Santa and friends visit Purdy Elementary
Santa and a host of helpers, including several Fort Atkinson firefighters and Fort Atkinson High School seniors, were on hand Saturday morning to greet families in cars as they drove through the Purdy Elementary School bus lane. Santa was the fifth stop along the lane. Families were invited to stop at four stations where they could pick up reindeer food, kits to make cookies and ornaments, and a bag full of goodies. The drive-through option to visit with Santa was organized by the school's PTO as a COVID-19-safe alternative to the more traditional Breakfast with Santa program typically held at the school. By mid-morning, Santa estimated that he had visited with some 80 children in cars.Â
Santa and a host of helpers, including Fort Atkinson firefighters, from left, Mike Messler, Jeff Armstrong, Emily Schaub, Kim Stevens, Purdy Elementary School Principal Leigh Ann Scheuerell and Josh Hertzfeldt greet children and their families as they arrived in cars Saturday morning at Purdy Elementary School in Fort Atkinson to drop off their Christmas letters to Santa and pick up bags of provided goodies, including reindeer food, kits to make cookies and ornaments, and toys.Â
Purdy Elementary School student Charolette Koresh prepares to give a letter to Santa. She and her family were among visitors arriving to see Santa by car on Saturday.
Santa visits through a car window with a young fan. The drive-through opportunity to visit with Santa was the inspiration of Purdy Elementary School PTO member Cassie Werner, school principal Leigh Ann Scheuerell said. The concept developed as a COVID-19 precaution, replacing an annual Breakfast with Santa program that traditionally takes place inside the school.
Fort Atkinson High School seniors Sami Erstad and Jamy Stockton stand at the ready to assist Santa, who paid Purdy Elementary School a visit on Saturday. As cars entered the school bus lane, participants could stop at four stations before visiting with Santa. At each station, participants were invited to pick up a bag with an activity or toys.
After passing out treats and sharing his time with adoring fans, Santa reminded the children driving up to greet him at Purdy Elementary to share a treat with their driver.
Santa approaches a car and visits with its occupants. 2020 marks his 20th year of visiting with families at Purdy Elementary. This is the first year he has visited the children in their cars and while wearing a mask, he said. The children don’t mind the addition to his wardrobe. They are used to masks, he added.
Standing near his colorful mailbox, Santa said he likes receiving mail from children of all ages. His eyes twinkled with every letter he received.
Standing near their truck, Fort Atkinson firefighters Jeff Armstrong, Mike Messler, Emily Schaub, Kim Stevens and Josh Hertzfeldt, wave as families exit the Purdy Elementary School parking lot after visiting with Santa on Saturday. Some 80 kids had come through the line by mid-morning, Santa said.
Post a comment as
Report
Watch this discussion.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.