Holiday celebration in the classroom

What would you do?

As class mom you send out an email with a list of things that are needed for the class holiday party/craft.

Parents all respond with something off the list. One mom says "I will send in dreidels and hannukah gelt", which is not on the list.

Now, I have no problem with my kids celebrating any holiday but if someone else offered to send individual baby Jesus' in, someone would probably complain (and it would probably be this woman).

Would you tell her no? Would you have someone bring something in that is Christmas orientated?

Re: Holiday celebration in the classroom

I am Jewish, and a class mom, so first I would clear it with the teacher, and then I would say something along the lines of:

Dear xxx,

Thank you so much for your desire to make a very thoughtful and generous donation to the class. Perhaps you can make separate arrangements with the teacher to come in and distribute dreidels and chocolate Hanukkah gelt, however, the school is having a winter celebration with only snowmen so that it is non sectarian. If you want to contribute something from the list we would greatly appreciate it.

Happy Hanukkah and Happy New Year.
Love,
you

FWIW, One year I came in with dreidels and gelt and another parent came in with dutch cookies and made special felt heart ornaments. Another parent came in and discussed Indian holidays. It really depends upon the school and their food policy. You might be able to blame the no chocolate on the district food policy. We cant even bring in food for the class anymore.

Re: Holiday celebration in the classroom

I would just clear it with the teacher, to be honest, I think that it is perfectly acceptable to add something like that.

In my DS school they don't really do Christmas, they do holiday. This year an ice cream party. And I don't even think there are any jewish kids in his class

Holiday celebration in the classroom

What kind of things are being included at the party? Is it just winter with nothing Christmas related?

Re: Holiday celebration in the classroom

I'm torn.
Are dreidels as religious a symbol as baby Jesus?
Or are they more like a Christmas tree- which is more commercial than religious?

I am asking because I genuinely don't know.

Also is the party just a winter theme- like snowmen, etc?

If so, then I don't think she should send in anything that has to do with a specific "holiday"

Re: Holiday celebration in the classroom

We need to celebrate diversity and learn about each other. I would not say anything.

Re: Holiday celebration in the classroom

I don't see the problem. If there are any reindeer or Santa's on anything at the party, then there is no reason why there can't be dreidels and chocolate gelt.

I think it's great for kids to learn about different religions. Last year my DS asked me when we would turn Jewish so we could celebrate Hanukah. He had said the same 2 years earlier so I posted on FB. Turns out our new neighbor is Jewish and saw my post and so she invited us to her house for the 1st night of Hanukah. My DS LOVED it and went back for the candle lighting every day after.

This Christmas Eve we are joining them again for the 1st night of Hanukah. And we whole-heartedly celebrate Christmas, go to church, make our kid go to religion classes. Diversity is great!

Holiday celebration in the classroom

I would say something - just because I don't think gelt would be an approved food item at our school...

We are only allowed to bring in juice and or water, cupcakes, fruit and veggies for class parties. They also assign a craft.

What kind of items were on the list and what was the craft out of curiousity?

Re: Holiday celebration in the classroom

Re: Holiday celebration in the classroom

I am a teacher in a public school and we are NOT allowed to display ANYTHING that can be related to any specific religion for the holidays. No Christmas Trees, no Santas, no Dreidels.

Everything is WINTER themed... snowmen, snowflakes, penguins, hot cocoa, etc.

I would speak with the teacher and have HER contact the parent. It's normally a school policy and nothing that a class parent should be enforcing. Thats up to the teacher.

Holiday celebration in the classroom

I would tell her to ask the teacher, and leave it at that. If you can't celebrate Christmas, and have to call it a "winter party", then sending in items to celebrate Hanukkah aren't appropriate IMO.

Holiday celebration in the classroom

All schools have different rules but I would tell her sorry but no. We are not allowed to have anything Christmas related, no gingerbread men, no Christmas trees, no stockings so there should be no driedels as well. We are allowed to have snowmen or penguins. We have had Jewish families complain about showing Elf at school and now no holiday movies are allowed.

Personally I don't have a problem with it and I think the kids should experience items from all religions but the school said no so it should be no all around.

Re: Holiday celebration in the classroom

If you are having Christmas trees, santa or even candy candys, I think the dreidels and gelt. DS was given a dreidel, chocolate and latkes in one of his classes last year.

Re: Holiday celebration in the classroom

It depends on if you're doing a Christmas and Hanukkah party or just a "Winter Party." I am class mom for DS's kindergarten class. We are doing a Winter party. Making snowmen handprints on a tile and making edible snowmen. I bought winter theme plates and napkins. If that's the case then I'd tell the mom we're not doing holidays, but a winter party. I celebrate Hanukkah and we have no problem if we get Santa cookies or projects or even Christmas trees. I like the idea of doing both holidays, but I like that it's all or none too. Especially if it's a public school.

Holiday celebration in the classroom

My DS is in Catholic school. They were taught about Hanukkah and have played the driedel game (I remember learning about it at the same school when I was his age and had fun having him 'teach' me how to play). I think its great, it gives them another view of what the holidays are about.

However, if it was a Winter Party they were having, then I would make sure to stick with a winter themed item to send in. I would let her know

Holiday celebration in the classroom

I am Catholic but I don't think a driedel is a religious symbol in the way baby Jesus is to me it is like Christmas tree, more of a cultural symbol.

Re: Holiday celebration in the classroom

Jesus (no pun intended) all this PC stuff is RIDICULOUS! Let them bring it in, who cares and in fact send in Santa hats for the kids celebrate Xmas. I dont understand why we have to pretend that differences dont exist and just celebrate them all and learn about them. Im sorry, this kind of stuff really gets under my skin.

Re: Holiday celebration in the classroom

Re: Holiday celebration in the classroom

Re: Holiday celebration in the classroom

Holiday celebration in the classroom

Dreidels are not a religious symbol. I'd put them in the same category as an ornament or stocking.

That being said, if you can't have ornaments or stockings at the party, you can't have dreidels. IMO, this woman sounds obnoxious and people like her are the reason we have "winter" parties instead of parties that celebrate all holidays.

Re: Holiday celebration in the classroom

Re: Holiday celebration in the classroom

Re: Holiday celebration in the classroom

I would need to know the school's policy on religious holidays and expression in school, and if it is allowed, whether or not this party includes religious symbols and things like Santa, stockings etc. If there is any Christmas theme or items, I think she is entitled to have her religious holiday represented. it's nice that she wants to send in dreidels and gelt regardless. If Christmas stuff is clearly on the list, maybe she feels left out and I could absolutely see her position.

If that's the case, let her know there is a brand of gelt sold in Costco which is nut free.

And I think schools should allow it because it's not practicing the religion in school, it is cultural education for kids, just like they teach about different religions in social studies.

Re: Holiday celebration in the classroom

I'm assuming it's a public school? At my son's school, it's a "winter party," not a holiday party. So we keep it secular -- generally things like snow, snowmen, gingerbread houses/cookies, reindeer, etc.

I have his party today and we have snowmen cheese sticks, snowflake sugar cookies, powdered donuts to look like snowmen faces. The craft is making a beaded candy cane "decoration" -- could be an ornament but also a book mark, decoration for a gift, etc., and a gingerbread cookie magnet.

If your school has a policy to keep it non-religious, I'd let that mom know.

My son's pre-school, however, which was a private school, celebrated all traditions. They made Christmas cookies and potato latkes, sang carols and the dreidel song. That was nice, too. If your school allows for the more multi-cultural approach, then I think it's fine for them mom to bring in dreidels and gelt.

If you aren't sure, I'd check with the teacher or the PTA or whoever deals with class parents/parties in your school.