From Rooftop, CPS Principal — as Elf on the Shelf — Watches Over Top-Tier South Shore Elementary Students

Principal’s Creative Idea to Keep Students Excited Before Winter Break

The smallest of kids at South Shore Fine Arts Academy stepped outside into the sun after school on Monday and were confused by the commotion.

Students’ Reactions

Children were yelling. Parents and staff were pointing up at the school’s roof. Students stopped in their tracks, turned around, and saw the visitor.

Some wondered if the person dressed in all red was Santa Claus. Pretty quickly, word spread that it was the Elf on the Shelf.

“Somebody take a picture!” a little girl yelled.

A young boy asked: “How did she get on the roof?”

Principal’s Creative Idea

Principal Vicki Brown, donning a red costume, hat, and shoes, stood atop the school holding a clipboard with a sign that read “I’m making a list and checking it twice.”

“Our principal having this creative idea to do it for the students, it’s just phenomenal,” said Tangela Echols, a special education classroom assistant, who called the kids’ reactions “priceless.”

“She always engages. Anything we have in the school, she participates,” Echols said of the principal.

Why the Elf on the Shelf?

Brown said she dressed up as Elf on the Shelf to keep students interested in coming to class the final week before winter break.

“It’s awesome to be able to give our students a ‘remember when’ moment,” Brown said. “I could hear them say, ‘Wow! Is she Santa? And then I could hear the kids say ‘No, she’s Elf on the Shelf! And so it was just a great feeling.”

The Plan

The elf is expected to make appearances at the school the rest of the week. Tuesday, she sat atop a milk cooler in the cafeteria to monitor whether students behaved at lunch. Her observations throughout the week will feed into this year’s naughty and nice list.

Parents’ Reactions

Christopher Strong, whose son is in 4th grade at South Shore, said he was “shocked” to see the principal on the roof when he arrived for after-school pickup.

“I love this school; they’re always doing different things,” Strong said. “It makes them want to come. My son is up before me, excited for school.”

Not All Were Trick

Not all the kids were tricked by the elf’s appearance, though.

A teacher asked a student if they knew who was on the roof, looking for the answer “Elf on the Shelf.”

“I do know who that is,” the girl responded. “It’s Ms. Brown.”

Conclusion

The creative idea of dressing up as Elf on the Shelf has brought excitement and joy to the students at South Shore Fine Arts Academy. The principal’s effort to keep students engaged and motivated has paid off, and the students will surely remember this special moment.

FAQs

Q: Why did the principal dress up as Elf on the Shelf?

A: The principal, Vicki Brown, dressed up as Elf on the Shelf to keep students interested in coming to class the final week before winter break.

Q: What was the purpose of the Elf on the Shelf’s appearances?

A: The elf’s appearances were to monitor student behavior and create a fun and engaging experience for the students.

Q: How did the students react to the Elf on the Shelf?

A: The students were excited and confused at first, but soon realized it was their principal, Vicki Brown, dressed as Elf on the Shelf.

Q: Will the Elf on the Shelf make more appearances?

A: Yes, the elf is expected to make appearances at the school the rest of the week.