Goodable

An elementary school's mascot turned out to be more than just a character. Sgt. Perry Chronister, concealed beneath the costume, delivered an emotional surprise to his son Eli on his first day of second grade. The heartwarming scene unfolded at DeWitt Elementary School in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, where staff orchestrated the touching reunion that marked the end of Sgt. Chronister's year-long overseas deployment.

An elementary school's mascot turned out to be more than just a character. Sgt. Perry Chronister, concealed beneath the costume, delivered an emotional surprise to his son Eli on his first day of second grade. The heartwarming scene unfolded at DeWitt Elementary School in Cuyahoga Falls, OH, where staff orchestrated the touching reunion that marked the end of Sgt. Chronister's year-long overseas deployment.An elementary school's mascot turned out to be more than just a character. Sgt. Perry Chronister, concealed beneath the costume, delivered an emotional surprise to his son Eli on his first day of second grade. The heartwarming scene unfolded at DeWitt Elementary School in Cuyahoga Falls, OH, where staff orchestrated the touching reunion that marked the end of Sgt. Chronister's year-long overseas deployment.

This Soldier Returned Home And Gave His Son an Incredible Surprise at School

Science Daily

Physicists at the University of Colorado Boulder have developed a clear, flexible material that could dramatically improve how buildings manage heat—without blocking the view.

The material, called MOCHI (short for Mesoporous Optically Clear Heat Insulator), looks a bit like high-tech Bubble Wrap. But instead of cushioning packages, MOCHI is designed to block heat while letting visible light pass through—solving a decades-old challenge in building design.

“Finding insulators that are transparent is really challenging,” said Ivan Smalyukh, senior author of the study and a professor of physics at CU Boulder. “To block heat exchange, you can put a lot of insulation in your walls, but windows need to be transparent.”

The research, published December 11 in Science, points to MOCHI as a promising step toward more energy-efficient buildings. Despite only being in laboratory development for now, the material’s performance is already attracting attention.

The Problem with Windows

Buildings account for nearly 40% of global energy use, and a significant portion of that is lost through windows. Whether it's heat leaking out in winter or pouring in during summer, standard glass does a poor job of insulation.

MOCHI tackles this issue head-on. It can be applied to the inside surface of existing windows in the form of thin, flexible sheets or thicker blocks. And unlike many existing window insulators, MOCHI is nearly invisible, blocking less than 0.2% of visible light. That makes it ideal for homes, offices, and any building where maintaining natural light and outside views is important.

How It Works

MOCHI is a silicone-based gel filled with an intricate network of air-filled pores. These microscopic channels are far thinner than a human hair, and that’s what gives the material its powerful insulating properties.

The structure is similar to aerogels, which are used by NASA and others for insulation. But while aerogels often scatter light and look cloudy, MOCHI’s pores are arranged more precisely, allowing light to pass through clearly.

“The molecules don’t have a chance to collide freely with each other and exchange energy,” Smalyukh explained. “Instead, they bump into the walls of the pores.” This effectively halts the chain reaction that normally carries heat through a gas—turning MOCHI into an ultra-thin thermal barrier.

Even a 5-millimetre sheet is enough to withstand direct flame, according to the researchers.

A Material with Wide Applications

The team envisions MOCHI being used far beyond residential windows. One possible application is in solar thermal energy systems, where sunlight can be captured and stored as heat to warm buildings or water.

“Even when it’s a somewhat cloudy day, you could still harness a lot of energy and then use it to heat your water and your building interior,” said Smalyukh, who is also a fellow at CU Boulder’s Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI).

Next Steps: From Lab to Market

At present, MOCHI is only made in the lab, and manufacturing it is still time-consuming. But the raw materials are relatively inexpensive, which means scaling up could be possible with further development.

Smalyukh is optimistic: “The components are cheap, so it’s more a question of developing scalable production techniques than overcoming cost.”

If that hurdle is cleared, MOCHI could eventually become a go-to material for retrofitting old buildings, designing energy-efficient new ones, or even creating portable thermal shields.

A Clear Future

The research team behind MOCHI includes postdoctoral associates Amit Bhardwaj, Blaise Fleury, Eldo Abraham, and Taewoo Lee, as well as former CU Boulder researchers Bohdan Senyuk, Jan Bart ten Hove, and Vladyslav Cherpak.

While the material isn’t available to consumers just yet, the early results are clear: MOCHI could be a game-changer for energy-efficient architecture. A simple window coating, nearly invisible to the eye, may soon help cut energy use, reduce heating bills, and make buildings more comfortable—without compromising the view.

Innovative Material Promises Super Efficient Windows

Positive.News

Blind and partially sighted cricket fans just got a major upgrade.

At Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham, a small group of fans trialled a revolutionary new headset that streams live match footage directly to the working part of their retinas. The technology, developed by UK-based startup GiveVision, mimics the look of a VR headset but functions as an assistive device. For nine visually impaired cricket lovers, it turned a live match into something they could actually see.

The trial marked a world-first for sports spectatorship. “Helping visually impaired cricket fans to feel more included and experience the atmosphere of a stadium fixture live for the first time was truly moving,” said Thomas Cunningham Smith, Edgbaston’s safeguarding and compliance manager.

GiveVision’s device captures high-quality video of the action on the field and transmits it in real time to the part of the user’s eye that can still process visual information. For many people with low vision, parts of the retina still function even if central vision is lost. The headset enhances those areas, offering a clearer, sharper view of the match — one that glasses or contact lenses alone can’t provide.

While the headset isn’t a cure for blindness, it’s part of a growing wave of innovations reshaping how people with visual impairments experience the world.

In a separate development announced in October, researchers revealed they had restored the ability to read for dozens of people using an experimental eye implant. The trial involved inserting a microchip under the retina of 38 patients with severe age-related macular degeneration, a condition that often robs older adults of their central vision. The chip was paired with a special set of glasses that recorded video and translated it into electronic signals for the brain.

It sounds like something from a sci-fi movie, but for 84 percent of participants, it worked. They were able to read again — a breakthrough that gives new hope to millions of people around the world who suffer from forms of untreatable vision loss.

Back in the sporting world, accessibility efforts are also picking up speed. At Lord’s Cricket Ground in London — widely known as the home of cricket — fans with visual impairments can now use a personal indoor navigation system to move around the venue.

The system was created by Waymap, a startup focused on indoor guidance for blind and partially sighted users. Using audio and visual instructions delivered through a smartphone app, Waymap helps fans navigate their way from entrances to seats, concessions, washrooms, and exits.

Lord’s is the first stadium in the world to fully implement the technology. According to Waymap, more sports venues are in the pipeline, with Wembley Stadium already on the list.

Together, these innovations are transforming the fan experience for people who have historically been excluded from enjoying live events.

For cricket fans like the nine who tested the GiveVision headset at Edgbaston, it’s not just about watching the game — it’s about feeling part of the crowd. Hearing the roar after a six. Catching the bowler’s wind-up. Seeing, even faintly, the play unfold. For the first time, it's within reach.

How VR Headsets are Revolutionizing Live Sports Experiences for Visually Impaired Fans

BBC News

Barbara Groves had never run a day in her life. Now, just three months after taking up the sport at age 85, she holds the fastest times in her age group at five different parkrun events — and she’s not slowing down.

Groves, who is deaf, completed the 5-kilometre (3.1-mile) Sheffield Castle parkrun at Manor Fields Park in just 47 minutes, setting an age-group record and surprising even herself with how much she’s come to enjoy the weekly tradition.

“I used to have bad knees and that’s all gone,” she said. “I’ve got a frozen shoulder, used to be very painful, that’s all gone. So it does work — and my balance is a lot better.”

Despite the accolades, Groves says the personal benefits are what keep her coming back. “It’s the stimulation, you feel much, much better afterwards,” she said. “Pushing yourself just that little bit more each time.”

It all started when she went to watch her son, Gavin Hogg, run a parkrun in September. She’d never considered running herself, but something about the atmosphere clicked. She decided to give it a try the following week — and got hooked.

Parkrun is a global community movement where people of all ages and abilities gather outdoors on Saturday mornings to walk, jog, or run a 5km course. There’s no pressure, no competition, and it’s free — a welcoming environment that Groves says made all the difference.

“When you go out on your own, it’s difficult because you can’t hear anybody behind or anything,” she said. “There is no pressure, you can walk.”

Now, she’s a regular. And her son couldn’t be prouder.

“At the age of 85, to not have any background in running at all, and to suddenly decide — at an age when most people think, I’ll just sit down and have an easy life — to challenge herself and push herself, I just think it’s incredible,” Hogg said.

So does Ash Mellors, the Run Director at Castle parkrun.

“To see her turn up, week after week, and just smash the course, with a big smile on her face — it’s just incredible,” he said. “She’s become part of the community here as well.”

Groves may not care much for records, but her presence each Saturday has become something of a quiet phenomenon. She’s showing that it’s never too late to start — and that a little movement can go a long way.

“I’m not bothered about the records,” she said. “I just enjoy how it makes me feel.”

This Deaf 85-Year-Old Just Became a Record-Breaking Runner, 3 Months After Taking Up the Sport

Scientific American

Every December, millions of people across the U.S. gather around Christmas trees, stringing lights and hanging ornaments. But as author and environmental economist Trent Preszler reveals in his new book Evergreen: The Trees That Shaped America, the role of conifers in U.S. history goes far beyond seasonal décor.

From helping the Allies build warplanes in World War I to sparking one of the earliest acts of colonial rebellion, conifers have been quietly shaping the country’s political, economic, and environmental identity for centuries.

Preszler traces this journey back to 367 million years ago with Archaeopteris — the prehistoric ancestor of modern trees. “It almost looked like a top-heavy Christmas tree,” he says. Its structure allowed it to thrive in harsh climates, and its fossilized remains eventually became the coal that powers large parts of the U.S. economy today.

That evolutionary resilience lives on in the evergreen conifers we know today. And while they might now line living rooms in December, they’ve been far more than just festive decorations.

The Pine Tree Riot and America’s Colonial Roots

Before the Boston Tea Party, there was the Pine Tree Riot.

In the 18th century, the British Empire desperately needed tall, straight white pines for its Royal Navy ship masts — and the forests of the American colonies offered exactly that. Colonists were sent to harvest timber for the Crown, not just to seek religious freedom. But when royal surveyors tried to enforce control over these trees, it didn’t go over well.

In Weare, New Hampshire, colonists captured and beat a British forest official in a tavern. That act of rebellion — later known as the Pine Tree Riot — helped inspire the Boston Tea Party a year later.

As Preszler notes, “The common mythology is that the Pilgrims were religious separatists, but they were really lumber merchants sent here to find timber for the Crown.”

The “Airplane Spruce” That Helped Win a War

During World War I, the Allies needed durable, lightweight wood for building the fuselages of fighter planes. The solution was Sitka spruce, a stringy, pliable tree that grows along the coasts of Oregon and Washington.

The U.S. government mobilized hundreds of thousands of military personnel to log this specific species — dubbed “airplane spruce” — in what Preszler calls a little-known but pivotal moment in wartime history. “It turned the tide of the war, really,” he says.

Spruce trees also played a role in labor history. In the early 20th century, lumber workers — especially spruce loggers — helped secure major labor rights, including the eight-hour workday and overtime pay.

A More Personal Origin Story

For Preszler, the idea for the book started with a Christmas tree shopping trip on Long Island. Rows of fluorescent, spray-painted trees were flying off the lot. “What, is the basic evergreen not enough for us?” he wondered. That question sparked a two-year journey through 20 U.S. states — visiting lumber mills, forests, Indigenous reservations, and historical archives — to uncover the forgotten legacy of America’s conifers.

“I could probably come to an understanding of the biography of America as seen through a singular lens of Christmas trees,” he said.

The Unsung Benefits of Real Trees

Artificial Christmas trees might seem eco-friendly at first glance, but Preszler argues the opposite. Real trees, he says, support local farmers, prevent land from being paved over, and serve as biodiversity havens.

“They often occupy sites that are marginal, quite rocky soil that’s not good for growing other crops that may otherwise be turned into strip malls,” he said. “They’re natural, they’re completely biodegradable, and they return to the earth.”

Christmas tree farms also support birds, grasses, and wildflowers. And unlike synthetic trees, real ones don’t sit in landfills for centuries.

From Holiday Cheer to Suburban Construction

Preszler’s favorite conifer is the Douglas-fir. Though technically not a true fir, this tree is prized both for its aesthetic and economic value.

“It grows these ramrod-straight trunks with very hard timber,” he said. “That’s also what led to its demise.” During the post–World War II housing boom, Douglas-fir became the backbone of suburban development — especially on Long Island.

As a young tree, it’s bushy and full — a classic Christmas tree shape. Left to grow for a century, it becomes an 80-foot-tall column of timber. “It straddles this line,” said Preszler. “It’s a deeply commercial and economically vital material product for America’s economy, and it also captivates us and holds our imagination around Christmastime.”

A Party Fact Worth Sharing

Looking for a holiday party icebreaker? Here’s one from Preszler: The reason conifer wood is so good for building isn’t just about its density — it’s about its microscopic structure.

“Evergreen conifers’ wood looks like LEGO bricks,” he said. “Tiny rectangles lined up right next to each other in a perfect latticework. Their toughness as lumber is actually based right there at the cellular level.”

A Tree with Deep Roots

Evergreens have long stood as symbols of endurance, vitality, and hope. As Preszler’s book shows, they’ve also quietly supported some of the most pivotal moments in U.S. history — from revolution to war, labor rights to suburban expansion.

And for all the ways they’ve served the country, their biggest legacy may be right in front of us every December: a simple tree, standing tall, decked in lights, reminding us of what lasts.

How Christmas Trees Helped Shape American History — and Still Do

The Guardian

Hyde Park turned into a sea of wagging tails and festive costumes as hundreds of sausage dogs — and their equally enthusiastic owners — gathered for the annual dachshund Christmas walk.

Now in its eighth year, the event began as a small social experiment by Ana Rodriguez, who just wanted her dachshund puppy, Winston, to make some friends. What started with a few dogs has since ballooned into a beloved seasonal spectacle. In some years, Rodriguez said, the event has drawn as many as 1,000 participants.

Meeting at noon by the park’s Physical Energy statue, owners showed off their dogs in everything from holiday sweaters to full-on costumes before taking part in a parade through the park. The best-dressed competition set the tone: one pup turned heads dressed as a wrapped Christmas present, while another pulled a miniature sleigh as a pint-sized reindeer.

Rodriguez, who organizes the event each year, says the community it’s built is part of what makes it special. “They are really special,” she said of dachshunds. “Loving, protective, and the most loyal dogs ever.”

Despite their short legs, these dogs aren’t exactly couch potatoes. The Royal Kennel Club recommends up to an hour of exercise a day for dachshunds, and the walk offered just that — along with plenty of opportunities to sniff out treats.

For many, it was their first time attending. Alice brought her dachshund Koda for his debut appearance. “We’ve been to dachshund cafes before,” she said. “It’s so cute. I’ve got spare costumes for him in case he gets wet, and a sling to carry him home on the tube. He’ll probably fall asleep.”

Some came from further afield. Ian had travelled from St Albans with his dog, Daisie. “It brings everyone together,” he said. “It’s just lovely, isn’t it? Dachshunds migrate towards each other, don’t they?”

And while the breed is famously strong-willed — and not always a fan of being dressed up — many of the dogs appeared to embrace the chaos. Three-year-old Otto sported a Christmas scarf at the insistence of his owner, Berfin, who noted that he’s used to striking a pose. “He’s used to posing for photographs though,” she said. “My boyfriend is a photographer.”

Pedro, another dapper attendee wearing a tinsel necklace, came with longtime dachshund owners Mo and Jen. “The previous two both lived to 17,” Jen said, leading Mo to joke, “Pedro might outlive me.” He added, “They are so human. They just want to spend time with their owners.”

Originally bred in Germany to track wounded prey and burrow into tunnels after badgers, modern dachshunds have traded the hunt for cuddles, costumes, and Instagram moments. The breed has seen a sharp rise in popularity in the UK over the past decade, and it’s easy to see why. At Sunday’s walk, the only thing these dogs were chasing were snacks — and maybe a few photo ops.

For Rodriguez, seeing so many dachshunds and their humans come together never gets old. “It’s joyful, it’s chaotic, and it’s completely heartwarming,” she said.

Hundreds Of Sausage Dogs Parade Through Hyde Park in London for a Festive Christmas Celebration

People

In downtown McKinney, Texas, a folding chair and a warm smile are all it takes to brighten someone’s day.

The city has embraced a heartwarming concept known as The Grandma Stand—a place where anyone can sit and talk with a local grandmother for advice, support, or just a few kind words. Set up in the center of town, the stand rotates between three volunteer “Grandma McKinneys,” each offering their own brand of wisdom and compassion.

“Grandmas are nonjudgmental and loving people,” said Grandma Nancy, one of the volunteers, in an interview with CBS News. “Sometimes it’s nice to talk to someone who’s basically a stranger, but you still feel a connection with.”

That connection has made the stand a quiet sensation. People come with everything from heartbreak to sports losses. “Anything from ‘I lost my pet,’ to ‘I lost my grandma,’ to ‘my basketball team lost last night,’” Grandma Nancy said.

For her, the mission is simple. “If there’s a choice between being kind and being unkind … choose kindness. And choose love. And choose patience.”

The idea started back in 2012 in New York City, when Mike Matthews set up the original Grandma Stand so his 95-year-old grandmother Eileen could talk with strangers via Zoom. What began as a way to help her feel more connected soon became something more. Eileen told Matthews the experience gave her purpose and may have even helped her live longer—she passed away at 102.

That one stand grew into a nonprofit, and now cities across the U.S. are adopting the model, with McKinney among the latest to bring it to life. The Texas version trades city sidewalks for small-town charm, but the effect is the same: people leave feeling seen, heard, and just a little bit lighter.

The appeal lies in its simplicity. There’s no appointment, no paperwork, no cost—just a chair and someone who’s ready to listen. It's a counterbalance to the fast pace of modern life, offering real connection in an increasingly digital world.

And in McKinney, it’s catching on. Locals and tourists alike are taking a seat, sharing their worries, and walking away with something we all need a little more of—kindness, comfort, and a reminder that someone’s always willing to listen.

This Texas City is Welcoming a Heartwarming Grandma Stand Offering Kind Advice

Good News Network

In what officials are calling the biggest wildlife crime crackdown in history, INTERPOL has announced the results of Operation Thunder 2025—a massive, month-long sting that led to the rescue of 30,000 live animals and the dismantling of international trafficking networks operating across 134 countries.

Between September 15 and October 15, law enforcement agencies conducted 4,620 raids, uncovering everything from illegally traded birds and reptiles to pangolins, primates, and big cats. INTERPOL identified 1,100 suspects and issued 69 criminal notices to law enforcement agencies around the world.

Now in its ninth year, Operation Thunder brought together an unprecedented coalition of national police, customs officials, border security forces, and forestry and wildlife authorities. According to INTERPOL, the level of coordination and intelligence-sharing this year was unmatched.

Live Animals Spared from the Illegal Trade
Among the live animals seized were:

• 6,160 birds
• 2,040 terrapins
• 1,150 reptiles
• 208 primates
• 49 pangolins
• 10 big cats
• And approximately 19,000 other species, including fish, amphibians, small mammals, and a significant number of exotic arthropods—insects and arachnids that are increasingly being trafficked.

In addition to live animals, officials seized enormous quantities of trafficked animal parts: shark fins, pangolin scales, elephant ivory, tortoise shell, and more. While these products remain lucrative in the black market, the numbers show a shift.

One notable figure: just 7 rhino horns were seized among more than 100,000 objects, an encouraging sign that rhino poaching may finally be on the decline after years of intensive conservation efforts.

A Changing Criminal Landscape
While seizures of iconic megafauna and their parts have decreased, authorities are noticing a shift toward the trafficking of smaller, less regulated species. The dramatic uptick in the smuggling of arthropods points to traffickers adapting to stricter regulations and improved enforcement on more well-known animals.

Another major concern is timber. In total, 14,000 tons of illegally logged wood were seized—an amount that could represent as much as one-third of the entire illegal timber market, according to estimates.

This highlights how trafficking networks often diversify their operations, switching between wildlife, timber, and other natural resources depending on enforcement pressure and market demand.

Beyond the Raids: Mapping Global Crime
The immediate impact of Operation Thunder is significant. But its long-term value lies in the data and intelligence collected. These insights will help map criminal networks, predict future smuggling tactics, and strengthen law enforcement’s ability to disrupt the global supply chains that fuel environmental crime.

Months of preparation went into the operation, including cross-border information sharing between INTERPOL, the World Customs Organization, and law enforcement agencies around the world. The operation’s success shows how coordinated international action can deliver a meaningful blow to organized environmental crime.

INTERPOL did not release a global estimate of the value of all seizures, but noted that trafficked goods from Tanzania alone exceeded $500,000—suggesting that total losses for criminal organizations likely reached into the millions.

A Blow to Poachers, and a Warning
Operation Thunder 2025 has sent a clear message to traffickers and poachers: the world is watching, and enforcement is scaling up.

As poachers pivot to lesser-known species and timber markets, officials say public awareness and policy must adapt in kind. The resilience of traffickers makes ongoing cooperation essential.

But for now, the numbers speak for themselves: 30,000 lives saved, criminal networks disrupted, and one of the largest stings in wildlife crime history successfully carried out.

30,000 Live Animals Rescued as INTERPOL Carries Out Largest-Ever Global Wildlife Crime Bust

A former top-ranked gamer who once ruled the world of Call of Duty has swapped the controller for running shoes—and just completed one of the most staggering endurance feats ever recorded.

Sam King, 31, has finished 79 ultramarathons in 79 consecutive days, running 50 kilometres (31 miles) daily through his hometown of Frinton-on-Sea in Essex. He did it all as a tribute to his mother, Penny, who survived a life-threatening brain bleed earlier this year.

“I haven’t allowed myself to think past each day and I haven’t allowed myself to think to the finish,” King said after crossing the final finish line, “but what just occurred, in front of everyone there, was one of the best things I’ve ever experienced in my life.”

Penny, friends, and family were there to cheer him on as he completed the final leg of the challenge—intentionally timed to end on a Sunday, outside his mum’s church.

Originally, King had planned to run 74 ultramarathons, one for every year of his mother’s life before she fell ill. But he pushed it to 79 to coincide with a symbolic finish, and now he’s aiming for more than just personal meaning. His feat could soon be recognised by Guinness World Records. The current men’s record for consecutive ultramarathons stands at 60.

It’s a dramatic transformation for someone who once weighed 121 kilograms and spent his days immersed in video games. King was, at one point, the highest-ranked Call of Duty player in the world. But eight years ago, he quit competitive gaming, took up running, and became hooked on extreme endurance.

He’s since run ultramarathons around the world, including near Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. But nothing compared to this.

“The first couple of weeks I was also really ill and really injured as my body adapted to what I was doing, so that was tough,” he said. “But I have loved it, it’s been an incredible adventure.”

King quit his job in London and moved back to Essex after his mother’s injury. Doctors warned the family she was unlikely to survive. But despite now being unable to walk independently, she’s making remarkable progress. “She’s doing really well,” King said.

Throughout the challenge, he’s been raising money for Headway, a charity that supports people affected by brain injuries. So far, he’s brought in over £60,000 toward his £74,000 goal.

King credited Headway for their support throughout the past year, saying the charity had made a real difference during one of the most difficult times in his life.

What started as a way to honour his mum has grown into something much bigger: a personal transformation, a fundraising milestone, and potentially a world record. And for King, it's also been a reminder of what matters most.

“I felt on top of the world,” he said.

This Ex-Gamer Just Completed 79 Ultramarathons In 79 Days

The Premier of New South Wales visited Ahmed el Ahmed, the man who tackled one of the shooters in the deadly Bondi Beach attack, as he underwent treatment in hospital on Monday, December 15.

This image was published by Chris Minns, who said that that Ahmed was “a real-life hero.”

“Last night, his incredible bravery no doubt saved countless lives when he disarmed a terrorist at enormous personal risk,” Minns said.

Widely-circulated social media footage showed the moment Ahmed tackled and disarmed one of the shooters in the attack on Sunday.

Ahmed was injured in subsequent gunfire, according to 9News.

The Premier of New South Wales visited Ahmed el Ahmed, the man who tackled one of the shooters in the deadly Bondi Beach attack, as he underwent treatment in hospital on Monday, December 15.This image was published by Chris Minns, who said that that Ahmed was “a real-life hero.”“Last night, his incredible bravery no doubt saved countless lives when he disarmed a terrorist at enormous personal risk,” Minns said.Widely-circulated social media footage showed the moment Ahmed tackled and disarmed one of the shooters in the attack on Sunday.Ahmed was injured in subsequent gunfire, according to 9News.

Premier of NSW Visits 'Hero' Recovering in Hospital After Tackling Bondi Shooter

At one Northumberland primary school, Christmas cheer comes with a side of chaos—thanks to a band of rogue elves causing mayhem every December.

Since 2019, Amble Links Primary School has become known for its elaborate and mischievous Elf on the Shelf antics, with toy elves regularly bricking up entrances, hijacking lifeboats, and even flooding the headteacher’s office with plastic balls.

Headteacher Paul Heeley says the annual tradition has become so popular that the school now has “quite a following” on social media. “When the school’s mentioned, people say, ‘Oh, is that the school with the elves?’” he said.

Every morning in December, students arrive buzzing with excitement. “You can hear them coming up the hill asking, ‘Where the elves? What the elves doing? What have they done?’” Heeley said.

While the Elf on the Shelf craze began in the United States, the Amble elves have taken things to a new level. “These elves aren’t your normal elves that you see on most social media,” Heeley said. “They do quite large-scale things.”

The pranks have included roping in sheep to block the front gates, staging a dramatic escape from a recycling centre, and even toppling a lamp-post. One year, they were caught in a student-made “elf trap”—only to escape by morning.

The mischief isn’t just limited to the school grounds. Over time, the local community has joined in, with businesses, the council, and even emergency services taking part—often during the very early hours before students arrive for breakfast club.

“As it’s grown, there’s just been so much community involvement, which has been tremendous,” Heeley said. A small group now helps plan each year’s scenarios in secret throughout the year.

Despite the scale of the pranks, everything is cleared away before classes begin to avoid disruption to lessons. Still, the effort leaves a lasting impression.

“It’s that joy that it brings to them, it’s memories for them,” Heeley said. “I love doing the project every year.”

The elves’ antics have not only delighted the students but also sparked offers of donations from people who’ve followed the fun online. According to Heeley, funds raised have gone toward buying Chromebooks and other supplies for students.

It’s a festive tradition that mixes creativity, community, and a healthy dose of mischief—and it’s showing no signs of slowing down.

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