Santa Claus left his sleigh at home Wednesday, instead boarding a yellow school bus as he helped the Burns Elementary School preschool team deliver gifts and treats to their students.
BES preschool teacher Nikki Knott and instructional assistant Marie Mann coordinated with Santa so that he could bring some pre-Christmas cheer during a trying time.
“This is a way for us to get out and safely see them and bring a little Christmas joy,” Knott said. “It means the world to see their smiling faces. It brings tears to my eyes because you don’t realize truly how much you missed them until you see them again. It’s a nice little Christmas joy to see them.”
Knott, Mann and other helpers — along with Santa — delivered gift bags filled with a book, ornament kit, candy, a sweet treat and chocolate milk. Santa also delivered a jingle bell to each child — one that makes a ringing sound that “only those who truly believe in Santa and the Christmas spirit” can hear.
“To be able to see some of the good boys and girls and Burns Elementary School brings Santa a lot of joy,” Santa said. “We want to wish all the children a Merry Christmas.”
Knott said there have been many ups and downs as they’ve tried to navigate the semester with new students, but they’ve still made meaningful connections.
“It’s been a roller coaster of emotions,” she said. “We were thankful to be in school for a short time to meet our students, but the longer we’re out the more we miss them. We’re making the best of virtual and having fun doing it, but to see our kids faces is what we want the most.”
Inviting Santa to tag along was one of the many creative ways teachers and staff across Daviess County Public Schools are finding to uniquely celebrate the holiday season with their students during a difficult time.
For example, Highland Elementary School teachers and staff noticed their students’ disappointment that the 2020 Christmas Parade was cancelled, so they decided to create their own that will take place today.
Teachers are decorating their cars and will caravan through their students’ neighborhoods, escorted by the DCPS Police Department vehicles. HES principal Leslie Peveler said the parade is a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate resilience and perseverance — traits that have been important to children and adults this year.
In a similar event that will take place Friday, the staff at Sorgho Elementary School are holding a reverse Christmas parade — meaning SES students and their families have been invited to drive through the school campus at designated times.
Each grade level staff team is dressing up like characters from their favorite Christmas movies or shows, and they will hand out goodie bags to their students. The SES Leadership Team will hand out packets of hot cocoa and the SES Café Crew will also serve treats.
