Winter wishes come true for Cascade High School students

LEAVENWORTH  — Over a hundred wishes came true for Cascade High School students this December, thanks to a little help from the community. 

For the second annual Winter Wishes event, Cascade High School students anonymously submitted one wish for themselves and one wish for a friend. The wishes ranged from a simple pizza to funding for drama club; one student even wished for their teacher to be recognized for their hard work. Community members helped grant these wishes by dropping off requested items at the CHS office.

In a culmination of a student organized Winter Spirit Week, the students distributed the granted wishes during a school-wide assembly on Dec. 19. The three hour event featured a screening of the 2018 film “The Grinch,” a pancake breakfast prepared by the CHS Culinary program with the help of Carl Haberberger, and holiday performances by the choir, jazz band and American Sign Language (ASL) program. Winter wishes were distributed throughout the event, with students not only excited to see their wishes granted, but for their friends’ granted as well, said CHS student Thayer Robison, who organized the event with fellow student Micah Wilder.

“The main takeaway was seeing how much impact a community-supported event can have within a school. Winter Wishes continues to show the importance of connection, generosity, and students looking out for one another. This year reinforced that the event has become a meaningful and valued tradition at Cascade High School,” said Robison.

In a last minute surprise, a community member donated ten $10 gift cards to Dan’s Food Market. The organizers decided to distribute them in a creative fashion: placing Christmas bows under the seats of ten random students in the cafeteria, then exchanging the bows for the gift cards.

“This allowed us to surprise even more students, including those who may have forgotten to make a wish. I am truly humbled by our community; their generosity helped make the Winter Wishes celebration a magical experience for everyone at CHS,” said Leadership teacher Roselyn Robison.

The ASB Executive President Arlo Gibbs dressed up as the Grinch for the assembly, closing the event with this movie-inspired quote:

"None of us are truly alone—we have each other, and the Leavenworth community, looking out for us. Remember, Kodiaks: it’s kindness and love that matter most this holiday season. As we leave today, please share the same kindness and love we’ve been shown, and the same kindness and love that warmed my Grinchy heart, with your community, your friends, family, and coworkers—beyond the walls of CHS. Have a wonderful Winter Break, Kodiaks."

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media