South Park Elementary Center has two real-life Elves on the Shelf — and unlike the popular holiday toy, these elves don’t stay put.
On Friday, Principal Kelli Dellarose and assistant principal Katelyn Vogel dressed in the familiar red-and-white outfits, taking on the role of the mischievous elves who traditionally watch children and report back to Santa Claus, usually from a different perch each day until Christmas.
The administrators use the Elf on the Shelf theme as a creative way to engage students and build excitement leading up to winter break.
At South Park, the elves are anything but stationary. They roam the school, dream up games and occasional mischief and interact with students in ways designed to spark joy. Their latest idea greeted the school’s 716 students in grades K-4 as they arrived, tossing plastic ducks in a duck-themed Elf on the Shelf event.
“Doing things like this helps to bring a little bit more magic into the building these last few weeks of school before break,” Dellarose said. “It is something else to keep them excited as they come to school. We want them to enjoy coming to school. Because these experiences will set them up for the rest of their school career.”
There was a lot of quacking going on as the elves and their teacher helpers tossed little plastic ducks at the students. To complement the day, a 10-foot bright yellow rubber duck was perched on top of the school — it traveled from Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop in Canonsburg. Christmas songs played in the background.
Teachers who own Jeeps parked in front of the school and had their vehicles decorated.
Jeep Ducking is where owners leave rubber ducks on other Jeeps as a way of connecting the Jeep community and appreciation for another Jeep’s personalized look. Owners often line the ducks on the dashboard.
Jeep owner Dawn Byron has been teaching first grade for 29 years. She said the planning takes a lot of time and thought, especially since they do something different every year.
“They keep me young,” said Byron. “I think the students were distracted with the little ducks being thrown towards them that they didn’t see the big duck on the roof right away.”
Fourth grader Magdalena Dorn got a ride to school.
“I was very surprised how they got that duck up there,” Dorn said. “I love ducks. My teacher loves ducks. I love this time of year because I love Christmas and spending time with my family and I love that our principal dressed as an elf.”
The South Park Elementary Center ducks were spotted in several locations on Friday.
Dellarose credited her colleagues, students, parents and the community with making the experience magical.
“The kids really get into it,” Dellarose said as it started to rain, perfect weather for the duck perched behind her on top of the school. “We want to make this place joyful and magical for children every day, and this is just one small way that we can. We know that if kids want to come to school, they’ll learn our biggest challenge is just getting them here. So we want to make school magical for them so they enjoy school for the rest of their careers.”
