HOISINGTON — For a moment in time, students at Roosevelt School in Hoisington experience time off from studies, instead imagining that they are travelling on the Polar Express train.
Prepared with a red ticket, the students are allowed one complete round trip ride to the North Pole and back. The ticket yields entrance to three stations, located at each classroom.
This annual event becomes one that the students will always remember as they learn in a different way about believing in the spirit of Christmas.
The idea of  teacher, Megan Husted, has become one that the students ask about and enjoy.
Even parents and older siblings inquire about the day.
“The tradition started five years ago when I moved to Hoisington,” said Husted. She suggested it to the other teachers and they all jumped on board.
Although the students have fun, they still learn during the process, playing math games, performing word searches, and reading books.
“It’s a fun way to relax,” said Husted. “It means a lot to the kids.”
She added that she hopes as they look back on their elementary school days, they’ll remember this one with fondness.
The pre-holiday break from classroom routines is based on the book, “The Polar Express” by Chris Van Allsburg.
The book is set in the 1950s about a boy near the age of 7, struggling with belief in the true Santa Claus and the North Pole. A magical train shows up outside his house, and he boards the train to the North Pole. He finds that only true believers hear the sounds of the silver bell.
Back in Hoisington, at the first stop, the teacher punches the student’s ticket which allows them into the math games car. Moving on to the next room, students craft a necklace with silver chimes, which is theirs to keep. Finally, the students relax with hot cocoa and cookies, enjoying Christmas books.
In the afternoon, the kids watch the movie, “The Polar Express.”
Since this is the age when kids are starting to wonder about Santa Claus, Husted says this is a sweet and special way to appreciate the magical things that happen every day and have joy in Santa and the spirit of Christmas.