Professor Evan Farnsworth, a widower, is deeply committed to his role at a prestigious boarding school in Maine, where he devotes himself to inspiring his students to have confidence in themselves. He takes on the responsibility of teaching students who remain at the school during the Christmas break, including Juliet, a gifted scholarship student; Albert, a socially awkward outcast; and Drew, a privileged troublemaker. Farnsworth soon encounters a problem when Drew, upset that his affluent parents abandoned him for a skiing trip in Paris, acts out by vandalizing the town’s cherished Wishing Tree. This tree, adorned with handwritten notes of the townspeople’s most heartfelt holiday desires, is a beloved tradition and serves as a fundraiser for families in need, relying on contributions from those who make wishes. Drew’s antics put Farnsworth’s job at risk, but with the support of the community and the magical Wishing Tree, Farnsworth learns that anything is achievable.