Jolly Old St. Nicholas

So, today was St. Nicholas Day and, just like every other year, we celebrated it at school. Somehow this year managed to be much more interesting than years past. I started the day out by reading the real story of St. Nick -how he lived a very long time ago, how he became a bishop, and the kind and generous things he did for others. I explained in a hushed, excited voice how St. Nick normally makes a stop at our school and that we would be putting our shoes out later to see what happened. And so, on went the morning. During our bathroom break, the students were reminded of St. Nick due to the large mannequin (taller than my students) that the principal proudly displays on this day. Now, every year I have those students who think this is "the real" St. Nick, those students who are scared of the figure, and those who see it for what it is. One of the latter asked, "Is St. Nicholas dead?" Thinking of the story I had told that morning, I said "Yes, he lived a very long time ago." The student then responded, "Well, how is he going to visit us then?" Good grief...try talking yourself out of that one.

And so, with one new skeptic among us, we lined our shoes up in the hallway. It's amazing what having one shoe off will do to a kid. Suddenly, they can't walk and their voice becomes much louder. As I struggled to determine why there were only 25 shoes along the wall when there should be 26 (mystery solved: someone put their shoe on the wrong wall), the kids had center time. Finally we heard the bells ringing that signified that St. Nick had made his visit. The kids crowded around the door trying to peek out, while I stood guard trying to block the window and wait for the coast to be clear. But, the bells....just....kept....ringing. Finally, I had to make a secretive shooing motion to the older students (I mean St. Nick's helpers) so the kids could go out and see what was in their shoe already! Would it be a piece of candy? Maybe a small toy? Nope, this year Jolly old St. Nicholas left flax granola with pumpkin seeds AND a small bell for every child. Really, St. Nick!?
Not one student asked if they could eat their "treat," but those bells, they....just.....kept....ringing.