January 1, 2007

Willow Glen officially kicks off holiday season with tree-lighting

By Joe Proudman
Staff Writer

Community residents gathered at Willow Glen Elementary on Nov. 29, a week after the Thanksgiving holiday, to officially kick off the Christmas season.

Sofia Kupper, 6, and Holland Kupper, 3, sit on Santa’s lap at the annual holiday gala. Santa Claus lit the small tree that sits on top of the balcony of the new building at Willow Glen Elementary, which blocks the view of the big redwood that is traditionally lighted. Photos by Joe Proudman

An estimated 700 to 1,000 people turned out to Willow Glen Elementary for the annual gala, which featured five performing groups, pizza sales, book sales, a food drive, Santa Claus and the yearly tree lighting.

The five performing groups included the Willow Glen High School choir, along with the middle school band and choir, Willow Glen Elementary choir and Willow Glen third through fifth graders.

“It’s really more than a school event,” said Willow Glen PTA President Leslie Chamberlain. “It’s a community event.”

“I think that’s what makes it feel so good, is the familiar faces,” said Willow Glen Principal Dayle D’Anna.

The more familiar faces in the crowd were Santa Claus and San Jose City District 6 City Councilmemember Pierluigi Oliverio. He briefly made an appearance due to a previous commitment dealing with traffic calming, but was represented throughout the night by his office staff.

The event might not have taken place if wasn’t due to the financial efforts of Oliverio’s office and other contributors, such as Majuri Farms and the Willow Glen Business Association. The school was unable to come up with the $1,500 necessary for a sound system, cherry picker to put on the tree lights and other necessary funding.

“They really helped put this event on,” said past PTA president and event chair Alexander Hoppe.

The climax of the night came when Santa lit a small tree on the upper deck of Willow Glen Elementary’s new front building, along with the giant redwood outside. Normally only the redwood would be lit, but because the new building blocks the view of the tree, organizers decided to light a small tree inside the campus.

In the future, if anyone would like to make donations toward the annual event, they are urged to contact the school for more information.

Overall, organizers were pleased with the turnout of the family event. After changing locations over the many years it’s been around, community members continue to make a strong appearance.

“You walk around down here and you recognize every other face,” Chamberlain said. “It’s a friendly atmosphere.”