Members of Holly Worrell’s Life Skills class at Oak Harbor High School got a special visit last Friday from Santa’s Elves — but these were very special elves indeed.

Personnel from Patrol Squadron 40 at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, including Cmdr. Brett Mietus, carried in armloads of gifts, winning delighted cries from students, which elicited big grins from the Fighting Marlins.

The event was the brainchild of Naval Aircrewman Operator Second Class Glyn Schopen and his wife, Lonnie, whose son, Jayson, is in the class.

“Every time we relocate, wherever it is, we adopt a class,” explained Lonnie. “When we got here we found out (Ms. Worrell) was buying class supplies out of her own money and we wanted to help.”

The Schopens asked Worrell to make a “Christmas” list of all the supplies she needed. Glyn took it to his fellow Fighting Marlins.

“I addressed the shop, telling them I’d like for us to raise money or donate gifts to help these kids out for Christmas,” Glyn said. “They were on board.”

In all, VP-40 personnel raised $300 in cash and donated another $100 in gifts. The Schopens matched the amount and went shopping for items on the list. At the party, students opened packages containing items like Legos, small white boards, mops, plastic storage bins and much, much more.

“It’s breath-taking. I did not expect this,” said Worrell, who has been at OHHS for about a year a half.

“It’s going to be insanely helpful,” she continued. “When I buy things I usually buy curriculum, so some of the stuff we have is as much as 30 years old.”

“It is a challenge getting supplies,” said Janice Gaare, director of special programs for the Oak Harbor School District.“As we’ve seen a decrease in funding it has left almost no funding for supplies.”

But the visit was about more than a party and presents. It was about community, too.

“It really inspires teachers and students and shows how much the community supports them,” Gaare said.

“It’s very important to do this,” said Glyn. “It lets the community know the Navy is there to help them in any kind of need. We’re here and we can be an extra set of hands.”

“It’s community involvement my population of students don’t usually get,” said Worrell.

Students had a gift of their own to share with the Fighting Marlins. They presented VP-40 with a huge card that read “Thank you” and “Happy Holidays” on the front. When they opened it up, it was filled with personal letters of thanks from all the students.

Then is was time to get down to business, as students had baked cookies for their visitors to decorate. Sailors and students shared tables and chatted with one another as they spread icing on the cookies and adorned them with sprinkles and different colored icing.

The social aspect of the gathering was a good exercise for students, one they had been preparing for all week.

“It’s probably one of the best days for the students, because they get a lot of attention and they get to socialize,” Lonnie said. “I’m sure they’re overwhelmed and overjoyed.”

“We spent the whole week talking about this. It’s a big change in our schedule,” Worrell said. “My kids don’t get a lot of this kind of social interaction. It’s all good things they need to learn.”

“You can see the excitement and the enthusiasm of the kids,” agreed Gaare. “It’s exciting for them.”

Before Navy personnel left, Cmdr. Mietus had one last gift for the students – one for each of them that they got to take home and open later.

“Thank you for inviting us today,” Mietus told the students. “This is the absolute best thing any of us will do all day.”