD Life Skill class kicked off the Mostyn Moreno Foundation 2013 Christmas Lights Program with 57 children being treated to a shopping spree at Walmart. Each student had $50 to spend on anything they wanted.

This year, the foundation will treat 1,034 students from 12 school districts that will include Galveston, Southeast Texas and East Texas to the Christmas shopping spree and lunch. The children from Athens range in age from 3-years-old to high-school students.

By Erinn Callahan | The Port Arthur News

BEAUMONT — Meagan Moss returned from her Walmart trip with a toy car to take her stuffed Mickey and Minnie Mouse for joyrides, a toy camera to capture the moments around her, and an extra dose of holiday cheer.

“She loves Christmas,” Amy Moss said of her 6-year-old daughter, a Life Skills student at Helena Park Elementary. “This was very special for her. She had a good time.”

Meagan joined 33 other Nederland Independent School District Life Skills students at the Twin City Highway Walmart in Port Arthur on Tuesday. Each student was given $50 to spend however he or she pleased, and teachers utilized the opportunity to teach life skills such as budgeting money and decision making.

“Not only was it fun, but it was a learning experience,” Johnna Smith, Helena Park Elementary Life Skills teacher, said. “It was an educational trip.”