12/20/21—Christian Stefanoski hugs a plush manatee from Santa and eyes a sugar cane. Santa arrived on an East Manatee Fire Rescue truck to delight of pre-kindergarteners and ESE students at Bashaw Elementary School.
Tiffany Tompkins
ttompkins@bradenton.com
Bradenton
Pre-K and ESE students got a taste of Christmas on Monday when Santa arrived on an East Manatee Fire Rescue truck to deliver goodies.
Young students at William H. Bashaw Elementary School each received a stuffed toy, a book provided by the Early Learning Coalition, and a candy cane while sitting with Santa.
The students then posed with the jolly guy, played by firefighter Tanner Carlson, for a photo that will later be sent home to parents.
“This is an annual event for us, with a new person playing Santa every year. This will be a first to have a firefighter play the part,” said teacher Sharon Harrison, who collects gently used stuffed toys through the year with volunteer Ronay Reed.
Before heading out to the bus loop to greet Santa, Harrison made sure to tell the students that what they receive from Santa today is only something to play with until they get their other gifts on Christmas.
12/20/21—Christian Stefanoski hugs a plush manatee from Santa and eyes a sugar cane. Santa arrived on an East Manatee Fire Rescue truck to delight of pre-kindergarteners and ESE students at Bashaw Elementary School. Tiffany Tompkins ttompkins@bradenton.com
12/20/21—Children wave as Santa arrives on an East Manatee Fire Rescue truck to delight of pre-kindergarteners and ESE students at Bashaw Elementary School. Tiffany Tompkins ttompkins@bradenton.com
12/20/21—Santa arrived on an East Manatee Fire Rescue truck to delight of pre-kindergarteners and ESE students at Bashaw Elementary School. Tiffany Tompkins ttompkins@bradenton.com
12/20/21—Kingston Cooper received a fluffy bear from Santa and a candy cane. Santa arrived on an East Manatee Fire Rescue truck to delight of pre-kindergarteners and ESE students at Bashaw Elementary School. Tiffany Tompkins ttompkins@bradenton.com
12/20/21—Santa talks with Bailey Yoder after giving her a stuffed toy. Santa arrived on an East Manatee Fire Rescue truck to delight of pre-kindergarteners and ESE students at Bashaw Elementary School. Tiffany Tompkins ttompkins@bradenton.com
12/20/21—Santa arrived on an East Manatee Fire Rescue truck to delight of pre-kindergarteners and ESE students at Bashaw Elementary School. Tiffany Tompkins ttompkins@bradenton.com
12/20/21—Skylar Whightsel accepts a purple bunny from Santa, who arrived on an East Manatee Fire Rescue truck to delight of pre-kindergarteners and ESE students at Bashaw Elementary School. Tiffany Tompkins ttompkins@bradenton.com
12/20/21—Sharon Harrison’s class walks in line to greet Santa, who arrived on an East Manatee Fire Rescue truck at Bashaw Elementary School. Tiffany Tompkins ttompkins@bradenton.com
12/20/21—Children line up for the arrival of Santa, who came on an East Manatee Fire Rescue truck at Bashaw Elementary School. Tiffany Tompkins ttompkins@bradenton.com
12/20/21—Carter Sullivan gets a stuffed horse from Santa, who arrived on an East Manatee Fire Rescue truck at Bashaw Elementary School. Tiffany Tompkins ttompkins@bradenton.com
12/20/21—Lidia Garcia hugs her unicorn while Rachel Watson holds her bear. Santa arrived on an East Manatee Fire Rescue truck to delight of pre-kindergarteners and ESE students at Bashaw Elementary School. Tiffany Tompkins ttompkins@bradenton.com
12/20/21—Connor Brandt smiles after getting a toy from Santa, who arrived on an East Manatee Fire Rescue truck at Bashaw Elementary School. Tiffany Tompkins ttompkins@bradenton.com
12/20/21—Jake Hartness smiles with his toy from Santa, who arrived on an East Manatee Fire Rescue truck at Bashaw Elementary School. Tiffany Tompkins ttompkins@bradenton.com
12/20/21—Addalee Reed smiles at Santa, who arrived on an East Manatee Fire Rescue truck to visit with pre-kindergarteners and ESE students at Bashaw Elementary School. Tiffany Tompkins ttompkins@bradenton.com
Tiffany Tompkins is the Bradenton Herald’s Visual Lead; shooting, editing and producing photographs and videos for the newspaper and online since 1999. Tiffany is a graduate of State College of Florida.
