When I think back to grade school and the last few days before Christmas break, it gives me all the good feels! It was magical. Here are bits and pieces of memories that have stayed in my heart after all these years…

Waking up to sparkly snow on the ground added to the ambiance in anticipation of the approaching holiday. I usually grumbled walking to the bus stop across the street as the cold took my breath away but not this week! The last days before the end of the year were filled with more fun activities than lessons. 

I recall working carefully yet feverishly in Mrs. Roger’s second-grade class on a special art project involving coloring paper candy canes. The first stripe I chose to color was red, and the next one was green. Then I alternated various shades of red and green down to the bottom. Of course, I made sure I colored in the same direction and always inside the lines. All of us students were working, talking, and laughing as scratchy Christmas carols played in the background of Mrs. Roger’s record player sitting on the corner of her desk.

Giving a special Christmas gift to your teacher was a big deal. I don’t remember which grade school teacher it was but I recall proudly presenting her with a box of chocolates. Mom and I took a trip to “the fancy candy store” which I assume was Gorants, in Youngstown, Ohio. I can still picture the presentation of the box. It was professionally wrapped in shiny red paper with thin white stripes. I held it tightly during the bumpy bus ride to school. I didn’t want anything to jostle that beautiful box with the sleek red bow. I must have felt very proud to give my teacher that Christmas candy box because I can still recall such specific details.

Remember classroom Christmas parties? It was hard to get through the morning anticipating the afternoon celebration. What I distinctly recall is getting to eat a treat at your desk! Broken crayons, workbook pages, and pencils were cleaned up and replaced by a holiday paper plate and napkin with the granddaddy of all goodies.. the snowman ice cream treat! Who can forget the flat snowman face with the chocolate ice cream hat and strawberry bow tie? And of course, we ate it with those infamous cafeteria flat wooden spoons. 

Ahh..to be a kid in grade school in the 1970s…it was the best! The simplicity of those days has certainly made a lasting impression on my heart. Merry Christmas, happiness, and cheer!