Lombard’s Holiday Spirit Week was filled with joy, laughter, and meaningful lessons as our school community came together to celebrate the season, guided all week long by our very own Principal on the Shelf, Zelfyr.
We kicked off Spirit Week on Monday with Holiday Hat Day. Zelfyr could be found hanging out in ZephyrLand (also known as Candy Land) near a tree, reminding students that just like strong trees, we need strong roots, kindness, responsibility, and respect to grow and thrive.
On Tuesday, Pajama Day, students came cozy and comfortable while Zelfyr was busy making s’mores. Her message was clear: when we show kindness and care for one another, we help keep hearts warm, especially during the winter season.
Wednesday was Festive Sweater Day, and Zelfyr took a quiet moment resting in the trophy case. She reminded students of the importance of pausing, breathing, and making calm and thoughtful choices, even during busy and exciting times.
Thursday, Plaid Day, Zelfyr perched herself on a high shelf, encouraging everyone to reach for the stars and aim high in learning, in goals, and in how we treat others.
By Friday, Grinch Day, something seemed different. Zelfyr wasn’t anywhere to be found, and all week long, the Grinch appeared to be causing trouble around the school. Or so we thought…
During Friday’s school-wide assembly, Mr. Spring struggled to get the microphone working. Suddenly, the Grinch appeared, riding in on a bike! He grabbed the microphone, fiddled with it, and handed it back. To everyone’s surprise, it worked. The Grinch then shared something important with Mr. Spring.
What we thought were unkind acts were actually moments of helpfulness:
The Grinch wasn’t ruining Zelfyr’s fire—he was adding wood to keep her warm.
He wasn’t stealing the snow blower—he was helping custodians clear safe paths for students.
He wasn’t taking the bike—he was fixing the seat so it would be safe for students in PE.
Mr. Spring, and all of Lombard realized the Grinch wasn’t mean at all. He was simply misunderstood. The lesson was powerful: empathy matters. When we take time to understand others, we often discover kindness where we least expect it.
To end the assembly, the Grinch rolled out a huge mystery gift for the student body. To unlock it, students had to answer three trivia questions about Lombard’s history.
For the final challenge, the entire school shouted, “We are Lombard!” The box began to shake…and out popped Zelfyr, bursting with energy and excitement!
Zelfyr shared that ‘magic’ is really another word for the good we choose to put into the world each day. That’s our Zephyr Spirit showing kindness, helping others, aiming high, and believing in ourselves and one another.
And remember…
You don’t need an elf to remind you how special you are — because the magic has been inside you all along.
We wish all our Lombard families a wonderful, restful winter break, and we can’t wait to see everyone in the new year ready to shine with Zephyr Spirit!