December is a time that brings culmination. This December marks the culmination of a year unlike any other in recent memory, and while we can always find much to be grateful for, many will be glad to see this year come to a close. In our classrooms, the culmination of a unit is often met with excitement and the opportunity to explore what was learned during celebrations. We are working hard this year to ensure all our students, both in-person and distant, can enjoy these celebratory occasions.
In years past, we have asked families to contribute to a Snowflake Fund in lieu of giving teachers individual gifts, and each year our teachers are grateful for our families' generosity. This year, however, because we recognize many of our families are facing hardships due to the pandemic and are cognizant of the needs shared by all, we have opted to forego participating in the Snowflake Fund. Families who would like to shower love upon their teachers in this season of giving may of course do so, and all families should know that the simplest gift of all—a special note from a student—is always treasured.
Leo Tolstoy wrote, "Happiness does not depend on outward things, but on the way we see them." Even in a year such as this, we all have joyous memories to celebrate.
