https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 23 Apr 2026 04:32:59 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-too-christmas-y-for-public-school/page/2#post-2784908 Tue, 07 Nov 2017 16:59:21 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2784908@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: @pinkcupcake: your exchange brought back a memory. when my mom was on mat leave she volunteered at my school library and brought my baby bro. He slept in his car seat by the librarian desk. I didn't see or hear him and when she told me she left him at home I believed her! 😂 :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-too-christmas-y-for-public-school/page/2#post-2784890 Tue, 07 Nov 2017 16:32:55 +0000 daniellemybelle 2784890@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: Frosty The Snowman still says "I'll be back on Christmas Day," right?</p> <p>This is as anecdotal as it comes but I have a friend who is a Jehovah's Witness, so no holidays of any kind ever, and she was okay with ugly "winter" sweaters at work and gingerbread cookies / houses. What about a "silly holiday sweater" party? There's a ton of goofy, "ugly" props at Target right now and my 4 year old thought they were hilarious. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-too-christmas-y-for-public-school/page/2#post-2784854 Tue, 07 Nov 2017 15:12:00 +0000 looch 2784854@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: I am curious, what opportunities are there to volunteer for music and art? Might be some chance for us to get more parents in the school. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-too-christmas-y-for-public-school/page/2#post-2784821 Tue, 07 Nov 2017 13:58:26 +0000 pinkcupcake 2784821@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: that sounds great! It would also depend your child’s temperament I suppose - my daughter would have been content to just being worn at this age, but my son is a completely different story ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-too-christmas-y-for-public-school/page/2#post-2784817 Tue, 07 Nov 2017 13:50:00 +0000 PinkElephant 2784817@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pinkcupcake: I was surprised! I think it's only allowed when you're a library helper/reading guest, since those are really short shifts where it wouldn't make sense to get a sitter - but it's massively helpful. My guess is that if they didn't make the allowance, we'd be short volunteers. I try not to take my 3.5 year old in, but I would bring the 1 year old if I didn't have an option since she's still content in a stroller. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-too-christmas-y-for-public-school/page/2#post-2784807 Tue, 07 Nov 2017 13:12:12 +0000 pinkcupcake 2784807@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: that’s nice that your school allows siblings. Ours prefers that we don’t because they consider it too distracting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-too-christmas-y-for-public-school/page/2#post-2784806 Tue, 07 Nov 2017 13:11:31 +0000 pinkcupcake 2784806@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: SAHM here who would love to volunteer but my youngest is 16 months old and I have no childcare or family who can watch him for me. We were in a co-op pre-K last year and since he was much younger, I could wear him and still help, but there is no way now I could do focus on anything but him since he’s running and beyond active. Wish I could help, but without childcare, it’s tough. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-too-christmas-y-for-public-school/page/2#post-2784801 Tue, 07 Nov 2017 13:01:06 +0000 PinkElephant 2784801@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>ugh! My whole reply just got eaten...rather than go back and try to respond individually again, I'm just going to say THANK YOU! to all who responded. It's been really interesting to see everyone's perspective on this.</p> <p>After further conversations with the teacher/parents who have been at the school, we're going to keep it 100% winter theme...and I'm going with my gut feeling that gingerbread houses and candycanes, while secular, are still VERY much Christmas icons, so I'm sticking to making various snowflake projects, playing a winter apparel relay game, etc.</p> <p>At back to school night, the teacher invited families to come in to share about any holiday/cultural event their family might be observing. Someone came in for Diwali, and I hope that trend continues - it's so much nicer for kids to learn about a holiday from someone who is celebrating it than from someone who has only read about it - much more "real", imo.</p> <p>On the whole SAHMs not volunteering thing....of the four class parents for this teacher (AM/PM) I'm the only SAHM. A lot of it actually may be less actual childcare, and more about timing. Our class is pretty good about allowing siblings to visit when parents volunteer, which is nice. However, the art/library/music volunteer slots all fall over the time in which I'd need to go get my preschool daughter from her classroom, and it's much harder for me to arrange for someone to get her at school than it is for me to hire a babysitter to stay at home. I imagine lots of other SAHMs are in the same situation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-too-christmas-y-for-public-school/page/2#post-2784168 Sat, 04 Nov 2017 12:59:03 +0000 looch 2784168@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That's what I've noticed, is that the SAHMs don't have childcare available for their younger ones, it seems like we have a ton of people with no family around, so I understand that completely. I have a lot of help, plus a job that is somewhat flexible so it's a little easier for me to run out and attend something. I leverage email and sign up genius for the parents to mobilize and purchase the supplies, but more than that, during the week, I really can't do because I am also on the board of the PTO. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-too-christmas-y-for-public-school/page/2#post-2784151 Sat, 04 Nov 2017 09:12:10 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2784151@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: @MamaCate: I'm very pt with work and in the same situation.. I do volunteer but theres a good chance I'll miss a day on the schedule because Dh won't be off to watch ds (and soon lo3.) I mean though.. childcare conflicts and prices are the whole reason I'm not ft. I imagine a lot of sahms are in the same position... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-too-christmas-y-for-public-school/page/2#post-2784150 Sat, 04 Nov 2017 08:41:16 +0000 MamaCate 2784150@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: @looch: it’s interesting to see the level of involvement from the parents—DD is in K this year. I WOH 32 hours a week but have a flexible schedule. I have volunteered more than my SAH friend whose son is in the same class because she has her 3 y/o at home with her. She can’t bring him in. But my 2 y/o is in daycare so I can come in for various things. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-too-christmas-y-for-public-school/page/2#post-2784137 Sat, 04 Nov 2017 06:44:09 +0000 Truth Bombs 2784137@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: my good friend’s daughter started K this year and she has said she got a dud of a class in terms of parental involvement. She’s the room Mom because no one else volunteered . She said that of the few parents who do help out every single one was is a WOHM. You’d think the SAHMs would have more time to give but none of the ones in her class ever offer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-too-christmas-y-for-public-school/page/2#post-2784135 Sat, 04 Nov 2017 06:33:59 +0000 looch 2784135@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mamaof2: It's weird, but I think it's because we have a lot of working parents. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-too-christmas-y-for-public-school/page/2#post-2783988 Fri, 03 Nov 2017 12:42:56 +0000 Mamaof2 2783988@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: That stinks that parental involvement is so low - we have so many parents that want to volunteer but they only allow 2 per party - you throw your name in a hat and hope you get picked for one! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-too-christmas-y-for-public-school/page/2#post-2783978 Fri, 03 Nov 2017 12:09:02 +0000 avivoca 2783978@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think we need to be doing more to include all cultures and religions (or lack thereof) in school celebrations an in the curriculum in general, because I think it's important to be exposed to cultures and religions outside of our American bubble. I am also interested in learning more about other religions and cultures myself and am trying to instill that in my kids. I just don't think you can say, hey, it's okay that I did this craft and demonstration that aligns with my beliefs but don't you dare do something that aligns with your beliefs because it makes me uncomfortable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-too-christmas-y-for-public-school/page/2#post-2783956 Fri, 03 Nov 2017 10:31:49 +0000 looch 2783956@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: I am more thinking about public school, starting in Kindergarten. I don't think you can really compare private preschool with kids with that amount of history and the kids in a kindergarten or first grade class that haven't been together before, you know what I mean?</p> <p>My son's school has 120 kids in a grade. There are 2 kids in his classroom from last year, so it's a completely different mix of parents year after year. The same ones step up.</p> <p>Oh, and regarding the candy canes, I feel it's just better to leave the possibility of that conversation to the side. It's hard to know what people will be offended by, so I'd rather not engage in that kind of conversation. I am sure there are people that would be offended by a snowflake, as innocuous as that sounds. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-too-christmas-y-for-public-school/page/2#post-2783954 Fri, 03 Nov 2017 10:25:41 +0000 Truth Bombs 2783954@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: I suppose our class is the exception. My daughter and her friends were the first to start in Infant 1 when the school opened. The parents are all super close because we've been together so many years and we were all first time parents so we bonded really well. There are no less that 8 sets of parents in my kids classroom who I would trust my child with and who my child basically thinks of as auxiliary moms and dads. So we all come to the parties and get into it. And if someone can't come because it falls at the same time as an important work event etc, we jump right in and celebrate with each others kids. So the kids know it's going to be a great time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-too-christmas-y-for-public-school/page/2#post-2783950 Fri, 03 Nov 2017 10:13:00 +0000 looch 2783950@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: I had these fantasies that there would be parents chomping at the bit to participate in the classroom and it's turned out to be completely different and I do think that colors my view, unfortunately. </p> <p>My son would have had a great Halloween even without the party at school. I was stressed about the craft, getting the supplies, doing the project. One other parent showed up, out of a class of 20! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-too-christmas-y-for-public-school/page/2#post-2783947 Fri, 03 Nov 2017 10:01:08 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2783947@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@merriment: my daycare livestreamed the Halloween parade on FB. :happy: for all of the reasons you listed someone may feel left out I would rather the seasons, just the seasons, be acknowledged and not the celebratory holidays. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-too-christmas-y-for-public-school/page/2#post-2783942 Fri, 03 Nov 2017 09:48:49 +0000 Truth Bombs 2783942@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@808love: @looch: my kid and her friends are definitely not "take it or leave it" on school celebrations. They LOVE them. Look forward to them and talk about them for weeks. So to me, there is value in finding inclusive ways of doing them rather than just scrapping them all together because it's easier on the adults. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-too-christmas-y-for-public-school/page/2#post-2783941 Fri, 03 Nov 2017 09:48:21 +0000 annem1990 2783941@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I taught 1st grade. I would ask the teacher what she would think is appropriate. Everything you mentioned sounds fine though. Anything overtly religious, Santa, and maybe Christmas trees should be avoided. </p> <p>The one thing I would make sure to check on is if there are any Jehovahs Witness children in the class. I had one one year and they cannot do any sort of celebration. There are definitely ways to be conscious of it though and still include the child. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-too-christmas-y-for-public-school/page/2#post-2783939 Fri, 03 Nov 2017 09:46:37 +0000 Truth Bombs 2783939@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk: @looch: just FYI there's not solid proof that candy canes have a religious connotation. Many religious leaders have latched on to the lore that the red and white represent the blood of Christ, or that the shape is a J for a Jesus or a shepard's hook, and have passed the stories on to their congregations, but no concrete evidence supports this. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-too-christmas-y-for-public-school#post-2783932 Fri, 03 Nov 2017 09:19:10 +0000 MrsLonghorn 2783932@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@808love: @truthbombs: I don't disagree with you at all, in theory. But in my experience (previously and currently) especially here in the south, that isn't reality. The celebrations and goodie bags and parties are always Christmas themed - no one ever includes other winter holidays. If the school wants to use instructional time to teach about all the different faith traditions, that would be wonderful and then I would have no issue when my child came home with Christmas crafts! But at least down here, that doesn't happen. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-too-christmas-y-for-public-school#post-2783926 Fri, 03 Nov 2017 09:00:14 +0000 looch 2783926@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@808love: I don't think the kids really care one way or the other, I think we do a lot of these things for the parents!</p> <p>@merriment: I think the younger kids actually have a really hard time with the special parties. They're done in a way to maximize instructional time, so I really felt we were rushing around and it wasn't fun at all. It was just meltdown city in first grade this year, and I talked to a few parents that felt the same. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-too-christmas-y-for-public-school#post-2783924 Fri, 03 Nov 2017 08:45:51 +0000 merriment 2783924@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are Jewish and this is the first year my daughter is in public school (K). I would be uncomfortable with candy canes and ginger bread men. There are a ton of winter options, why can't it just be about winter? Learning about different religious in a more "instructional" setting makes sense to me as opposed to addressing holidays in a special class event.<br /> @Looch: YES! I totally agree these special celebrations should not be done in school. My kids went to a daycare that did nothing for any holidays. It was great! The kids with two dads didn't feel left out making mother's day crafts. The kid who was a result of a sperm donation was not asked to make a father's day card. The kids who were extremely religious Christians were not put in a weird situation when everyone else was making Halloween crafts (a holiday at least a few families did not celebrate). The kids whose parents could not take time off of work to be at school in the middle of the day on a Tuesday for a Halloween parade were not left out. The kids who really really need a consistent routine to feel comfortable were not thrown for a difficult loop. I could go on...needless to say, the change from that daycare to public school has been eye-opening... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-too-christmas-y-for-public-school#post-2783913 Fri, 03 Nov 2017 08:10:35 +0000 808love 2783913@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am also somewhat Scrooge-like in that the school celebrations are so time consuming (cutting into instruction) and possibly drama inducing. But the younger kids love it, no? So we continue for their sake. End of quarter celebrations, biography brunch or some other related curriculum tie-in might be more appropriate community building for older kids, going forward. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-too-christmas-y-for-public-school#post-2783911 Fri, 03 Nov 2017 08:09:14 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2783911@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I find this whole conversation about Santa really interesting because I went to Catholic school and even they took issues because of Christmas being too secular. So Santa was considered more of just a commercial thing in my experience.</p> <p>I guess after reading this I would focus on the wintery stuff and leave the candy canes and Xmas out of it. But of course most of that just confuses my five year old because it doesn't snow here..still fun though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-too-christmas-y-for-public-school#post-2783904 Fri, 03 Nov 2017 07:54:37 +0000 looch 2783904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: My actual view is that we shouldn't even bother with these kinds of celebrations in school...I recently went to my son's class for the Halloween festivities and it was a hot mess. Kids were crying because their parents weren't there, others were freaking out because of the snack that was served, some were not able to complete the craft and had meltdowns, the rushing in that half hour we had was causing all kinds of issues. </p> <p>But then I am called a scrooge if we do nothing, and some parents want the opportunity for kids to be kids. I don't really know what the happy medium is!!!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-too-christmas-y-for-public-school#post-2783898 Fri, 03 Nov 2017 07:36:15 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2783898@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: I am relying on my own experience and hoping that we do better, which sounds like the case at your son’s school. Granted my LO is not in public school yet, but he attends a secular daycare. Even here where there are clearly kids of different faiths the lobby is decorated with a Christmas tree and Santa visits the kids for picture day. The daycare even hosts an IHOP breakfast with Santa one weekend and yet have a generic “holiday” party where the craft is to decorate stockings. They aren’t fooling anyone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-too-christmas-y-for-public-school#post-2783895 Fri, 03 Nov 2017 07:10:03 +0000 looch 2783895@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I think you need to be careful here, are you using your experience in elementary school 20 years ago, or are you using a current experience that you've had in the last 5 years?</p> <p>I think great strides have been made (at least in the blue state where I live) to change the traditional Christmas pageant into a celebration of holidays that are celebrated in the winter.</p> <p>My son's school celebrated Diwali last month. The day before the December break, there will be a seasonal celebration where all the kids rotate classrooms and each one hosts a holiday. Granted, he attends a school with an international focus, so they're extremely sensitive to the fact that we've got a diverse population in the school.</p> <p>@wrkbrk: I agree, and I did some research about candy canes and gingerbread and now have revised my opinion about their appropriateness in the classroom. </p>