Santa School
Each year, dozens of jolly students from across the country and the world journey to Midland to attend the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School. Students spend three days immersed in the art of Santa in preparation for the holidays, all the while spreading joy, happiness and the spirit of Father Christmas.
Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School students laugh during introductions at the first day of school at Santa’s House on Main Street. The three-day event featured various classroom lessons, field trips and networking opportunities for people looking to be the best Santa or Mrs. Claus they can be during the holiday season. Many of the Santas are returning students. The school was originally founded in 1937 by Charles W. Howard in Albion, New York. Dean Tom Valent moved it to Midland in 1986 where he runs it with his wife, Holly.
Ohio resident John Williams gets dressed as Santa during a lesson on wardrobe at the Carriage House Hall in Heritage Park.
Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School Dean Tom Valent, right, and student John Bloomberg, left, of Headrick, Okla., get ready for a mock interview as Ron Beacom, MCTV station director, center, looks on. Students took a field trip to the television station to learn how to conduct media interviews and how to answer tough questions from kids.
Students ride on a charter bus during a field trip to Toys “R” Us in Saginaw where they learned about the hottest toys for the year.
A student’s vanity plate.
Jerry Julian, of Colorado, places his bag in the trunk of his Volkswagen Beetle after a lunch break. Many of the Santas carry the Christmas theme into all aspects of their lives with custom license plates and lots of red and green clothing. The majority of students have real beards as well.
Santa Frank Miller, of Beverly Hills, Fla., lays on the ground after an abdominal workout during a fitness class run by Sabrina Frawley Zielinski at the Carriage House Hall in Heritage Park. Classes include fitness, hair care, legal advice and dealing with post-Christmas depression to name a few. Classes took place at Santa’s House on Main Street, the Carriage House Hall in Heritage Park and Whiting Forest.
Santa Tom Bethke places an elf he bought while on a field trip with students to Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth. The trip to the Christmas mega-store is a highlight for students.
Tom Jonker, of Coatesville, Ind., gets his beard and hair dyed white by Susan Myers at her studio. Jonker and others
made appointments to get their hair done while they were in Midland. Myers held a class about Santa hair care during
the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School.
Rob Simanskey, left, along with Tom Valent (not seen) show off Valent’s reindeer after dessert at Valent’s home during the first day of the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School. Aside from his duties at the school, Dean Tom Valent becomes Santa Claus each year and visits with kids at Santa’s House on Main Street where much of the school is conducted.
Linda Lee, center right, plays the accordion while parading through the Bavarian Inn with the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School student body during a trip to Frankenmuth. The Santas stopped at a toy store for a lesson on this year’s hottest toys before heading to Bavarian Inn for dinner. After dinner the group went shopping at Bronner’s Christmas Store. More than 80 students attended this year’s school, which was held on Oct. 7-9.
A picture of school founder Charles H. Howard sits in the hallway advertising an outside vendor who was selling Santa suits at the Fairview Inn during school. The Fairview Inn is one of the main places students lodge during their stay in Midland.
Santa Sam Hopeck, left, waves goodbye after talking to to Benjamin Lowther, 3, who shopping with his dad Brendan at Bronner’s Christmas Store in Frankenmuth. Students took a field trip to the Christmas mega-store.
Santa Dennis Blanden, center, laughs while interacting with fellow student Everett Johnson, right, and other students in the lobby of the Fairview Inn after a night at school. After each day, Santas can be found hanging out in the hotel lobby exchanging stories, laughs and business cards. Many of the students have built lasting friendships with the Santas they’ve met in Midland. “You have found the Mecca of Santa right here,” said Johnson about the school.
Santa Bill Neyenhouse leaves the bar during the graduation ceremony for the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School in the St. Andrews Ballroom at the Midland Country Club. The students dress up in formal Santa attire for the last event of the three-day-long school. Students enjoy a buffet dinner and then receive their diplomas.
Diplomas are handed out during the graduation ceremony for the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School in the St. Andrews Ballroom at the Midland Country Club.
Pat Petty, left, and his wife, Dianne, of Franklin, Tenn., cuddle in their hotel room bed at the end of the final night of the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School. It’s not uncommon for Santas to bring their wives to either participate in the school or to hang out with the other wives while classes are in session.
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