>In the last few years, I taught in a building where the Secret Santa exchange was a work of art. Aside from the creative gift giving and the sneaky delivery systems, there were the emails.
Mrs. G. “Dear Santa: I have been very good. If you happen to come across a CD of Josh Groban singing ‘Oh, Holy Night’, I’d love to see it under my tree.”
Mrs. O. “Hey, Mrs. G., maybe Santa could send Josh in person to deliver!”
Mrs. H. “Do you think he’d take requests?”
Mrs. McQ. “Who’s Josh Groban?”
Well, we enlightened Mrs. McQ, but Mrs. G. didn’t get her CD. I hope she’s treated herself since then. Josh Groban is an amazing talent, and his Christmas CD will warm the Grinchiest heart.
But this year, I’m in a new school building. The Secret Santa exchange has been creative, but not as heated and suspenseful as I’ve experienced. However, my Santa is sneaky, and has my number, that’s for sure. He or She delivered (by way of a student) a 16 oz. Starbucks Breakfast Blend one Friday at the first bell, and it was still hot. That leaves out all the early birds who arrive long before school — like I do. And…I saw a matching cup sitting on the principal’s desk less than an hour after I got this one. Hmm.
Later that day, a co-worker showed me a Starbucks gift card and asked what kinds of things I liked from Starbucks. He’s not a coffee drinker, and he’d won the gift card as a door prize.
The following week I got a lovely metallic red cappuccino mug, also from Starbucks. Pretty, shiny, and smooth, just like the coffee I put in it.
Then came the sneakiness. I arrived late to a staff meeting (due to a PT appointment), and when I got back to my room, there was a gift bag with Starbucks Christmas Blend, whole bean (Mmmm) nestled within the tissues. This had not been on my desk twenty minutes earlier when I arrived. I think this rules out the principal, as she was running the meeting. My non-coffee drinking co-worker…well, I noticed he (and at least two others) had stepped out of the meeting for a few minutes at one time or another and then come back.
There’s no real evidence, though. I’m not sure who might be playing the Jolly Old Elf, but I know it’s someone with good taste. At least I can tell you the gifts taste pretty darn good!
>thanks for visiting my site 😀 i would love to have one of santa’s elves visit me with hot breakfast, too! have fun!
>I love hearing about your sneaky Santa antics at school. 🙂
>those gifts are waaaay better than the ones I got when I taught! my mug’s raised to your SS!
>That is so clever of your Santa!
I personally was dreading Secret Santa in my office this year, as I’m still rather new and I plucked my boss’ name out of the hat. But someone had the great idea of everyone taking the money we’d spend on Secret Santa gifts and putting them toward a local charity. Everyone got on board, and a local free clinic will be getting a great donation from my office this year!
>Very Clever of your Secret Santa and great gifts to boot!
>hmmmmmmmmmmmm Josh Groban…..tasty.
>How fun, and yummy. We got a list of teacher favorites, and I brought my son’s a latte – she didn’t get around to drinking it until it was fairly cold, though 🙂 Very sneaky.