For the ninth straight year, Pace High School sent two busloads of toys and choir singers to NBC 6 and Telemundo 51’s Caravan of Joy toy drive on December 11. Pace’s participation in the Caravan of Joy has become a nearly decade-long tradition, and the school’s Christmas Toy Drive has brought joy to girls and boys in South Florida.
Over 500 toys were donated by the Pace community and collected by members of the Drama Club, Pace Health & Medical Society, Leadership, National Honor Society, SGA, Science National Honor Society and Spartan Ambassador Society. Representatives from these groups delivered the toys to the driveway of Miramar Fire Station 84 just outside the NBC 6 & Telemundo 51 studios.
The Spartans in Harmony choir, conducted by Pace Drama lead teacher Cristina Pla-Guzman, donned Santa hats and sang Christmas carols on live TV for Telemundo’s Acceso Total and NBC 6’s 6 in the Mix. Principal Ana Garcia was interviewed by 6 in the Mix’ host Roxanne Vargas, a Pace alumna from the Class of 2002, who also spoke with students as they moved toys out of the bus.
In addition to being a part of the live broadcasts, the Pace students also got a tour of the NBC 6 studios after delivering the toys. They were lucky enough to be on stage and just off camera as Vargas interviewed four finalists from The Voice live via satellite. Students commented that this first-hand look into the intricacies of TV production was one that they would never forget. Their work as part of a years-long tradition in helping the South Florida community will no doubt be remembered as well.