Santa makes visit to St. Stephen's for Jesus' birthday

By Tanya Connor
The Catholic Free Press
WORCESTER – Children of all ages at St. Stephen Elementary School have the answer.
When Santa Claus came to town – a bit early (Dec. 21) – he asked the students what we celebrate at this time of year. No matter their grade, their answer was the same: “Jesus’ birthday.”
The principal, Joanne Mallozzi, entered classrooms ahead of Santa, asking students if they’d heard what she heard. (Jingle bells announced Santa’s coming.)He was welcomed happily, even by older students, and sometimes children spontaneously crowded around to hug him.
“He’s coming!” proclaimed a first-grader, apparently meaning Santa.
“What’s happening in three nights and four days?” the jolly old elf asked, when he arrived.
“Santa’s coming!” exclaimed a student.
“And it’s Jesus’ birthday,” someone added.
Santa wanted to know what happens at Christmas and a boy, bouncing up and down, replied, “You come and it’s Jesus’ birthday.”
“Why do we celebrate Jesus’ birthday?” Santa asked Lori Dewar’s second-graders.
“Because he was born.” (Perhaps not the answer Santa was looking for, but profound nonetheless.)
“We think about gifts,” Santa continued. “Jesus himself was what?”
“Born,” responded a student, still on that track.
“He was a gift from God,” Santa said, answering his question his way. “Everything’s about me at Christmas. At Christmas I’m thinking about Jesus.”
The students sang, “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” and one had a final question: “Can we go on the roof?” (Reindeer hunting, anyone?)
When Santa asked kindergartners what they know about Christmas, one said, “Jesus is the greatest gift.”
Santa said they were waiting for Jesus and asked what that season’s called.
“Advent,” he was informed.
He told the students he was looking forward to coming to their houses and asked them to continue to be good for their parents and to thank their teacher, Jenna Racine, who was aided by Joan Kalinowski.
“Where’s Mrs. Claus?” a child asked.
“Mrs. Claus does a lot of teaching,” Santa hedged, referring to his real-life wife, Paula Isakson, a grade 6-8 teacher there. “She’s probably in a classroom with the elves.” (Santa’s helper that day was their daughter, Emily, 22, a college senior who attended St. Stephen’s from pre-kindergarten through grade 8.)
When they visited grade 4, Mrs. Isakson, who was not in costume, told Santa, “This grade came with the eighth grade and sang songs to the elderly people.” (They went caroling Dec. 19 at the adult day health program at St. Francis Rehab and Nursing Center.)    
To Mrs. Isakson’s seventh-graders Santa said, “Santa prays. I pray every day of the year. … It will make a difference in your lives if you do.”
In Mary Jane Howard’s pre-kindergarten class, Santa told students, “Even Santa prays to Jesus.” He had them  gather around him in front of their manger scene and asked who wanted to lead them in prayer.
“I love Baby Jesus,” said one student.
Other prayers were: “Thank you for the peace,” “Thank you for my mom and dad,” “Thank you for the love” and “Thank you for trees.”
“I love trees,” Santa responded.
He told students if they are close to Jesus, their lives will be better.
Emily Dyson’s pre-kindergartners didn’t just talk with Santa in their classroom; some waved to him out the door after he left.
A third-grader, working on robotics with eighth-graders, said, “If we didn’t have Jesus’ birthday, he couldn’t have died for us.”
Santa quoted, “For God so loved the world …” and a bigger student spontaneously gave the reference: “John 3:16.”
Santa told eighth-graders Jesus is going to be with them in good and difficult times, that teenage years are interesting, and that they’ll be going off to high school.
“Remember to keep Jesus in your lives,” he said.
To Grade 6 Santa said, “It’s OK to love the gifts … but keep in mind God gave Jesus” as a gift. “If you think about that gift every day” God will be with you.
One of Sarah Cousins’ fifth-graders talked to Santa about being “grateful for the things we have.” Santa wanted them to thank people who take care of them, and then “you’ll be on my ‘good’ list.”
Santa asked third-graders what his favorite cookie is.
“Chocolate chip?”
“Oreos?”
“Don’t you love to split them up?” Santa asked, speaking of a way to eat the sandwich-like cookies. But, he said, “My favorite cookie is homemade. It is important to spend time with your families (such as by making cookies). That makes you feel good about who you are.
“I see all of you are on my ‘nice’ list,” Santa continued. “Please stay on the ‘nice’ list. I want to wish you a Merry Christmas.”
“And a Happy New Year,” responded a student.


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