First graders Dijamanta Ansolou (left) and Adriana Dobrzycki address envelopes to Santa in the North Pole as part of a letter writing exercise at Union Ridge School in Harwood Heights on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

First grader Jacob Cybulko thinks about what to write in his letter to Santa as part of a letter writing exercise at Union Ridge School in Harwood Heights on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

An envelope addressed to Santa Claus as part of a letter writing exercise for first graders at Union Ridge School in Harwood Heights. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

First graders Dijamanta Ansolou (left) and Adriana Dobrzycki copy down Santa's address in the North Pole to address an envelope as part of a letter writing exercise with eighth grader Katie Alcaraz at Union Ridge School in Harwood Heights on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

One of the letters to Santa that first graders wrote with help from eighth graders as part of a letter writing exercise at Union Ridge School in Harwood Heights. It reads: "Dear Santa Claus, I wish that others have homes. I also want my grandma to come visit me for Cristmas (sic)." | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

First grader Alex Filipkowski writes a letter to Santa during a writing exercise at Union Ridge School in Harwood Heights on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

One of the letters to Santa that first graders wrote with help from eighth graders as part of a letter writing exercise at Union Ridge School in Harwood Heights. It reads: "Dear Santa Claus, I hope you bring the soldiers home safely from the war. I hope our friends in Kenya have food for Christmas." | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

A box of letters to Santa that first graders wrote with help from eighth graders during a letter writing exercise at Union Ridge School in Harwood Heights on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

First grader Imane Zaari addresses an envelope to Santa during a writing exercise at Union Ridge School in Harwood Heights on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

First grader Jeremy Smith writes a letter to Santa during a writing exercise at Union Ridge School in Harwood Heights on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

In an effort to teach students letter writing skills, First Grade Teacher Sarah Jenkinson-Cope tells her class to write a letter to Santa asking him for something for another person as well as one gift for themselves at Union Ridge School in Harwood Heights on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

One of the letters to Santa that first graders wrote with help from eighth graders as part of a letter writing exercise at Union Ridge School in Harwood Heights. It reads: "Dear Santa Claus, Please help the sick people around the world and make all the kids happy this Christmas." | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

One of the letters to Santa that first graders wrote with help from eighth graders as part of a letter writing exercise at Union Ridge School in Harwood Heights. It reads: "Dear Santa Claus, I will help my mom by cleaning my room. I will help my friends by always being on thier (sic) side." | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

First grader Johnny Kesik writes a letter to Santa with help from eighth grader Armando Salgado as part of a writing exercise at Union Ridge School in Harwood Heights on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

Eighth grader Anna Kowalski helps first grader Brooklyn Young write a letter to Santa as part of a writing exercise at Union Ridge School in Harwood Heights on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media