Dear Staff and Parents:
You may be familiar with the popular book for children, The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition by Carole Aebersold and Chanda B. Bell. The seasonalfavorite is No. 3 on the USA TODAY best-selling books list. Based on a family game Aebersold began in the 1970s, the rhymed and illustrated story tells how Santa knows who is naughty or nice because he sends an elf scout to every home. The elf watches by day then reports back to Santa each night. Since 2005, some 1.5 million copies of the book along with a toy elf have been sold to families throughout theworld. The whimsical tale is a testament to the lasting power of a simple customthat can be passed from one generation to the next.
In the Barrington area, there are many traditions big and small that represent the generosity of our area – traditions that are shared from generation to generation. For example, last weekend Barrington Giving Day once again provided winter coats,hats, gloves, books, blankets, toys and food to more than 1,000 families and 2,500 children in the Barrington 220 School District.
Remarkably, Giving Day is an institution dating to the 1930s in the Barrington area, one that grandparents, parents, children and grandchildren all participatein together. The bighearted donations of so many students, staff and theirfamilies make Giving Day an annual holiday effort we proudly host at the Barrington Middle School-Station Campus. To those who participated in some way,thank you for your support. If any elves on the shelves were watching throughout Barrington Giving Day, several names would be penned in the Nice List Santa supposedly keeps this time of year, especially those of Pat Karon and J.P. Hills,the event organizers in the classic holiday movie ELF, there is a scene where Buddy the elf, played by Will Ferrell, helps Santa restore power to his sleigh using the book of Naughty and Nice names to convince, renew and inspire belief in the magic of this season.Similarly, Barrington Giving Day is enough each year to instill faith in the charity of this school district toward its neediest members. It certainly made a believer out of me when I saw students, parents, staff and community members giving their time and resources to help so many.
As we begin two weeks of a well-deserved winter break, I hope you will honor the conventions of family time, good food and generous presents for each other.Barrington Giving Day models that commitment; now it compels us to pass the
promise along with a spirit of compassion and kindness. Giving often leads to laughter, so my holiday gift to you is this new video produced by our talented BHS TV students to spoof and honor the Will Ferrell movie, ELF. Just be careful your humorous response does not become too raucous. There may be an Elf on the Shelf who is watching nearby.
