It wasn’t a fox in socks inside a box at St. Ignatius Elementary last week, but instead a principal.

To celebrate “I Love to Read” month in February, Principal Tyler Arlint challenged his 250 students to read 1,500 books. The students surpassed the goal, reading 1,856 books.

As a result, Arlint spent Friday, March 1 holding up his end of a bargain, which was also Dr. Seuss’s birthday.

“The fruit of their labors is their principal in a box,” Arlint said, with a jovial laugh.

The box, decorated by St. Ignatius Elementary students, housed a leather recliner chair Arlint hauled in from home, a desk, his laptop and a select few other essentials.

As students passed by through the day, they got creative with their greetings to their principal.

As she walked by, one girl remarked, “nice box,” to which Arlint replied, “nice reading.”

Throughout the day, teachers took their classes to visit their principal, who would read a Dr. Seuss book.

While he was comfortably cooped up in his box, Arlint said he was able to do some administrative work.

Overcome by the creative spirit of Dr. Seuss, Arlint even wrote a poem, reflecting on his time in the box.

“It’s been pretty productive,” he said, laughing.

Arlint, who is in his second year as principal at St. Ignatius Elementary, said “at least once a year, students are guaranteed something that humiliates Mr. Arlint.”

Last year, he spent the night on top of the school’s roof in a doghouse.

Arlint was granted two bathroom breaks, which he was allowed to use at his discretion.

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