THIS IS WHY ONE AND A HALF YEARS AGO I RAN FOR PRESIDENT AND TOLD EVERYONE IF ELECTED THIS IS ONE PROJECT I WOULD NOT DO. THEY KNEW IT UP FRONT. WE HAVE NOT HAD SANTAS SECRET SHOP FOR TWO YEARS AND I HAVE HEARD FROM ONLY ONE LADY (BOTH YEARS) THAT SHE LOVED IT AND WOULD LIKE IT BACK. LAST YEAR WE TRYED AS A PTO TO WORK WITH EACH CLASS AND MAKE A PROJECT FOR THEIR PARENTS ....THIRD GRADE -GARDEN STEPPING STONES, FIFTH GRADE STUDDED CANDLES, AND WIND SOCKS, EIGTH GRADE DECORATED AND PARIFFIN DIPPED CANDLES, KINDER-THOSE OLD-FASHIONED HANDPRINTS, BUT IN CRAYOLA MODEL MAGIC CLAY. NEEDLESS TO SAY, OUR VOLUNTEERS DID NOT COME OUT OF THE WOODWORK. WE WORKED OURSELVES INSANE, FINISHING OUR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING IN JANUARY AND VOWING TO NEVER DO THAT AGAIN. THIS PAST YEAR WE USED A COMPANY CALLED'ORIGINALWORKS'( WWW.ORIGINALWORKS.COM ) THAT USED A PIECE OF ART WORK THE CHILDREN PRODUCED IN SEPTEMBER TO PRODUCE A 4X6 REFRIGERATOR MAGNET THAT THE PARENTS COULD THEN ORDER ALOT OF PRODUCTS WITH THIS ART WORK ON IT FOR GRANDPARENTS ECT..... THE PRODUCTS WERE DELIVERED TO US IN EARLY DECEMBER AND HANDED OUT WELL BEFORE CHRISTMAS. IT WAS BETTER, BUT NOT WITHOUT COMPLAINTS (ARE WE SURPRISED?) SOOOOOO NEXT YEAR I CANNOT WAIT FOR WHAT THE NEXT PTO BOARD COMES UP WITH FOR OUR DARLINGS TO DO. THANK YOU GOD FOR TERM LIMITS.

We had our annual Santa Shop last week...we did the traditional stuff on consignment and stuff we ordered from dollarstore.com. We were not looking at this as a fundraiser, only a service to the kids. The lack of volunteers was actually hysterical looking back on it. We sent home three notices to some classes telling them flat out..."YOUR child's classroom does not have ONE vounteer to help them shop...PLEASE HELP US"! We were only asking for half hour shifts (because the big complaint was we don't have time to stay longer). These same...mostly stay at home moms are the ones who sent in blank checks for their kids to buy what they like and expected wise choices from their kids when we had only two people working the shop...myself and our treasurer. By the end of the first day I was pulling my hair out!! We had asked the teachers twice "Please do not send down your class until we come and get you because we are so short handed and it is taking longer...but did they listen NO! Or when we were lucky enough to have a teacher actually come down with their class only one of them actually helped their kids shop...the others kept watching the clock glaring each time we made eye contact. I know the kids look forward to this but it really sickens me to see such a waste of money...this is supposed to be a learning experience for the kids and it is crazy...I can say that the kids that shopped with me learned to budget though...If they had purchased everything on their list and gotten a little something for themselves and began to ask the ultimate question, "How much do I have left to spend?" My answer was you have nothing left to spend...but you do have x amount to save!! Now let's go check out and won't your mom be proud of how well you managed your money!! It totally amazed me that the majority of kids have absolutley no concept of money (we do not live in a rich district by far). I can say next year even if I'm not the President again I will protest Santa Shop loud and clear. The saving grace of our hectic week was our holiday gathering we had Santa come visit and for everyone who brought a toy for Toys for Tots they got their picture for free...cookie decorating...x-mas carols and our gym was packed!! Although, I am ashamed to say as I looked around at all the happy adult faces I couldn't help but have this little grinch like voice screaming inside of me...And where the heck were you a couple of hours ago when I was losing my mind helping your little rugrat shop and am I gonna see you tomorrow???? But I am happy to report that we filled an entire box full of toys and I was very proud of that. Next year I am proposing that instead of the profit of our weekly popcorn sales going to a different class to buy what they choose (usually $30.00 to 40.00) that we adopt some truly needy families in our city and find out what they need and let each class choose what they want to purchase with their money. That way the kids will actually learn many things... how to budget for one but, most important compassion and generosity. And instead of santa shop have a gathering during the day where the kids can get together and wrap their merchandise and feel good about what they accomplished!!