For the third consecutive year, the Oviedo High School student media programs, (Newspaper, Yearbook, WROR-TV, Digital Lions Productions) are hosting a fun and festive breakfast for the holidays that doubles as a fundraiser that will help pay for the work they value. This event will be held on December 14th in the Commons, starting at 7:00AM. Tickets are $10 for adults, and kids under 10 years old eat free.
“It’s a pancake breakfast fundraiser–An all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast.” Mr. Patterson, the Digital Media teacher, explained.
The event has been going on for years now, but only recently has the money raised been going towards student media. It all started a few years ago, when the soccer team did this exact fundraiser.
“Soccer used to do it every year before the pandemic, but when the pandemic happened, they stopped doing it,” Patterson explained. “And so a couple years ago, I checked with Coach Waisanen and asked if he wanted to do the fundraiser again. They declined, so we decided to do it between me and Mr. Langevin.”
The actual process of the fundraiser goes like this: student volunteers and teachers involved in Media Production gather in the Commons in the morning, bringing pancake mix and griddles.
Tsundae Lavineir, a senior in Digital Design Production, said, “We do this in the cafeteria… You work behind where they pass out food during lunch.”
Besides making pancakes and passing them out, students also volunteer to make, pass out, and refill drinks.
“The last time we did this, I was in the back. It was really stressful, because we ran out of drinks very fast. But it was fun.”
This is not all, as the event actually plans on expanding a bit more.
“Our idea is to build out a craft table, and really make it an event for families to come to and enjoy, hopefully,” Patterson said. “Because the draw is not just Pancake Breakfast, nobody wants to show up just for pancakes. It is a holiday event. You’ve got Santa, you’ve got pictures, and you have the holiday crafts that we’re going to kind of build out more this year.”
Of course, the person who makes this event special is Santa himself. Jeff Davidson has been taking on the role of Santa for a long time, and plans on doing it again for this fundraiser.
“He is actually a former parent, and he’s done the role of Santa for years now. He does it for the neighborhood,” Patterson said.
Santa stays the entire breakfast, and anyone at the event may grab a quick picture with him.
“We’re definitely gearing it towards families, but if teenagers want to come and take pictures with Santa, that’s great. Even as teens, it’s fun to take pictures with Santa,” Patterson said.
The main goal of this fundraiser is to gather enough money to help pay for students in programs like Newspaper, Digital Productions, Yearbook, etc.
Madison Toledo, a junior, said, “I’ve been in our film program– this is my third year in a row and third doing this fundraiser. This is my second year in TV Production too… At least for TV Production, there’s a big convention at the end of the year. It is now $700– it was $2,000, but if we sell tickets, any of the money that we earn goes towards our fees for that.” Toledo went on to say, “Even if we’re not going on a field trip, we get money for our program, and for new equipment.”
The Breakfast with Santa Fundraiser has been proven to be a success and a fun and festive event for kids, teens and parents alike. Santa has truly spread the Christmas spirit by helping grant the wishes of our media teams, and of course, bringing wonderful pancakes for all.
