It was December, and students were in classes, learning, just like any other day of school. Until students from Physics teacher Sohail Khan’s class entered, adorned in Santa hats and singing Christmas carols, bringing holiday spirit. After singing, they took donations for New Horizons, an organization for abused children. Little did students know how far their donation would go.

About $9,000 was gathered allowing the students from Khan’s classes to adopt children at New Horizons. Adopting children means providing everything they need for Christmas.

On Dec. 16, 36 students went to New Horizons to deliver the presents. Khan said the most memorable part was seeing the look on both the givers’ and receivers’ faces. He said this is the way life should be- helping each other and giving back.

Senior John Uchal said students also played with the children. Kids ripped away the wrapping from their shiny new nerf guns and started a nerf gun war against the students, playing with their new toys as if it was Christmas morning.

“It gives you a better understanding and appreciation for what you have,” Uchal said.

Ten days later, on Christmas Eve, one of the directors of New Horizons called Khan with some news. The children had decided, after receiving gifts and seeing the students’ generosity and kindness, to pool in the Christmas allowances they receive each year and help two other children from needy families.

“My emphasis always was kids helping other kids and these kids went on and perpetuated that energy by going and helping other kids,” Khan said.

The director told Khan he had never seen anything like that happen in the thirty years he has been at New Horizons.

“It is one if those things where you do good and other good things will soon follow,” Uchal said.