Lowell — Santa’s letter-writing workshop opened in a Lowell High School English classroom last week as freshman elves filled a request from the big guy himself.
He needed them to answer letters from kindergartners in his stead.
In Tosha Duczkowski-Oxley’s class, each student answered a letter: responding to Blair, who wants a unicorn toy; Ella, who wants a bubble machine; Rowan, who wants a Transformer; Lily, who wants one more sister; and several more students at Murray Lake elementary who asked for something special and are counting the days until Christmas.
“I feel honored to be their Santa-letter writer. They will probably really like that we wrote back as Santa,” said freshman Maddy Cook.
Students in four kindergarten and a second- and first-grade class at Alto and Murray Lake elementaries wrote their letters to Santa, including what they would like for Christmas and a question for Mr. Claus, such as “How do you come down the chimney?” and “What is your favorite cookie?”
Freshman Lilly Raymer offered a mysterious explanation for how Santa’s sleigh flies: “Christmas magic and love.”
Lessons Through Letters
The letters, to be stuffed in decorated envelopes with candy canes, will be delivered to the children during their holiday parties. Duczkowski-Oxley has been leading the activity for about 20 years, after inheriting it from a Murray Lake teacher.
The lesson goes with reading “Tuesdays with Morrie” by Mitch Albom. The 1997 memoir is the story of Albom’s visits with his dying mentor, Morrie Schwartz, who shares lessons of love, relationships and giving.
“I think Morrie was a really good person and he wanted to do everything to help people,” Maddy said. “He would have loved to spread Christmas cheer and he liked writing letters to people, so I think this would have also been really fun for him.”
Duczkowski-Oxley said it’s an activity she cherishes. She keeps stacks of the elementary Santa letters for students to look back on in ninth grade.
“I love it; it ties in so well with Tuesdays with Morrie,” she said. “This is very Morrie-esqe. He would approve of what we are doing here. They get a chance to brighten the children’s days.”
The lesson also gives the freshmen a chance to write to an authentic audience and use lots of creativity, she said. She gives them these instructions: do not make promises and do not break little hearts.
Freshman Frank Jenkins carefully crafted a letter to Harry, who wants Batman for Christmas.
“When I was younger, I always wrote letters to Santa and I always wanted him to write back, but he never did,” Frank explained. “This brings back memories, and it’s just awesome that we get to be Santa this year and write back.”
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