Summer Schooling
June and summer schooling!
Headmaster Fernandez was very busy this June with Elf Summer School. Summer school at the North Pole is slightly different than it is around the world. It is held at night under the stars and the light of the moon. And summer school isn’t all about school either – it’s about acclimating to the dark as work activities are carried out, games are played, and food is being prepared. The lessons that we learned the previous Christmas Season, the debacles we made, the fumbling, bumbling boo-boos are tested, reinforced, and corrected for the upcoming season.
June is all about learning, relearning, correcting, and simply getting excited! Really, really excited!
It’s important that the reindeer shoes are customized. Training is offered on how to fit the reindeer hooves, so they don’t fall off as they fly. The leather harnesses are oiled and inspected to be sure they are in good working order – and that the shiny brass buckles are not scuffed or weakened.
The sleigh is inspected and reinforced with new bolts and nicks on the rudders are removed.
The red velvet Christmas bag is checked and reinforced to accommodate the ever-flowing gifts and toys.
New outfits are made each year for the Senior Elves and all other Elf outfits are repaired, re-buttoned and re-distributed.
Wrapping paper and ribbon is everywhere! Everyone participates in wrapping contests for speed and beauty. Prizes are given out for the perfect package, most extraordinary package decorating, and speed just to name a few. Gifts are never given in a bag – not ever! And some of the packages are real head turners!
Cookie, candy, and hot cocoa recipes are tested and agreed upon for the upcoming season. To have marshmallows or not to have marshmallows is always a heated debate. Food and drink are reviewed, and menu plans are created to maximize clarity, energy, and speed for the reindeer and the Elves!
New songs are created, learned, memorized, and sung. This is always so much fun to mix in some of the new songs in with the traditional and very much-loved Christmas songs. Oh, how our youthful Elves really enjoy playing the musical instruments and creating a new sound for all to hear and sing.
Santa’s special red suit is cleaned, brushed, restitched and ready for the season. Santa gets a new suit only once every 25 years or so because they are quality built! He has a couple that are his favorites and are very special. Two or three that are hundreds of years old that have been passed down over the years from the generations of Santa’s before. Santa doesn’t wear those treasured suits on Christmas Eve – but we admire them every year as Santa retells the stories of his Santa ancestors.
Speaking of stories… at the end of each night of summer schooling, everyone sits to listen to stories. Stories of past Christmas seasons. What went well, funny stories of things that went haywire, happy stories, and loving stories. They are told by the Elders at the Pole; Lutgardis, Mamertus and Antoninus. They simply love recalling stories from the past, sharing their experiences, and speaking to wonderful Christmas’ past.
But since I, Mrs Claus, am writing this note to all of you – I have to share my favorite part of the June summer schooling. Each year, I get a brand new red or green dress, matching hair bow, and occasionally a new apron!
Be good and kind, we’ll see you next time!
