By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

Students’ faces immediately lit up as they got their first glimpse of a room filled with everything from back scratchers to imitation gold necklaces at Valley Intermediate School on Dec. 5.

From Dec. 3- 7, parents and volunteers manned the school’s Santa shop to give kids an affordable way to purchase holiday items for their loved ones. Nothing in the shop was more than $7, and the tables were lined with gifts for all ages.

“The kids love it. They get so excited, and we have a lot of fun doing it,” said VIS PTO Santa shop coordinator Brenda Rottier.

Throughout the week, VIS classes took turns visiting the Santa shop, where PTO members helped them pick out gifts for everyone on their Christmas lists. On Dec. 5, cheerleaders from Riverchase Middle School spent the day helping the VIS kids shop and wrap their presents.

“They look forward to it every year,” said RMS cheerleading sponsor Ashley Bryant. “They get to take a day off from class and come help the kids here.”

The Santa shop is one of the VIS PTO’s major fundraisers each year, and has become an annual tradition at the school.

Rottier said popular items have been elf toys – which sold out on the first day of the shop – paracord bracelets, coffee mugs and jewelry.