SIMI KIDS ON THE JOB FOR SANTA; PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS GATHER GIFTS FOR NEEDY.

Byline: Sylvia L. Oliande Daily News Staff Writer

Students in local public schools have a unique homework assignment this week, one designed to teach them the value of helping someone in need during the holiday season.

Toys already are streaming into Township Elementary School to send to the Ronald McDonald House, which provides lodging for families while children are undergoing cancer treatment far from home.

At Sinaloa Middle School, students received a wish list Tuesday that will enable them to play Santa Claus for two local families, both headed by single mothers.

At Royal High School, collection boxes have been placed in classrooms. Students have been asked to bring canned goods and other nonperishable food, supplies for babies and toiletries to make gift baskets for needy local families at Christmas.

There are other campus projects as students at all Simi Valley public schools join in the community's annual Care and Share campaign. This year about 600 low-income Simi Valley residents will get food and gifts.

``It tells you what kind of a community we are,'' said Willa Dobbs, director of the local food bank. ``Anytime there's a cause, the community seems to rally to it. The kids are just following suit to what their parents are doing. It feels good to help people in your neighborhood.''

While local families benefit from most of the gift-raising efforts, Township Elementary School children are collecting new toys for the Ronald McDonald House near Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.

Pam Bozinovski, a kindergarten teacher who has organized the drive at Township for eight years, said the local children don't meet the youngsters they are helping, but talk about their battle against illnesses.

``We tell them that sometimes children get sick and sometimes they need to be away from home to get the treatment for them to get well,'' she said.

Ronald McDonald House distributes donated toys year-round to children staying there or at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles for cancer treatments and surgery.

At Sinaloa, students plan to play Santa Claus to seven children in two families, as well as their mothers.

The families hope for clothes, shoes and toys. Students will begin bringing gifts to school this week to be wrapped and delivered to the families Dec. 19.

Diana Janke, Sinaloa's leadership teacher, said the students will supply everything from food for holiday meals to gifts and Christmas trees.

``The kids really go above and beyond,'' she said. ``They really identify with these families, and it's a really good learning experience for them, too, to know they are helping.

Care and Share, a 37-year-old charitable organization, coordinates efforts each year with the schools. The local food bank director said the community enjoys average household incomes higher than those in many regions, but there are needy as well as affluent Simi Valley residents.

``We have both, just like everywhere else,'' Dobbs said. ``Maybe you live in a really nice house, but you can only live there so long if you get hurt or out of work. . . . Simi is just an exceptional community. The people care, and that is evident in the response from the schools.''

CAPTION(S):

Photo

PHOTO Kindergarten teacher Pam Bozinovski, center, and sixth graders, from left, Tone Acosta, Timmy Jones, Sarah Grasso and Caise Burris show off toys collected at Township Elementary School for children with cancer.

Tina Gerson/Daily News