VISD Special services winter wonderland

Victoria ISDโ€™s Special Services Department will host its ninth annual โ€œWinter Wonderlandโ€ event on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for students with complex needs within the district.

โ€œWinter Wonderlandโ€ is a completely donor-funded, volunteer-run event developed specifically for students to be able to participate in a traditional celebratory event structured to meet their unique sensory, developmental, and social needs. 

The theme of this yearโ€™s event is โ€œA Winter Wonderland in Whoville.โ€ Past yearsโ€™ themes have included Winter Wonderland in Toyland, Winter Around the World, Fairy Tale Winter Wonderland, and Candy Land. 

Students will get to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, experience Whoville-themed dรฉcor, receive gifts for all 275 of our most severe and profound students, complete with fine motor and communication-themed activity stations, holiday stories, cookies and punch with VISDโ€™s therapeutic staff, class pictures, a silent auction, craft bazaar and lots more.   

VISDโ€™s Special Services Department will offer a variety of specially-themed interactive stations for all students. In these stations, students will 

  • Walkthrough a life-sized Whoville 

  • Take a trip to the Whoville post office (creative writing) 

  • Engage in imaginary play during hands on gross motor activities

  • Grinchy literacy station with supports for readers of all levels 

  • Visit Mt. Crumpit and follow single/multi-step directions while in the Grinch's Lair 

  • Dance and sing around the Whoville community tree  

  • Participate in fine motor fun while helping the Grinchโ€™s heart grow 3 sizes 

  • Visit with Santa, Mrs. Claus, Cindy Lou Who, the Grinch, and a team of elves 

โ€œAfter almost a decade in our previous location, we are excited to be hosting this year's Winter Wonderland at the Early Childhood Center at F.W. Gross,โ€ said VISD Special Services Director Kelli Cotton. โ€œOur new location will allow us the opportunity to provide an exciting enrichment opportunity not only for our students with complex needs, but also for our early childhood students.โ€