Diamond Ranch Academy strives to make the Holidays as easy as possible on the students and families. Christmas is an especially hard time of year. The staff work very hard to make the atmosphere at the ranch festive and positive. Activities are planned months in advance. The morning usually starts out with a favorite breakfast of waffles or pancakes. No school classes take place during this day. The students are able to relax and take extra time writing in journals, working on letters home, playing games in the dorms, pulling taffy, etc. There is also a tasty Christmas lunch of ham or turkey and all kinds of other great “fixins” like mashed potatoes, bread stuffing and pie or brownies for dessert.
Santa makes a special delivery to the students with a stocking full of gifts and goodies for everyone. Santa also brings campus gifts such as new recreation equipment, classroom supplies, video games, etc.
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The students also get a chance to “give back” to the community. In the past the students have helped with a local charity event called “Koins for Kids”. Various donation boxes are placed throughout the county, and local radio drives for monetary donations also take place. Families are recommended or can apply during times of financial hardship. Several families are chosen, and the monetary donations are used to buy Christmas presents for the children of the families in need. Our students have volunteered to help wrap the gifts for the families. It is a huge project and our group has been invited back year after year because of their hard work and respect.
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The students have also volunteered to help a local food cannery prepare food that is donated to the local food bank. They have helped can many different types of food to be donated: soups, applesauce, spaghetti sauce, etc. They have even helped stock the shelves at the food bank.
Through these activities and service projects the students are able to take some time to evaluate and count the blessings and privileges they may have taken for granted a short time ago. There are also secret activities that take place each year as a gift to the students. It is always a wonderful surprise and great day for all…
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