Most schools receive visits from Santa Claus, jolly and uplifting, asking students what they want for Christmas and if they’ve been naughty or nice.
Fairview Middle School got Mr. Grinch.
As students arrived on campus on the final day of classes Dec. 19 before embarking on a two-week winter break, they were greeted by the green furry character clad in a Santa’s suit and hat, except he wasn’t planning to “make spirits bright.”
“Have a terrible day,” he told students and parents in classic “Grinch” behavior as they arrived at the school.
Mr. Grinch’s heart was truly “two sizes too small” as he slammed car doors, dodged high fives from students and chased nervous kids down hallways. Some kids weren’t phased since it was the second year the Grinch terrorized Fairview. They knew who the teacher was under the costume.
“I saw a video last year of someone doing this at their house to their kids and I thought it would be pretty cool to do to kids at school, so I went and got the costume, and my principal was all for it,” Fairview science teacher Joe Wallace told the Tallahassee Democrat.
Wallace, disguised as the Grinch, made sure to keep kids, staff and even some parents entertained with his mischievous antics.
“We here at Fairview Middle are so excited about the holiday break and we are ready to spend time with our families,” Fairview Principal Eileen Mayer said, then the Grinch swiped her cell phone.
With the excitement brewing for students and staff to start the holiday break, the Grinch’s visit from Whoville was a perfect way to foster the school’s culture of an inclusive and vibrant environment.
Fairview student Madison Christian told the Tallahassee Democrat she’s excited to visit family in North Carolina for the holidays, to which the Grinch joked that she should stay there. Other students had the chance to joke with the Grinch during the school day, stealing his holiday cap, and even playing a round of basketball.
He had some moments where his true heart for students shined through, like a gentle hug shared after a student gave him cake as a gift.
The Grinch had a busy day taking tests in place of students, cheating and flunking all of them. He was even arrested for naughty behavior. The students still got a kick out of the jokes.
In true Whoville fashion, the Grinch didn’t shrink the joy at Fairview, he multiplied it.
Alaijah Brown covers children & families for the Tallahassee Democrat. She can be reached at ABrown1@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter/X: @AlaijahBrown3.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: From Whoville to the hallway: The Grinch visits Fairview Middle
Reporting by Alaijah Brown, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
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