Wellington High’s great example

In my hour drive to Rosenwald Elementary School in South Bay last week, I didn’t know what to expect.

As a Pennsylvania transplant, I haven’t explored all of Palm Beach County. As a reporter, my coverage area ends at the western side of Wellington and Loxahatchee Groves.

The communities near Lake Okeechobee were uncharted territory. I had heard stories that the towns were impoverished, but I’d never seen for myself until I went to the school to watch the fifth-graders all receive new bicycles.

Wellington High School students have been going west every year for the last two decades to spread Christmas cheer. They raised about $5,000 to buy the bikes for the fifth-graders and presents for every child in the school.

And it was an amazing Matt Morgan experience.

When I first showed up at the school, a friendly secretary chatted with me about how the school is finally getting some attention from the media. I then went to the courtyard, where I watched the kindergarten students dance and get presents from Santa.

About 30 minutes later, it was time for the main event. The fifth-graders started walking out to the courtyard, and a school employee looked at me, smiled and said “get ready.”

The bikes were already set up on nearby basketball courts, but the students had to be a little patient. Before it was time to go get their longawaited gifts, the emcee told them to walk over slowly and calmly, so they could get a picture.

Most of the children broke into a sprint to grab their first Christmas gift of the season. For some, it might have been their only one.

In the comments on the story on the Post on Wellington Facebook Page, a reader said that in a previous year, she saw a student put his wrapped gift into his backpack instead of opening it. He said that would be his only present last year.

The kids were very courteous. One boy biked up to me — a total stranger — and wished me a “Merry Christmas.” Another ran ahead when it was time to go inside and held the door for all his classmates and the adults.

In addition to setting an incredible example for adults in Palm Beach County, the Wellington High students are really helping out people who need it.

This holiday season, I urge you to do the same. Drop a dollar in a charity bucket, buy a gift for a child who might not get many or volunteer at a soup kitchen.

You’ll be making someone’s day better.