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Melanie Gillott

I love theatre, singing, and writing.
"If you've got a dream, you've got to grab it and never let go." -Carol Burnett

Latest posts by Melanie Gillott (see all)

• The Future is Mine club hosts career and college fair - March 30, 2017
• SHS student job shadows WPXI’s Peggy Finnegan - March 3, 2017
• Local singer moves to LA to pursue music career - March 1, 2017

Despite it being the the busiest time of the year, the Southmoreland Reading Buddies took the time out of their hectic schedules to spread happiness to the children of the Southmoreland Primary Center.

Around Christmastime a few years ago, Operation Santa Claus was having a book drive during the holiday season. Mrs. Jenna Hixson collected over 1,000 books for the organization.

Mrs. Hixson called Operation Santa Claus and asked where she could deliver the books, but they told her that the book drive was over.

“That was when I came up with the idea to start Reading Buddies,” Mrs. Hixson said.

During that time, Mrs. Hixson was getting her Masters in Reading and had to interview teachers at the Primary Center. There, she found out that there were children who didn’t have someone to read to them at home.

Every Friday the Southmoreland High School organization walks up the hill from the school to the primary center for the club. Each child who is in need of someone to read with gets assigned a Reading Buddy from the high school.

This past week however, the Reading Buddies went to sing Christmas carols with students kindergarten through first grade.

“Every year in December we go and sing with them,” Mrs. Hixson said. “They love it, and it is great for them. I think every child sings better than I do.”

The Reading Buddies and Primary Center students sang together in the gym, and some Reading Buddies even played instruments. They also did dances to “Must Be Santa” and “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”

Senior Alex Buato was able to play ukulele with his sister Joselyn. He joined the club during his freshman year His sister is a freshman.

“I was anti-social, so I thought joining Reading Buddies would be a good way to get out there,” Alex Busato said.

He said that he enjoyed being able to have fun with the little kids, especially because his little brother Daniel was in the audience. Because of his brother, he is able to connect with the children on certain thing, Alex said.

“It was an amazing opportunity to play for them, but it was kind of spur of the moment,” BAlex usato said. “The staff there was very appreciative.”

Sophomore Kaelei Whitlatch went to Reading Buddies for the first time this past week. The 16-year-old never got to be a part of Reading Buddies due to her busy schedule.

“It was a great experience,” Whitlatch said. “It was a lot of fun to see the kids so excited and entertained.”

Southmoreland junior Alison Huffman has been involved with Reading Buddies since her freshman year.

“Mrs. Hixson encouraged (my friend Allie and me) to get involved with it, and I love little kids, so I decided to try it out. I ended up loving it and I go as much as I can,” Huffman said.

Normally, she would have a kid that she would stand with, sing, and dance along to the Christmas songs. This year her experience caroling was different.

“This year the pianist didn’t show up,” Huffman said. “Mrs. Hixson asked if any of the high school students could play, so I played.”

Huffman said it was “a completely different experience” for her.

“It was neat because the kids didn’t care if we messed up a note or two, they sang along and had fun with the same amount of excitement that they always have,” she said.

Junior Allie Shreffler, who also has been a part of Reading Buddies since her freshman year, said that she got involved with Reading Buddies because she “wanted to help little kids learn to love reading.”

“My experience singing with them was amazing because the kids were so excited to sing with us and so were we,” Shreffler said.

The Reading Buddies meet every Friday in Mrs. Hixson’s room, 211.