Hundreds of First Graders Attend Annual Holiday Event

COMMUNITY

Hundreds of First Graders Attend Annual Holiday Event
By Triphenya Bailey

Santa Made an Early Visit at
Hartsfield-Jackson on December 15.

Santa made an early visit to the world’s busiest airport this holiday season. More than 600 area first graders were in attendance the morning of Friday, December 15 for the annual “Holidays at Hartsfield-Jackson” event designed to reach students in elementary schools located near the Airport.

“Due to the residential development and growth in the areas surrounding the Airport, we have seen a significant increase in the number of students that we reach,” said Tracy Gilbert, program manager for the Intergovernmental Affairs unit of the Department of Aviation.

Puppets, magicians, and of course, Santa, are scheduled to entertain students as they gather in the former Georgia International Convention Center located adjacent to the Gateway Sheraton Hotel.

The Airport’s holiday tradition began in 1999 as an outreach to youngsters in the Atlanta Public and Clayton County school systems to foster reading and personal enrichment. It recently expanded to include a holidays around the world component that educates children about holiday customs outside the United States.