Event planning
Secret Santa evening at school – procedure for classes and groups
Whether in the morning at school or at a small class party: a well-planned Secret Santa evening (or Secret Santa morning) prevents chaos and ensures that all children feel seen.
- Short introduction: Explain in simple terms how the Secret Santa round works.
- Collect gifts visibly: Collect all gifts at a table or under the (class) tree.
- Moderated order: The teacher calls on children one after the other (e.g. by lot or alphabetically).
- Gift handover: The child whose turn it is gets their gift, presents it and is allowed to say something briefly (depending on age).
- Unpack with attention: Everyone looks briefly, you can react briefly - but without laughing at others.
At a glance
What awaits you on this page
- 1Structure the Secret Santa activity well in the class
- 2Suggestion for the Secret Santa session in the class
- 3Variants for different ages
- 4This is how you use Wichtlify for your class
- 5Primary school
- 6Older classes
Practical Guide
Structure the Secret Santa activity well in the class
Whether in the morning at school or at a small class party: a well-planned Secret Santa evening (or Secret Santa morning) prevents chaos and ensures that all children feel seen.
You can do the draw in advance via Wichtlify: You as a teacher or parent representative register, enter the children and share private links with the parents. Children and parents do not need their own account, but they can enter their wishes.
What is important in the implementation
- Short introduction: Explain in simple terms how the Secret Santa round works.
- Collect gifts visibly: Collect all gifts at a table or under the (class) tree.
- Moderated order: The teacher calls on children one after the other (e.g. by lot or alphabetically).
- Gift handover: The child whose turn it is gets their gift, presents it and is allowed to say something briefly (depending on age).
- Unpack with attention: Everyone looks briefly, you can react briefly - but without laughing at others.
- Very clear rules: budget, no sweets / clearly state certain rules.
Suggestion for the Secret Santa session in the class
You can find templates for parent letters under Parent Letter Secret Santa.
It is important to manage the atmosphere well and moderate it sensitively if necessary.
Variants for different ages
Short introduction: Explain in simple terms how the Secret Santa round works.
Collect gifts visibly: Collect all gifts at a table or under the (class) tree.
This is how you use Wichtlify for your class
Moderated order: The teacher calls on children one after the other (e.g. by lot or alphabetically).
Gift handover: The child whose turn it is gets their gift, presents it and is allowed to say something briefly (depending on age).
Practical tips for teachers, parent representatives and classes
Unpack with attention: Everyone looks briefly, you can react briefly - but without laughing at others.
Very clear rules: budget, no sweets / clearly state certain rules.
App functions for a relaxed implementation
For events with a deadline, reminders and a clear admin workflow help you: check member status, complete wish lists, finalize drawing in time.
Optionally, you can activate Scrap Imp as a second round. This is particularly practical for social evenings with a game character.
Wichtlify Pro
If you need more control: Wichtlify Pro
For larger or recurring rounds, Wichtlify Pro expands the standard process to include Smart Draw, emergency assistant, auto-reminder, admin broadcasts as well as insights and event status.
This allows you to reduce manual effort, react more quickly to changes and keep the group stable despite high dynamics.
FAQ
When should I start a Secret Santa session for an event?
As soon as the date, budget, and class setup are clear. That leaves enough time to explain the rules properly and collect responses.
How do I plan reminders and deadlines sensibly?
Set one clear deadline for responses, wish lists, and gift handover. In school groups, a fixed sequence makes the whole round easier.
Does online organization also make sense for face-to-face events?
Yes, Secret Santa Day at school - the process for classes and groups also works remotely: the draw and wish lists run digitally, gifts can be organized by post or as a digital gift.
Ready for the next step?
Start directly on your preferred platform and lead the group to the result without any detours.