MATTAPOISETT — Center School students received a cheerful send-off before leaving for their holiday vacation on Friday, Dec. 20, complete with stories, songs, and hallways lined with decorations.

“The last hour of school [before vacation] can be very difficult if you’re little,” Said Principal Rose Bowman, so each year the school puts on a holiday presentation for students before they leave to celebrate the holidays with their families.

This year, Bowman read The Littlest Elf by Brandi Dougherty. The illustrated book tells the story of an elf and reindeer, who despite being smaller than their peers, find a way to to make a special contribution to Santa Claus for Christmas.

As tradition dictates, kids wore pajamas to school, and teachers and staff worked hard to decorate the halls in a way that represented the story read by Bowman.

New this year, was a musical performance by Old Rochester Regional High School students. As Center School students made their way to the auditorium, they were greeted by the elves from this year’s rendition of Elf, the Musical, who sang Christmas songs to their younger counterparts.

While Dec. 20 was a day to be entertained, the kids at Center School were the ones putting on a show the day before.

For this year’s show, the kids performed a rendition of Twinkle and Shine. Bowman explained that the kindergarteners act as the audience, first and second graders sing in the chorus, and third graders take center stage. This way, students can have insight into what future years at the school hold for them, and take part in each section of the show.