It was a trip to the principal’s office that had the kids wide-eyed, and eager to tell all, with no fear of repercussions.
And after patiently waiting their turn on Dec. 6, kindergarteners at the Mt. Eccles Elementary School got their chance to talk by Skype to an elf, a tradition that dates back to 1993.
“They got a one-eyed minion elf this year,” said Mt. Eccles Elementary Principle Gayle Groff, referencing the minions from the movie Despicable Me.
J.R. Lewis, co-owner of Cordova Radio, runs the Christmas program. He talks with students via Skype, setting the profile to a minion wearing a Santa hat.
One of his favorite parts about doing it each year is the off-the-cuff answers the students give.
“One of the things I’ll ask them is ‘What do you do to help out around the house?’ and I’ll get something like ‘I clean up all the dog poop’,” Lewis said. “I just lose it, and then have to cut a bunch in post-production.”
Once he finishes the recordings and edits them, they appear on the radio station in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
“I’ve been saving these for years too, so it’s fun to go back and, you know, listen to the archive,” Lewis said.
When Groff walked out of the room, she was flooded with questions from the excited students. She smiled widely, telling them briefly about the elf, building up the anticipation.
Wesley Sheridan, 6, finally got his chance to talk to Santa’s helper.
He wiggled in the chair, his mouth dropping at the sight of the elf.
When asked what his favorite food was, he deliberated, eventually deciding on moose, and laughed as they continued to chat.
Sheridan sang his favorite holiday song and talked to the minion about what he wanted for Christmas.
However, his eyes lit up as the conversation ended — he now had his chance to tell the elf what was on his mind.
“We’re gonna give your reindeers some carrots and cookies,” he said excitedly.
As the conversation wrapped, Sheridan looked to the computer monitor one last time, “Merry Christmas to you,” he said, eventually exiting the room with a smile that spread from cheek to cheek.
