By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic
Photographer: MONICA LAUZURIQUE | FC
Good Shepherd teacher Aime Dominguez, left, and administrative assistant Milly Briceno Callejas take part in the "heart ceremony."
Photographer: MONICA LAUZURIQUE | FC
Isabel Taja, kindergarten assistant, places the heart in her bear.
Photographer: MONICA LAUZURIQUE | FC
The Build-a-Bear staff from The Falls, Nathalie Villada and Christyann Eliezer, lead the teachers in the "heart ceremony."
MIAMI | Why let the children have all the fun at Christmas?
At Good Shepherd School, teachers and staff decided to get in on the spirit of giving by building a batch of teddy bears and donating them to Kristi House, which cares for children who have been sexually abused.
After school ended Dec. 12, representatives of the Build-a-Bear Workshop came to Good Shepherd to help the teachers and staff personalize 40 stuffed bears by placing a heart and a special message inside. Each message was aimed at the child receiving the bear.
Photographer: MONICA LAUZURIQUE | FC
Pictured doing the "heart ceremony," front row, from left: teacher Aime Dominquez, fifth grade; office administrative assistant Milly Briceno Callejas; art teacher Emma Debs; and middle school English teacher Katherine Silverio.
"We wanted our faculty and staff to do something special for the children this holiday season," said Good Shepherd's principal, Clara Cabrera. "Usually on the first Friday of every month, our students and families donate an item to a non-profit organization. We have donated hats for cancer patients at Miami Children's Hospital, we have done the Pennies for Patients, the Jeans for Teens for homeless teenagers, the Adopt a Bear through Neighbors 4 Neighbors in conjunction with Channel 4. This month we thought it would be wonderful if our faculty and staff participated in something special as well."
Photographer: MONICA LAUZURIQUE | FC
Choosing outfits for their bears, from left, teachers: Katherine Silverio, middle school English; Aime Dominquez, fifth grade; Ximena Lopez, special education; and Frances Valladares, middle school science.
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