12 Days of Christmas
LAUREL — Spreading holiday cheer is a goal for many this time of the year, and has become a goal at Laurel-Concord-Coleridge Elementary School as they count down the last 12 days of the semester. Through the brainstorming between Paige Parsons and Brandi Settje, they came up with a way to help spread that holiday cheer throughout the elementary. Each of the 12 days prior to Christmas break at approximately 3 p.m. one student representing each of the elementary classes comes to the activity area to receive a challenge for the day. The student takes the challenge back to the classroom, collaborating as a whole class the group works to complete the day’s task. The daily assignments have varied from riddles to creative physical challenges. Once completed, the student representing the classroom returns to the activity area letting Parsons know the class is finished. Riddles are won by the class who answers it correctly and the quickest, while physical tasks are judged by the most creative. “It’s a fun little thing to help bring some cheer to the elementary building,” said Paige Parsons in regards to why the challenge began. The riddles have been a way for students to take a short brain break these last few days as all anxiously wait for Christmas break. Through the task, students continue to build knowledge on problem solving and team building skills. “It is fun to try and solve the riddles and problems,” said Avery Stone, fourth grader in Melissa Haisch’s class. Riddles have included: “What this time of year goes ‘oh, oh, oh?” Students learned that Santa walking backwards says ‘oh, oh, oh.’ “Where does Santa keep his money?” In a ‘snowbank’, of course. One challenge for classes was building the most unique snowman using supplies found in the classroom. Elementary secretary, June Koester, got in touch with her elf-side when students were given the challenge to come up with her elf name. The winning class was Julie Hart’s kindergartners, coming up with ‘Earl’. One of the last challenges for students was “What’s the worst gift to give a principal?” Parson’s will have to wait a few more days to find out what LCC students decide on the perfect terrible gift for the fearless school leader may be. The winning classroom is awarded cookies delivered to the classroom during afternoon milk break by Parson’s. In addition to cookies, the winning classroom gets to pick one LCC staff member to wear an elf costume for a day. “It was funny seeing the teachers dress up as an elf at school,” says Emma Kvols, first grader. Kvols is part of Karla Pippitt’s class who chose to have Tayler Hall wear the costume. Other teachers chosen to wear the elf costume have included: Denise Kinkaid, Nate Sims, Jarod Garthoff, and Paige Parsons.
