Stratford, CT – Students from St. Mark School in Stratford got a surprise when they arrived at school Wednesday morning to find their principal dressed up as a Scout Elf, along with Santa Claus himself, throwing magic snow from the roof.
Car horns honked, bus horns honked, and families clapped and laughed.
This is the second year that St. Mark Principal Melissa Warner decided to spread some holiday cheer as Peppermint Sparkle, the St. Mark Elf on the Shelf.
Not only did Warner dress as the holiday icon, but she also hid in different places around the school where students were able to find her. Photos show her keeping an elf surveillance on the students so that she can report to Santa Claus.
When spotted, students gathered around her with smiles, squeals and waves.
There was a very serious debate in Kindergarten whether Mrs. Warner was a real elf. It was overheard that “Mrs. Warner can’t be a real elf because she is big and elves are small.”
“We are all about the kids here at St. Mark School; service to students above all else,” commented Warner. “As a Catholic school we spend the Advent Season preparing our hearts for the birth of Jesus. As an elementary school, we do what we can to bring joy and cheer.”
Just like the popular, sneaky little Elf on the Shelf, Peppermint Sparkle made some mischief wherever she went. Of all her antics, the students’ favorite was when she challenged the middle school students to a snowball fight.
Principal Warner admits there is not much she would not do to make her students smile. Last year, Peppermint Sparkle visited St. Mark School after a snowstorm. Students watched from their classroom windows as the elf sledded down hills of snow.
Parents helped the elf with her mischievousness this year, including a 2nd grade father dressing up as Santa himself.
“Seeing the looks on the kids’ faces made it all worthwhile,” shared Santa, aka Derek Masterbone. This is one small elementary school with educators that are going to bat for kids every day and going above and beyond to make things exciting and magical,” he said.