Walking into some of the English classes at Coppell High School, the young faces of Cottonwood Creek Elementary School students fill the chairs of classrooms.
With toothless smiles and small fingers wrapped around No. 2 pencils, they mark up lined papers as they write letters to the one person who can grant their wishes this Christmas.
On Monday, students in kindergarten through second grade from Cottonwood Creek Elementary scattered the halls of CHS and occupied English classes to write letters to Santa for the items they wish to receive under their Christmas trees this year.
The tradition is in its 30th year of helping young students interact with older students and help improve their writing skills.
“It helps give them role models,” first grade teacher Brooks Burnap said. “It gives our littles a peek into their future. I hope that when they are in high school, they walk up those staircases and remember that they have been a part of this community since the very start.”
During this event, elementary students worked with high school students to create wish lists for Santa, put them in envelopes and place them into a mail box to later be sent to Santa. Students also participated in coloring, singing along to Christmas music and making ornaments.
Although the event mostly focuses on helping young children work on their writing and social skills, children were not the only ones feeling the holiday spirit.
“Seeing the little kid come out of my kids is always fun to see,” AP Literature teacher Matt Bowden said. “I am a firm believer in always keeping in touch with your inner child, so I think that it reminds my students of where they came from, and it brings out this joy in them.”
Sophomore Shloka Kommalapati has a similar take as she worked with one of these Cottonwood Creek students.
“I feel as if it takes us back to when we were little,” Kommalapati said. “It gives us a feeling of nostalgia and it makes us feel happy starting Christmas.”
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