For many teachers, late December means a time away from grading essays, planning lessons, and dealing with students. But there’s one other thing to look forward to before the relief of winter break: the annual white elephant breakfast party.
The December staff meeting, held during a Wednesday morning, isn’t just an hour-long session where curricula are devised and annoying students are complained about. Once the business is taken care of, the faculty moves on to the fun part—the free food, gift-giving, and gift-stealing that make up the average white elephant gift exchange.
“The most exciting thing is the mystery,” English teacher Henry Level said. “It’s the not knowing, the moment you get up there and choose. It’s the best moment.”
Although most gifts are small, participants will occasionally find something valuable.
“The best gift I received was a stuffed penguin,” Principal’s Assistant Beth Hardy said. “It’s my favorite because my husband loves it so much. He sits with it on the sofa all the time during the winter months.”
But in true white elephant fashion, not all gifts can be kept, especially if they catch the eye of another teacher.
“There was a big box of Lucky Charms, and then Mr. Level stole it from me because it was free cereal for his kids,” retired teacher Wes Benjamin said.
Of course, decade-old gag gifts return to complete their annual cycle in the present pile.
“The best and worst gift I’ve ever received was a pair of red leather sled shorts,” Level said. “The idea is that someone wears that and slides down a hill on their butt. I was disappointed because they did not fit.”
At the end of the day, however, the present pile of old pictures, mugs, and the mousepad with Security Officer Jon Kinsley’s face is just a small part of the white elephant experience.
“The best part is just having fun while talking with the other staff members,” Career Technical Education teacher Jamie Hood said. “We still discuss the curriculum, but it morphs into more of a community building moment.”
Like the presents, the white elephant breakfast party may be modest, but it perfectly captures the holiday spirit.
“It’s fun to just talk with other people,” Benjamin said. “You eat, have a staff meeting, and do the exchanges. It’s really just a free-for-all mess.”
