On December 2nd, P.S. ARTS students from Camino Nuevo Charter Academy Burlington Campus stepped off a bus at LAX for Delta’s annual Holiday in the Hangar event. Delta, the official airline of P.S. ARTS and a generous supporter of our arts education programs, put together an incredible day filled with holiday fun and a few surprises.
Excited second graders, their teachers, and parent chaperones along with kids and families from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles were greeted by dozens of smiling Delta staff members (festively dressed in full elf attire) who had volunteered for the event. As we made our way through the security checkpoints, a few students shared with me that this was going to be their first time on an airplane — the excitement was palpable!
Once we arrived at the gate, the students were prompted to gather around a giant Christmas tree while TSA officers serenaded us with holiday carols. I have a secret hope that the bandleader will be manning the security checkpoint the next time I travel so I can tell him how much we all enjoyed the concert. After a sing along rendition of Pharrell’s “Happy,” the gate opened and the students boarded the plane. It was decked out in holiday decor including glitter snow, tinsel, and lights. The students were given the full in-flight experience by Delta’s friendly crew — complete with a safety check and snack service!
After a few short minutes, the plane “arrived” at the North Pole. We pulled into the hangar where students were welcomed by lights, music, cheering crowds, and special guests (including former Laker AC Green, Shay Mitchell of Pretty Little Liars, and Rowan Blanchard of Girl Meets World).
Students rotated through various activity booths, including hockey with representatives from the LA Kings, face painting, The GRAMMY Museum’s photo booth, and other arts and crafts. After lunch, just when the students thought the day couldn’t get any better, Santa arrived! Each child had an opportunity to meet Santa and received a gift to take home.
As they boarded the bus to head back to school, the teachers commented on how much everyone enjoyed the day. It was an incredibly successful event, and our students left with a whole lot of holiday cheer (and some very cool games and toys thanks to Delta and their partners). A heartfelt thank you to Delta for including P.S. ARTS and our Camino Nuevo Charter Academy Burlington Campus students in this very special day.
