Santa Claus came a bit early this year for students at Staten Island's Seton Foundation for Learning.

On Monday, NYPD Highway Patrol Unit 5 escorted Santa, plus toys and gifts, to the Staten Island preschool and elementary school.

What You Need To Know

  • Students at a Staten Island school went home with holiday gifts on Monday thanks to the NYPD
  • Seton Foundation for Learning is a nonprofit school which serves students with disabilites
  • Detective Thomas Cerbone began the tradition 11 years ago

All 60 students at the school Monday went home with a gift from Santa.

“It's such an important experience for our children and our families. A lot of times, our students just can't go out to the mall. It's too overstimulating. There's too much going on, and they can't be out in the community that way. So our families get to experience with the children. They get to see Santa, take pictures. They got to be kids,” said Diane Taranto, the director of elementary school programs at Seton Foundation for Learning.

Seton Foundation for Learning is a nonprofit school which serves students with disabilites.

Detective Thomas Cerbone began the holiday tradition 11 years ago, leaning on fellow police officers and their families for the bulk of the donations.

“Something good happened to me at work and I said, 'If I'm given this honor and privilege, then I'm going to pay this forward.' And I started 11 years ago and it's going stronger than ever,” Cerbone said.

Cerbone said the tradition will keep going for years to come.

“I've been around a long time, but when I'm done, I'll be back every year no matter where I am. I will be back. And members of Highway Patrol Unit 5 based on Staten Island will carry this tradition on. It doesnt stop when Ileave. It's just the beginning” Cerbone said.