Excitement

I have been toying with an idea for about 2 weeks now........ of having a "kids" Christmas party at school. It would involve 150+ kiddies - aged 6 - 11..... Most of whom are rather jaded about this whole holiday thingy - well jaded in my opinion.

Their Christmas lists are as long as your arm....... and filled with all the latest toys and electronics. One of the things about working in a "normal" school is this sense of entitlement that I haven't seen in my other schools. In past years the kiddies were excited yes... but they had a sense of anticipation and excitement that I don't see in this school. It is as though these kiddies this year KNOW they will get what they ask for (and they probably will)

So I have been toying with the idea of having an old fashioned Christmas party.... with games and cake decorating and loads of laughter and silliness. I wondered if it would be worth all the extra work and stress..... would the kiddies have fun.. would they appreciate a party?

Anyway........ for whatever reason.... I decided yesterday morning to pull out the party plans from past years - blow the dust off them... and see what I could pull together.

My principal gave her stamp of approval - with a shade more enthusiasm than I have seen so far this year over one of my half baked schemes.

My staff looked at me like I had a screw loose... and rolled their eyes .... and I believe I heard one or two huff and puff.

Now organizing a party for 150+ kids takes military type engineering.. getting all the kids separated by age through 5 different stations in 90 minutes takes some planning and organizing !!! and experience tells me - on paper it works fine - but come the day - I can throw the paper schedule out and just hang on for the bumpy ride.

We will be having a Rudolph race - where the kiddies have to plaster vaseline to their noses then slap on a red paper circle and run from one end of the gym to the other without losing their noses........ The snowflake blow involves the kids moving a paper snowflake by blowing through a straw across the room and back again.... then there is the Christmas scramble - which for the older kids involves a whole slew of letters that they have to put together to make a seasonal word in the fastest time (the younger kiddies put together a season picture puzzle) ...

And of course there is the cake decorating contest....... I will supply one cake for each group - all the icing in all the colours they could ever need, candies and sprinkles and popsicle sticks for spreading......... and let them have a go ....... the best decorated cake wins.. and each child gets to take a hunk of cake home with them.

I am hoping to send them all home - sticky and giggled out and full of the joy of playing for the sake of playing (no prizes at Mrs. W's parties)

And so the planning continues...........


(pssssssssst know what?? the real truth is.. "Mrs. W" wants this kids party ... wants the planning the organizing the stress... "Mrs. W" thrives on it at this time of the year..... so batten down the hatches !!)