There was a festive mood in the lobby at Simonton Windows' Ellenboro plant. But this wasn't another company holiday party. These youngsters, their teachers and their principals, were about to see what Santa's helpers had made for them...hundreds of brand new windows that, by January, will adorn their school buildings.

"They have a very high energy efficiency," says General Manager Russ Chaney. "I think the school system is going to see lower costs from this. We put some bronze tint in to keep the sunlight out, and that will help that efficiency even more."

"Not only will the kids enjoy it, I think the teachers will," said Bob Daquilante, Superintendent of Ritchie County Schools, "and also our community, too, for everything Simonton has done for us. We really appreciate that, too, on their part."

That means Ritchie County is saving with both the partial donation and the expected savings from energy efficiency. And giving this an even greater holiday feeling, is that many of the people who constructed them are parents of these children.

"As we walked through the plant, they were very excited about seeing the children come out, and see some of their parents working at the plant," Chaney says. "It was a good way to spend the day prior to Christmas."

The windows are being provided to Ritchie County's four elementary schools at a substantially reduced cost.

They will be installed at most of the schools prior to the beginning of classes after the holidays.