MADISON – Maybe they ‘got run over by a reindeer,’ as in the silly song. Maybe the holiday spirit was just too contagious.

Whatever the cause, employees at Heritage Elementary School shared their Christmas cheer by caroling to the nearby neighborhoods whose children attend Heritage.

“As a ‘Leader in Me’ school, we are always working to give back to the community,” fourth-grade teacher and event coordinator Katie Scruggs said. “We thought (caroling) would be a fun way to give back … as ‘The Heritage Carolers.'”

“In the words of Buddy the Elf, ‘The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!'” Scruggs said. “Approximately 40 teachers, staff members, Principal Dr. Georgina Nelson and other administrators traveled on one Madison City Schools bus, driven by our very own Ms. Marilyn.”

“School personnel donned tacky sweaters with blinking-light necklaces and festive hats and hit the road in a decorated bus,” John Peck said. Peck is Public Relations Manager for Madison City Schools.

Music teacher Kristy Stundtner accepted the prestigious, stressful job of conducting the vocalists. Teachers and staff used their Heritage Carolers ‘hymnals’ and sang along to the music. “I don’t think we will be trying out for ‘The Voice’ any time soon, but we seemed to harmonize pretty well,” Scruggs said.

The repertoire for Heritage Carolers included “Frosty the Snowman,” “Jingle Bells,” “Deck the Halls” and their finale number for each stop complete with maracas for syncopation, “Feliz Navidad.”

The caroling educators proceeded on County Line Road to Heritage Provence and then to Heritage Plantation Clubhouse for another round of singing. The group headed next to clubhouses at Whitworth Farms, Elements Apartments and Flagstone Apartments.

In preparing for the evening, teachers asked student families to meet at the neighborhood clubhouse or office. “They greeted us with excitement and joy. The kids love to see their teachers outside of school,” Scruggs said. Surprisingly and comically, some students think their teachers live at school.

Some children sang along. Teachers distributed candy canes at each stop and took a few selfies, too. “They were yelling their teachers’ names, videoing and taking lots of pictures,” Scruggs said.

“We really had the best time. Everyone worked to coordinate their outfits, but mostly, we were excited to see the faces of our students,” Scruggs said.