As a continuing feature, The Accolade delves into the origins of Sunny Hills culture or landmarks. This time, we take a look at the person who’s dressed as an elf and usually sitting on one of the campus buildings’ rooftops during one or more of the days of final exam week in the fall semester. We send co-Sports editor Lauren Kang to investigate how the tradition started and its purpose.
You better watch out.
You better not cry.
You better not pout.
I’m telling you why.
Santa’s ELF is coming to [SH] town.
While Santa did come to campus to pass out candy to students in the quad on Dec. 21, 2023, it’s the appearance of an “elf” during break that has caused some students to wonder what the holiday lore is all about.
‘Twas NOT the night before Christmas (it was more like 2016) when administrators decided to start a winter holiday tradition by bringing their own version of Elf on the Shelf to Sunny Hills to ease students’ worries during finals week.
Stemming from a 2005 children’s picture book by Carol Aebersold and her daughter Chandra Bell, it tells the story of an elf who watches over children in their homes and reports back to Santa Claus whether they’ve been naughty or nice. This “scout” hides in a new spot, which can include a shelf, in children’s homes each new day before magically flying back to Santa’s workshop to give his report at night while everyone’s asleep.
Assistant principal Sarah Murrietta said she was the one to come up with this idea after reading Elf on the Shelf.
“We wanted to bring some holiday joy to the students,” Murrietta said. “All we heard were just lots of talk of not sleeping and how they did on their finals, so we wanted to create a little light-hearted joy for them to look up and smile.”
Then-administrator Mason Morris — now a science teacher here — said he volunteered to be the inaugural elf in 2016 after being asked by Murrietta if he would do it.
“I think the tradition is fantastic,” Morris said. “It’s a good way to add a little joy, laughter and amusement for kids that are doing some stuff that’s stressful at the time, which is finals.”
PLAYING BY THE RULES
Following the rules mentioned in the children’s book, whoever plays the elf on a Sunny Hills building’s roof cannot be touched by students, and the character will not speak or move when human beings are present. If any of these guidelines are broken, the holiday magic will go away, and the elf won’t be able to return to Santa to tell St. Nick who deserves to get their wish lists fulfilled … or A’s on their finals.
Since its inception eight years ago, students and staff have spotted Santa’s helper in a different location, like the roof of the gym or the top of the 180s building or above one of the hallway metal coverings, every day during break of finals week.
“Traditionally, [the elf appears] during finals because that’s when we feel our students need a little light-hearted smile and a little fun throughout their day,” Murrietta said.
The figure in red and a white collar and wearing a pointed hat can be spotted standing on the roof or sitting like a statue, changing positions every few minutes. Some silly positions Morris said he’s posed in range from having his hands in the air, folding his arms or giving a wide smile.
“Usually I would not communicate with them,” he said. “However, when students came close and stared, I would sometimes quickly move my head and stare back.”
Murrietta said because the mythical creature’s identity is so secretive, she stopped being involved with what the elf plans to do and where he will appear in subsequent years.
“It just depends on what the elf wants to do, where he/she wants to go,” she said. “The elf has his/her own ideas.”
Assistant principal Peter Karavedas confirmed that the main office does not have much to do with the elf’s whereabouts. It is now solely up to the current Santa’s helper to decide what he wants to happen, which includes whether the volunteer makes an appearance at all.
In other words, it all depends on whether each year’s Lancers have been naughty or nice — getting to class on time, making sure they’re awake while teachers are talking and getting passing grades on their progress reports.
“I can honestly say I don’t know that there’s a whole lot of preparation that goes into it other than trying to make sure that all the students are being good so that he can report back to Santa; [checking to see if students] are doing their homework, being good citizens on campus and passing all their classes,” Karavedas said.
WHAT THE ELF?
Although only a few people have played the elf so far, the administration typically asks a staff member to be Santa’s helper that year. To maintain the holiday magic, the elf’s identity for that particular season is always kept a secret just as children never know when Santa’s going to come down that chimney and leave with his, “Ho, ho, ho!”
As to whether the tradition will play out for the 2024-2025 fall finals exam week, Karavedas said it depends on various factors.
“I don’t know if the elf’s going to be out there this year because there was a lot of rain last year, and I think that scared the elf away,” said the second-year administrator, referring to the 2023-2024 school year when the costumed character only made it out to the roof on one of the three final exam days.
The elf might not make it from the North Pole because students aren’t brimming with the winter holiday spirit. Are they humming jingle bell rock or singing, “All I Want for Christmas Is You [the elf]”? Are they asking, “What the f—-?” more than “What the elf can do to bring us some post-COVID-19 holiday cheer?”
“It seemed like a few years ago people were really into it, but it seemed like last year people weren’t as into the elf,” Karavedas said. “So maybe the elf needs to try a little harder and up his game.”
BEING ELFISH MORE THAN SELFISH
In the past, Morris said the elf typically goes to the location for his appearance a few minutes before break starts and then comes back down after students return to class. And in the four years he’s put on his costume, he’s learned that he can’t be focused on himself and any of his fears.
“I went on top of the gym [once], and I’m scared of heights, so it was not pleasant up there, but I still made it through,” said Morris, who teaches chemistry.
Morris hung up his red hat after his last appearance during the 2019-2020 school year. The COVID-19 pandemic and distance learning that started in March 2020 prompted him to transfer to La Habra to teach science there.
So just as Santa needed Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer to save the day … or the night, school officials needed a new elf. And to light the way and continue to bring holiday cheer to Lancer kids, custodian Fernando Serna stepped up … or climbed up another roof on campus.
“It was a good experience, and seeing the smiles on kids’ faces is what we’re here for,” said Serna, who was already familiar with the tradition because he has been the one to help Morris reach the top of campus buildings or hallway coverings. “When we can help anybody in a positive way, it brings happiness to me, and I’ll volunteer to do anything with the school to make you guys smile and bring the happiness of Christmas.”
Morris said looking back at his time as Santa’s helper, he agrees with Serna’s assessment of this role.
“It was just the smile and laughter and kids wanting to take pictures and selfies with the elf on the shelf that was kind of fun,” he said.
“AND I LAUGHED WHEN I SAW HIM …”
Students indeed have responded positively just as the first-person narrator did as described in that classic poem, “A Visit From St. Nicholas.”
Senior Dante Rosete said he remembers walking down the halls his sophomore year during break on one of the final exam days and seeing students looking up and staring at the person in the red costume for the first time.
“I would look up on a normal December morning to see a jolly fella waving at us,” Rosete said. “A memorable moment was when he started dancing on the roof.”
Senior Kastuv Aryal said he remembers his freshman year when he first saw the random man on the roof of one of the campus buildings.
“I’ve seen him throughout the years, and when he comes out on the roof, everyone looks at him, so it’s kind of hard to miss,” Aryal said.
He said he expects to see the elf every year because a holiday activity usually happens at the same time, like Santa Claus going around the quad.
“I know when he comes up, it’s always a festive time,” the senior said.
He said if he had to guess as to who the successor to Serna is, the person would be another custodian or staff member. Perhaps the elf’s true self changes every year.
On the other hand, sophomore Bellamy Fernandez said she has yet to greet such a holiday personality. She’s not giving up hope this year, though.
“I think I’ll try looking for the elf this year,” said Fernandez, after learning about this tradition from The Accolade. “It sounds kind of cool.”
So now, Lancers should know the origins of Sunny Hills’ version of Elf on the Shelf.
And they should also know Santa’s famous farewell statement from Clement Clarke Moore’s poem: “Happy holidays to all, and to all a good [finals week]!”
