How Branksome Teachers Are Spending Their Holiday
What is one of your personal favourite holiday traditions?
Mr. Small: Each December 24th we gather with my in-laws for what has evolved into a much more mature version of our annual pre. For 14 years, this Festivus extravaganza always concludes with a very sentimental reading of The Night Before Christmas. I’m not sure if you’ve read that one before, but it’s a real roller coaster of emotions.
Ms. Rotherham: Now that my children are older, we started a Stocking Secret Santa. We really enjoy buying or creating fun gifts for our chosen person. Of course, we are always trying to figure out who has who. The stockings are the first thing we open on Christmas morning.
Mr. Medendorp: Eating freshly made Oliebollen on New Year.
Ms. Smith: Christmas Eve party at my parent’s place with all our friends and family, my brother plays piano and we sing carols. It’s a big seafood extravaganza:) We stay up super late, sing karaoke, dance and open presents at midnight:)
What is your favourite holiday food?
Mr. Small: I can make some pretty decent Thai food, so we usually have Tom Kha Gai and Pad Kra Pow!
Ms. Kniaz: Turkey, cranberries, and stuffing! I love stuffing!
Ms. Smith: All the seafood on Christmas Eve 🙂
Ms. Serwadda: Turkey dinner! Especially the stuffing and rutabaga!
What gifts are you getting your kids this holiday season?
Mr. Small: Insane things, like a toy watch that takes photos and speaks 4 languages, some weird dolls that have different adventure clothes, and of course the standard Pokemon and Elsa Ice Queen paraphernalia.
Mr. Medendorp: Lego Table, Barbie Sports Car, and a Liberty Paw Patrol Pup.
Ms. Kniaz: My kids love to read and have asked for a lot of books. They also want a kids’ Fitbit. My 9-year-old wants a phone but unfortunately, Santa has a strict no-phone policy for kids her age.
Ms. Smith: They wrote letters to Santa so fingers crossed he gets it right!
What are you doing to relax during the break?
Mr. Small: I look forward to marking the Grade 12 midterms. That is nearly as engrossing as reading The Night Before Christmas… Other than that, I will be hitting the Peloton and continuing to chase my NHL dreams in my Sunday night hockey league. I also might try to find a nice forest somewhere and go for a woodland walk with the family.
Ms. Rotherham: I will be heading to the Eastern Townships (near Montreal) to visit my in-laws. I am planning to go skiing, skating, tobogganing, sleeping, reading and relaxing!
Mr. Medendorp: Hot Tubbing!
Ms. Kniaz: Sleeping in and reading. Mr. Small sent me some good book recommendations!
Do you have any funny holiday memories from when you were a kid?
Mr. Small: When I was 3 years old, my family lived in Davis Inlet, Labrador. Since it was such a remote community, the only way to bring supplies in during winter was by icebreaker. So, for most of my early adolescence, I was under the impression that Santa actually drove a massive ship to deliver presents.
Ms. Rotherham: Now that my children are older, we started a Stocking Secret Santa. We really enjoy buying or creating fun gifts for our chosen person. Of course, we are always trying to figure out who has who. The stockings are the first thing we open on Christmas morning.
Ms. Kniaz: Not funny but both my parents have big families so I remember big holiday family events with everyone packed into a relative’s house for dinner. I have really fond memories of holidays with my cousins:)
Ms. Smith: We were at Disney World during the holidays. I was 7 years old and my family forgot me on the shuttle bus because I was sleeping. When the shuttle driver finally figured out where my hotel was, my family was sitting on a patio having pizza and never realized I was gone in the first place. This was not funny for me but everyone else thought it was pretty hilarious!
What is one of your New Year’s resolutions?
Ms. Rotherham: My New Year’s resolution is to take some time for myself every day. I really want to prioritize my well-being!
Mr. Medendorp: I don’t really make New Year’s resolutions, I set goals and reflect as needed.
Ms. Kniaz: Less screen time.
Ms. Serwadda: Check in with family and friends more often.