Key Largo School Principal Darren Pais is known for playing Buddy the Elf during the holidays, he’s been Buddy for the last 10 years. This year, however, he’s taking his festive spirit to a whole new level and, in the process, becoming the talk of the Upper Keys.
“I have not had a principal do this and it’s been so much fun,” said KLS Registrar Lisa Graham. “As an adult I’m looking forward to where I’m going to find him and what antics and mischievous things he’s going to be up to,” added Graham, who has been with Key Largo School for 30 years.
“I did send out an apology letter to the staff saying I probably would cause a disturbance first thing in the morning,” said Principal Pais with a laugh.
This year Pais, who has been with KLS for 32 years, is a real-life Elf on the Shelf, turning up in peculiar places much to the delight of the school’s 700 students.
“Tomorrow (Thursday) I’m getting duct taped to the front of the school,” Pais said.
The holiday shenanigans took place the last week before students go on holiday break. On Sunday night, Principal Pais posted on his Instagram account that his computer was missing. On Monday morning, a sleeping elf with the computer and scattered books was spotted in front of the KLS library.
“The day he was asleep outside of the library was so funny because they didn’t know if this was real or not and all the teachers and the older kids were like, oh no, that’s not Mr. Pais, even the older kids are having so much fun with this,” said longtime KLS teacher Pam Caputo.
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KLS’s student body is made up of children from pre-kindergareten to the eighth grade. Pais says the older students have been careful to not tip off the younger ones of the elf’s true identity.
“Our middle schoolers have been here since pre-K, so they know how to treat the little kids so there is no ruining anything, none,” said Pais.
On Tuesday, Dec. 17, a fishing elf on the shelf appeared on the roof of KLS, using candy canes as bait. Pais’s 21-year-old son, Aidan, was quick to question his father about the rooftop stunt.
“I suspended a former student for going on the roof one time, so when he got the video of me on the roof yesterday he’s like, didn’t he suspend so and so for being on the roof?” said Pais of his son’s comments.
On Wednesday, Dec. 18, an elf-clad Pais appeared in front of the school, holding a sign that read,” The school has no hot chocolate, Mr. Pais is the real Grinch.”
“I got honks and everything for that,” said Pais.
On Thursday, Pais took his elf role a step further, having KLS assistant principals duct tape him to the front of the building.
As fun, festive and silly as it all is, Pais says his elf antics have created some educational opportunities.
“We do AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) here at school and do a thing called Socratic seminars, so the little ones are doing seminars, debating, is it Mr. Pais or is it an elf?” explained Pais.
The children have also embarked on writing assignments exploring where the elf could or should turn up next.
Parent Lauren Seife has two children attending KLS. Her entire family has gotten a huge kick out of the principal turned Elf on the Shelf.
“I love it,” said Seife. “I’m very excited to see that elf is not only active at home but also in school. It’s hilarious and amazing. KLS is very unique and Mr. Pais is an amazing principal,” she added.
Happy Holidays to all from Keys Weekly and thank you Mr. Pais for showing us you are never too old to get into the holiday spirit.
