Agoura High students provide answers to Santa Claus letters
By Stephanie Bertholdo  bertholdo@theacorn.com

WISH LIST- Students from four Agoura High School English classes pen replies to 272 local children's letters addressed to Santa Claus. The U.S. Postal Service collected the children's letters and delivered the students' answers in the annual Operation Santa project.

Hundreds of local children were delighted to find not only that their letters to Santa Claus make it to the North Pole, but Santa himself took the time to respond to their heartfelt words of love, wonder and concern.

The post office delivered Santa Claus' responses to 272 local children this year thanks to a leadership class at Agoura High School.

The Letters to Santa program has been a United States Postal Service goodwill tradition for 83 years. The program was brought to Agoura High School by Associated Student Body co-commissioners Hannah Teitelbaum and Alyssa Litman. The ASB team proposed the Santa letter challenge to English teachers at the school, and four teachers agreed to participate.

Each student in the classes responded to one letter, but some restrictions applied. Students were warned not to make any promises about any specific wish. But some students were so moved by the sweet requests that they sent along gifts with their letters, Teitelbaum said.

One boy wrote: "Dear Santa, I hope you ride safely on your sleigh. I've been a good boy." The youngster conveyed his Christmas gift wishes to Santa by pasting cutout pictures on his letter, Teitelbaum said.

Misspelled words add to the charm of the letters, Teitelbaum said. Said one girl: "Dear Santa, How are you today I feel fine. I have 3 questions an 2 wishes. Question #1 How is Mrs. Clause. Question #2 What do elves eat. I hope you the elves and Mrs. Clase have a good winter in the North Pole."

According to Renee Anderson, a consumer affairs clerk in charge of Operation Santa for the region, the Santa Clarita region receives more than 10,000 letters addressed to Santa Claus in the North Pole every season.

"We read every single letter that comes through," Anderson said. If the letter conveys hardship, Anderson said it is separated for "adoption" by charitable groups or individuals. Of the 10,000 letters mailed to Santa, Anderson said 473 pleaded with Santa for help. Four days before Christmas Eve, 50 letters remained.

Teitelbaum, who is Jewish, said the program reminded her of her childhood, when she and her family responded to children's letters to Santa.

"I loved it," Teitelbaum said. "People who participated loved it regardless of what religion they are."

The letters to children from "Santa" were equally endearing. "A few of my elves have caught a cold this year, so we are a little behind schedule this year," wrote one student. "Mrs. Claus and I are busy making cookies, reading, and writing letters and of course making presents. I love making all the gifts with my elf friends; it brings joy to the workshop.- Santa."

Another student Santa wrote, "We took Rudolph and the gang over to a mountain with tons of snow. I think I'm getting pretty good now! The only bad thing is that whenever I fall down, it's difficult to get back up with my stomach."