- CCS News
- Elementary Schools
Woodcrest turns into Polar Express for the holidays
Students at Woodcrest Elementary School spent time before break taking a trip on the Polar Express thanks to their teachers hoping to give them a unique experience.
Fourth grade teacher Kathleen McAfee presented the idea of turning the school into a train to Principal Yolanda Cooper.
“When she brought the idea to me she just wanted to have it where the students felt they were really on a train. It took a few weeks for us to put it all together because we wanted the entire building to be a train,” Cooper said.
Students walked into the building to see snowman inflatables, train tracks on the floor, and lists on walls with the name of every student in the building. Teachers said students immediately began asking questions about how and when they turned the building into a winter wonderland.
“The kids were just blown away,” Cooper said, laughing.
Parents with the school's PTA also walked into the building with smiles on their faces as they assisted with activities throughout the school.
McAfee worked with teachers to decorate doors to either represent a scene from the Polar Express or mirror a classroom activity.
“I’m doing an indoor snowball fight as my activity. So, my classroom door represents an indoor snowball fight,” McAfee explained.
She said her main goal was for students to simply have fun before leaving school for Winter Break.
“I want them to be able to collaborate with one another and have fun. Because in school everything is wrapped around testing on a subject area; this way they just get to be kids and have a moment to just play and enjoy the day,” McAfee said.