'Wescott Together' to help Kentucky: Teachers and students sing carols, raise funds for tornado relief

Tornadoes and the holiday season usually don't mix.

Yet they did, south of us, during the overnight hours from Dec. 10-11, and within a week, the charitable, quick-thinking teachers at Northbrook's Wescott School assembled Caroling for Kentucky on the school's circle drive to raise money for people affected by the storms.

"We wanted to do something before the break, and have the children involved," said Wescott first-grade teacher Sharon Latek, who got the ball rolling with fourth-grade teacher Courtney Sislow; they are both part of Wescott's Helping Hands committee.

Approved by Principal Chris Brown, the result was Caroling for Kentucky on Dec. 16-17. Teachers and students sang holiday tunes, Christmas carols and Hanukkah songs from the elementary school's front drive on Western Avenue as students arrived and when school let out.

The event raised $1,325.02 through freewill donations, which the Helping Hands Club committee will send to the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund, initiated by Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear to assist people affected by the tornadoes.

Latek said the event showed "character is an important part of teaching life lessons for the kids, and just caring about others."

During the four sessions over two days, every staff member signed up to join in the caroling at least once, she said.

Former Wescott students, now in high school and college, also showed up to give their support and listen. So did residents from the neighborhood and people walking their dogs.

"People were very generous," Latek said. "It was a nice way for all our families to see Wescott kind of coming together. That is our theme, too, is 'Wescott Together.'"