NIU greeks are in the Christmas spirit this year as the houses celebrate with a variety of activities.

Several chapters, including Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Phi, Sigma Kappa, Phi Kappa Sigma and Sigma Sigma Sigma, are visiting Barb City Manor, a DeKalb retirement home, to spend time with the residents. They will sing carols, play bingo, hand out prizes and just sit and talk with the elderly.

Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity invited preschool children from the DeKalb/Cortland Preschool to a Christmas party today at their house, 1300 Blackhawk Dr., Philanthropy Chairman Peter Zaikowsky said.

They also have invited women from each sorority to play with the kids and take them to see Santa Claus, who will appear at the party, he said. The children, ages three to five, will receive gifts at the party including Tonka trucks and Cabbage Patch dolls.

Lois Schwanke, a teacher at the DeKalb/Cortland Preschool, said, “We really appreciate it … we thank them for it.”

Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority is having a party for the Special Physical Education Clinic in Anderson Hall Saturday morning, ASA Philanthropy Chairman Audrey Milliron said.

About 60 to 70 women from the house will sing carols and put on a skit for the students. They also made each person an ornament which they will present with a bag of candy at the end of the party, Milliron said.

Phi Kappa Sigma will hold a Christmas party on Dec. 16 at 2:30 p.m. at the Children’s Learning Center Inc., 715 S. First St., for children three and four years old.

Dr. Robert Morris, the fraternity’s academic adviser and the party’s Santa Claus, said, “I wanted them to do some beneficial work for the community.”

Laura Garrison, a teacher at the school, said the children are excited about the party, and “they’re doing Christmas artwork to give to Santa Claus” when he arrives.

Garrison picked out gifts for the children’s needs, and Phi Kappa Sigma will donate the funds for them. She focused on educational materials such as books, special games and things which fit the individual child’s needs.

She said,”We are certainly appreciative” of the fraternity’s participation.

Chapters also are having individual parties and dances in their houses. Delta Gamma is having a Christmas dinner with their favorite professors tonight.

Alpha Delta Pi will go caroling and donate toys and coats to the Salvation Army. The members also will donate money to Phi Sigma Kappa for gifts to the preschool children.