CLEVELAND — Chilly weather is normal in Northeast Ohio at this time of year, but it's not normal at all for many students at 3News' adopted school, Natividad Pagan International Newcomers Academy in Cleveland. Many of the school's 700 students hail from warmer climates, and are currently experiencing their first blast of wintry weather.

Administrators at the school, which serves children whose families have recently arrived in Cleveland from foreign countries, say their biggest challenges revolve around helping students with basic needs.

"The children wear sandals to school when it's snowing," Principal Marisol Burgos said. "We put donated clothes on the table and they disappear."

That's why WKYC Studios organized a unique "Winter Wonderland" party at Natividad Pagan on Thursday: To equip the students with warm apparel and also give them a chance to sample fun winter activities. Our partners included Community West Foundation and the Shoes and Clothes for Kids organization, which provided each student with a pair of new boots plus socks, a hat, and gloves. Representatives from the Cleveland Monsters were also present in the school gym to teach the kids the basics of their winter sport and introduce them to Sully, the team mascot.

WKYC employees went all out to provide activities in keeping with the Winter Wonderland theme, including creating snowflake and penguin ornaments at the craft table and tossing fabric snowballs in the game area. To the children's delight, a 12-foot inflatable Bumble snowman towered over the party, and Santa was there to listen to their hopes and wishes.

Many businesses and nonprofits pitched in to make the party unforgettable, including Pro Lights, a veteran-owned business that installed lights and garlands inside the school for free. The Cleveland Kids' Book Bank also distributed 2,000 free books to students.

Thank you also to Krispy Kreme in Middleburg Heights for donating donuts for our volunteers, and to American Greetings, which donated 2,000 cards for students to decorate along with Crayola pencils and markers. We're also grateful to the many local knitters and crocheters who participate in Cleveland Public Library's Warm Up Cleveland program for donating handmade scarves to keep the little ones warm.