On Monday night, Dec. 14, the staff of Olmstead School hosted a Christmas movie themed drive-through event that warmed the hearts and brought smiles to the faces of students, staff, and families alike!
As families entered the quarter mile of holiday cheer, they were greeted by librarian Jennifer Wilcutt and volunteer Alysse Nash, who provided treat bags to kids for collecting their Christmas goodies. Just ahead was the train engine from The Polar Express and its conductor, portrayed by guidance counselor Mr. Dobbs, who gave each child a gold coin and a golden ‘Believe’ ticket. From there, family vehicles traveled as if on the magic train from stop to stop along the route.
The first “stop” was at Whoville from How the Grinch Stole Christmas where students received Christmas ornaments from the Grinch (music and band teacher Clark). He was joined by the office staff and one of our nighttime custodians, who passed out candy, pencils, hot chocolate kits, and even threw snowballs at the cars as they passed!
Students could also drop off letters to Santa at a special mailbox that was said to have a direct line to his elves at the North Pole! The second stop was at Mickey’s Christmas Carol where cafeteria staff members passed out cookies and milk – a must for any kid at Christmas! The third stop was at A Charlie Brown Christmas, and preschool teacher “Ms. Janese” Campbell handed out Charlie Brown magnets from her table display of classic Charlie Brown Christmas trees and movie characters.
Upon leaving the Peanuts gang, students entered the forest of Christmas trees where Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer lives! There, primary staff passed out a variety of reindeer treats, including reindeer decorated water bottles and reindeer candy canes. Next up was Frosty the Snowman where intermediate teachers passed out snowman crafts and snowman Christmas mugs.
From there, kids entered the kingdom of Arendelle from the movie Frozen where volunteer Makayla Chapman was dressed as Elsa and P.E. teacher Brandi Lindsey played the role of Olaf. This stop was coordinated by our FRYSC and library, and students received treat bags with bookmarks and candy as well as a family game such as Uno, Family Feud, Phase 10 or Skip – Bo.
Next came the Candy Cane Forest from the movie Elf where the middle school team and Elf, played by Mr. Adams, handed out some of Elf’s favorite treats such as pancake syrup, pop-tarts, spaghetti noodles, and candy. The final stop for the night was at the North Pole where Santa Claus (played by our board chairman Kenny Robertson) wished all of our students and their families a very Merry Christmas and the happiest of new years!
The night was a huge success, to say the least, as the event was expected to last for an hour but instead lasted two (!) as families lined Olmstead Road for nearly two miles bumper to bumper from the school to Highway 79. Well over 250 students were in attendance, and that’s not surprising because in addition to all of the giveaways and warm greetings by staff at each of the “stops,” families were able to tune into holiday music thanks to the donation of a radio transmitter, or they could listen to Christmas music being played at the stops along the route. They were greeted by blowups such as Santa Claus, a gingerbread man, and Frosty.
And in the spirit of having family movie nights at Christmas, all staff were dressed in their matching buffalo check pajama pants and t-shirts related to their movies such as Rudolph and the Grinch!
Monday night was a very special night for the Olmstead School community. What began as a “small” Christmas event to be hosted by our FRYSC Director Raquel Nash and our library blossomed into so much more! It was a wonderful blessing for all to be able to be together in person in a time in history such as we have never seen.
So in the spirit of the season, and to borrow a few lines from Clement Clarke Moore, author of Twas the Night Before Christmas, as the last car “drove out of sight,” we proclaimed, “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.” J