Kids shared their Christmas wish lists with Santa and dined on breakfast after during the Early Childhood Family Education’s Breakfast with Santa, held in the school commons on Saturday morning.
Besides that, they could cut out play dough cookies, make ornaments, mix up reindeer feed and write and mail letters to the North Pole.
It’s the first time the event has been held in six years, said second grade teacher Kaitlynn Aug and third-grade teacher Sidney Johnson, who were elving for ECFE coordinator Ashley Genelin. Genelin had a prior commitment.
Around the commons parameter was a score of Christmas trees, decorated with ornaments made by the elementary classes. The theme of the decorations came from a book that each class had chosen.
Head chef Monica Manzey served the breakfast.
Above: Third graders Davin and Nolan McLister and their sister Emmy pose for a photo with Santa.
Santa takes in the Christmas wishes of a group of kids.
Jordie Seely writes a letter to Santa as mom Stephanie looks on.
Student helper Sophie Shouler shows kindergartner Chloe Schultz and her younger sister Paisley how to cut play dough with cookie molds. Looking on are parents Jessica and Peter Schultz.
Logan Meyer pens a letter to Santa. The daughter of Mike and Kylee Meyer, she is a member of Tonya Baker’s kindergarten class.
Ornament making.
With his burgundy suit, including a gold swirled shawl, Santa went retro.
Logan Meyer stuffs her letter to Santa into the mailbox while Chloe and Paisley Shultz wait in line.
Second-grade teacher Kaitlynn Aug and third-grade teacher Sidney Johnson pose with Santa.
Sidney Johnson (right) helps bag reindeer feed.
Third graders Davin and Nolan McClister watch sister Emmy mail off her Christmas wish list.
Sidney Johnson watches first grader Seth Strobel mix reindeer chow.
Michelle Sargent makes ornaments with her sons.
Ornament construction
Third-grade teacher Heather (Germscheid) Smith (left) and her children Lucy, James and Henry and their grandmother Heather Germscheid (STEM specialist) pose with Santa.
A snow-covered football field made an apt backdrop to this group of trees.
With a basketball hoop somehow attached to its tree, Brady Hahn’s sixth-grade class has some serious sports fans.
Bree Meyer’s sixth-grade class made Grinch bulbs for its tree. Their book was “The Grinch that Stole Christmas.”
Katie Wolf’s fifth-grade class made tree ornaments from popsicle sticks. Their book was “How to Catch a Reindeer.”
Jeff Skinner’s fifth-grade class topped popsicle sticks with ornaments for its tree. The class read "Mooseltoe."
Cassidy Block’s fourth-grade class colored bulbs for its tree. Their book was “Snowmen at Christmas.”
Emily Manser’s fourth-grade class made wooden Santa portraits from tree branch sections. The class read "Santa Claus is Coming to Town."
Heather Smith's third-grade class decorated its tree with personalized wooden blocks, each with a holiday motto. The students read "Treasury of Christmas Carols."
Since their book was “Elf,” it made sense that Sidney Johnson’s third-grade students made elf hats to decorate their tree.
Wendi Honza’s second-grade class stuffed clear bulbs for its tree. The class’s book was “Willowby’s Christmas Tree.”
Clara Weiser’s second-grade class made Grinch ornaments.
Kaitlynn Aug's second-grade class’s book was “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.” Appropriately, their ornaments were the book’s protagonist.
Brooke Vogel’s first-grade class made effigies of themselves as elves to decorate its tree. Their book was “How to Catch an Elf.”
Ashley Genelin’s first-grade class frosted bulbs for its tree. Their book was “Santa is Coming to Minnesota.”
Maggie Wideman's first-grade class made snowman and ice cream cone ornaments for its tree. The book for the tree’s theme was “Sneezy Snowman.”
As the book that Karin Miller’s kindergarten students read was “Rock Star Santa,” they decorated CDs for their tree.
Tonya Baker’s kindergarten students made ornaments of photos of themselves pasted on sleds to decorate their tree. Their book was “Snow Day.”
Students in Katie Hollerich’s kindergarten class were angels on their tree. Their book was “If You Take a Mouse to the Movies.”
Jesse Lindsay’s preschoolers made feathered ornaments.