School Christmas Party.

Christmas time at the Elementary time was exciting.  I was asked to be one of the room mothers for Haylie's 2nd grade class and Brody asked that since his teacher didn't know who her room mothers were if I could come and help his class with their party as well. Marie, Breann, and I came up with some fun activities for the 2nd grade Christmas party.  First of all...breakfast!  Pancakes, oranges, milk and juice. After breakfast, the kids enjoyed the minute to win it games we had prepared. The jingle bell jump got us started and excited the kids. Throwing "snowballs" through a wreath was the next activity.  I must say there are some pretty good pitchers in this class.  The last game of the day was the cup tower.  I was impressed as to how quickly and steadily the kids to stack their cups. AND...get them to stay without falling.  To end the day Ms. Davis read The Night Before Christmas and every time she said the secret word the children had to pass their gifts either right or left.  Everyone received a gift and had a fun filled day.

While Haylie's class had a wonderful festive day I couldn't help but be extremely disappointed in Brody's teacher.  While the 2nd grade was playing games I left for a minute to go and see if Mrs. Ekker's class needed any help with their "party".  As I reached then end of the hall, I was in awe of what I heard.  Instead of happy excited noises coming out of their classroom all I heard was an impatient teacher yelling them.  I stood in the doorway unnoticed for a couple of minutes until one of the children spotted me.  There they sat in their desks with their heads drooped and their eyes sad.  It literally broke my heart.  When I asked Mrs. Ekker if I could help her with her party she informed me that they weren't having a party this year because only 4 of her students had all their work turned in.  Two of which happened to be Brody and Destiny.  She was almost rude in saying that she had had enough so they were all being punished.  Mind you, there were no rewards for the students who had their work all caught up.  I left there feeling sad and angry.  This was the only class not having a party that day.  Why didn't the students have their work turned in? Why did she wait until Christmas Holiday to address the issue? And why was my son being treated the same as those who weren't prepared.  I felt so bad for Brody.  When I talked to him on the way home he told me he just had to sit in class and read the whole time because there was no work for him to do.  I took the opportunity to tell him how proud I was of him for having his work turned in and for always being prepared.  When we got home I made sure I gave him some extra privileges to make up for his teacher's behavior.