First grade students at Sam Adams Elementary helped raise money and buy toys with the annual Candy Cane Sale. (Leader photo/SCOTT NOVAK)

The first grade students at Sam Adams Middle School are most certainly in the holiday spirit.

For more than five years, the staff at Sam Adams (formerly Squires Elementary) have been donating candy canes for the Toys for Tots Candy Cane sale.

The candy canes are sold on a pair of Friday afternoons in December. Students may purchase a candy treat for 25 cents and all the money raised is used to buy new toys for the Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots program.

This year, the classes at Sam Adams sold over 1,000 candy canes and raised a total of $272.

First grade teachers Angela Vega, Julie Allen and Renee Newland were instrumental in making the program a success once again.