Neillsville Special Education Class Brings Holiday Cheer to the Community
Wednesday, December 4th, 2019 -- 1:35 PM
-This year, and the past few years, if you’ve gone through Schuster Park during the holiday season, you may have noticed the lights display.The lights have been put up by the Special Education Class at the Neillsville High School. The project was started 4 years ago with Tia Opelt, now Gross, and High School Special Education Teacher Scott Goeppinger has continued the project. He explained how it got started. (And please note, this interview was done just before Thanksgiving, so some time frames may not match up in Mr. Goeppinger's responses.)
“It was just an idea from one of the helpers and they decided to do it. It’s kind of grown from there. All people have skills, and I think the kids in the class, one of their best skills in loving people and spreading kindness. And I feel the lights are an example of that. They’re just so excited and happy and giddy would be a great word too! So, when we’re putting up the lights, they’re giggling and laughing and I think it’s their way of sharing that will the City of Neillsville and anyone else that comes along.”
He also explained when they start decorating for the holiday season.
“We started October...a little bit before Halloween, I believe. And we’ve been going steady since then. I believe we’re done as of this morning at 11am. Amy Gerhardt’s class helped us finish up the, I call it the gazebo, part there. It’s been a long haul. We do little bits at a time. It’s a lot of work. It’s a ton of work! Wrapping the trees and getting all the cords together. We have a timer for every cord and every light, so getting those timers matched up. That will be my job. When I turn it on to see if I did it right or not! We’ll find out!”
Scott said they do a pretty big portion of the park.
“We do a lot of it. We start from the metal bridge and then we go up to the gazebo. And we do some lights along there. And we have a 3 or 4 archways along the path. So, it’s a good amount. And we ran out of lights, so I think we’re done!”
He also explained where the lights come from.
“I believe there was a sizeable donation last year. We’ve bought a lot of stuff that way. Honestly, I’m not sure, but I think it was donations from the staff, originally, and donations from the city. And thank you for the past donations from everyone who gave. It’s been a great help and a wonderful thing for our kids to do.”
Scott said this project is a great one for the Special Education Class.
“Like I said, they all have different skills. And sometimes…, we met a lady in the park the other day and we were talking and she started crying. And there are people that are by themselves for Christmas because their families are in different places. And back to that sharing love and kindness, those kids are just awesome at that. And so, that’s kind of what they do. As a skill, we’re working on a task and trying to build up job skills for them, eventually. After they leave high school, we work on skills for the after school life and some of those things are following tasks and building up skills for post high school. So, it’s a combination of everything. A little sharing the love and a little getting better skills to share later on in life. And it’s fun too! We have a blast!”
Scott ended our interview by offering his thanks to all those that help them with this project.
“I just want to thank all the people that have donated in the past. And thank you to Amy Gerhardt’s class that helped assist us today with some beautiful time of people hanging out together and getting work done. Everybody pitched in and it was really cool. I hope the season brings togetherness for everyone and kindness and love. And that’s what this represents and I hope our little light show shares that with people.”
If you get some time, make sure you travel through Schuster Park in the evening to admire the lights and offer your thanks to the Neillsville Special Education Class.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.