Christmas came early for the students of Lori Brady’s special-education class this week when a group of Bristow Middle School students surprised the class with a brand-new video game console.

The nine students in Brady’s class used to have access to a 40-inch flat screen TV on which they’d play Nintendo Wii for hours. But that all ended in October, when the classroom was burglarized and the game system and TV vanished in the night.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Brady said. “By the time I got to my classroom in the morning, the police had already been here dusting for prints and investigating the scene. I didn’t want to scare the students, so I just told them the system was missing. I wasn’t sure how we’d replace the TV or the system, but the WEB kids came through for us.”

WEB is a program focused on welcoming and transitioning new students in the sixth and seventh grades to Bristow. But WEB students also spend each Friday lunch period with Brady’s students, and when they heard about what happened, the WEB leaders went to friends and family asking for donations to replace the system.

WEB advisor Robert Doctorelo said the students raised approximately $400, which they used to buy a new game console and multi-sport video game. The remaining money raised was given to the class in the form of a gift card.

“Yahoo!” cheered Christian Gattis as he jumped up and down after unwrapping the gift. “This is so cool!” he added, offering a big grin and two thumbs up.

Brady, who was able to borrow a smaller TV for the classroom, said she was especially touched by the WEB students’ gesture, since her special-ed students are a part of county-sponsored program separate from the Brentwood Union School District.

“When I heard what the students had done, I was so overwhelmed all I could do was cry,” Brady said. “I couldn’t help it. I can’t believe these students did this for us. They are so generous and kind to these kids.”

As a thank-you to the WEB students, Brady invited them to participate in her class’s Los Posadas celebration.

The following WEB students helped raise the money to buy the game system: Melanie Brum, Madeline Bustos, Arianna Casabonne, Kellie Chudzinski, Nick Dobbertin, Amanda Duong, Adriana Ghiozzi, Gabie Giavich, Nick Larson, Erin Palmer, Brett Peterson, Jenna Rodrigues, Janae Rodriguez, Hannah Simmons, Jake Strauss, Abby Swan, Dani Tamura, Kaya Troye, Megan Vernoy, Lexi Wallen, Hailey Winton and Natalie With.