Charity begins at home and ends abroad. And while the students at Over-the-Rainbow Academy and Kids Care Center, may not fully grasp this concept, the school's staff believe that children are never too young to learn.  And in the spirit of the season, the school, on behalf of its 70 students donated four boxes non-perishable food items to the Ranfurly Home for Children.

While the donation may not seem significant, Over-the-Rainbow Academy and Kids Care Center director of education, Orient Edgecombe says at the school they believe that teaching children how to have a generous spirit was their focus during this season of giving. In doing so, they helped out a charity in the school's neighborhood which is located on Montgomery Street  in Palmdale.

"Children are never to young to know how to give back and share what they have," says Edgecombe. "Of course the parents were the ones who gave the food but the idea was to let the students see how good giving was. We had a special assembly that taught the students about giving thanks and how they can be generous not only in the season but throughout the year. It was very effective and some parents even said their kids went home and pestered them to give to the school to help the other kids."

The donation was a good exercise for the students, who range from below the age of one to four-year-old. Since it is the holiday season and children tend to think only of themselves, the school's teachers decided it would do the students good to give back to their community, and to teach students that there are other children not as fortunate that need help.

"The children are young and we tend to say they can't or won't understand concepts like giving and being generous. But at our school we strongly believe that kids can understand and are willing to give," said Edgecombe.

The lesson was one, Gerline Ferguson, president of the school's Parent Teacher Association was pleased that it was being taught to her child at school.

"I think it was exceptional that the school has taken so much time to teach the children about being thankful and giving to others. I was pleased with the production and the kiddie play they had to teach the kids about these things. It was really special. My son, Kendrick, was excited about it and it makes teaching him good values easier," she says.

Shanria Cooper, parent of student Rowan Cooper says teaching children from early on that the Christmas season is not about receiving and presents is a passion of hers.

Cooper who is also the vice-president of the PTA, says her son may be young but she is happy to know he is catching on quickly that giving is better than receiving. She hopes that with good examples from home and school will help him to grow up to be a giving and loving individual.

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