To the beloved 2nd graders and 1st graders of 2024 Vernon Elementary School

It was Christmas Eve in the North Pole, and Santa was almost ready for his big night. The sleigh was packed with presents, the reindeer were fed and harnessed, and Mrs. Claus had even baked him a fresh batch of cookies for the journey. Everything seemed perfect—until Santa went to put on his boots.

They were gone.

“Mrs. Claus!” Santa called. “Have you seen my boots? I can’t find them anywhere!”

Mrs. Claus rushed in, wiping her hands on her apron. “Oh dear! I saw them by the fireplace this morning, but they’re not there now.”

Santa scratched his head, his cheeks turning as red as his

suit. “I can’t fly without my boots! They’re magical—they keep my feet warm no matter how cold the night is.”

Just then, Jingles, the tiniest elf in Santa’s workshop, peeked into the room. “Santa, I saw your boots earlier! Gumdrop was using them for his snowman.”

Santa gasped. “For his snowman? Why didn’t anyone tell me?”

Jingles shrugged. “We didn’t know you needed them so soon. Gumdrop said he was just borrowing them to make the snowman’s feet look extra jolly!”

Santa chuckled, shaking his head. “Well, let’s go find Gumdrop and get my boots back!”

Santa, Mrs. Claus, and Jingles trudged through the snow