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Washington Evening Journal
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From Grinches to gingerbread, holiday fun sweeps Washington schools
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
WASHINGTON — Holiday cheer arrived with a touch of mischief this month at Washington Community School District elementary buildings, where elves, Grinches and spirited students transformed the final days before winter break into a string of playful moments and seasonal learning.
At Lincoln Elementary, December took an unexpected turn when “naughty elves” reportedly paid a late-night visit. By morning, teachers discovered their names had been changed to “The Grinch,” a naughty-and-nice list had sparked hallway chatter, and Elf on the Shelf had returned, Lincoln style. The school hinted at more surprises ahead, fueling student excitement as winter break approached.
The antics escalated soon after. Staff alerted families that mischievous elves had struck again, reminding students to clean out lockers and teachers to lock classroom doors. The following morning revealed the damage: a bathroom in disarray, an out-of-order sign posted a stall door and even an appearance by the Grinch himself. Lincoln summed up the episode as “fun holiday shenanigans,” a phrase that quickly became an understatement.
The playful atmosphere continued through Lincoln’s Holiday Dress-Up schedule, which stretched from Dec. 15 to Dec. 23. Students dressed in Grinchy green or Rudolph red, sparkled for Tinsel Tuesday, arrived as holiday characters, topped outfits with festive headwear, showed off holiday sweaters, dressed like candy canes and wrapped it all up with Pajama Day.
Down the road at Stewart Elementary, spirit week brought its own festive flair, though, fewer naughty elves. Students dressed like Santa’s workshop helpers, candy canes and cozy holiday characters, while first-grade teachers joined the fun by dressing as elves, the helpful kind. The costumes complemented classroom activities that tied seasonal traditions to learning.
One example included Jill Bader’s kindergarten class building gingerbread houses after learning all about holiday customs in Germany. In Cheyenne Robertson’s alternative kindergarten classroom, students known as “Santa’s Little Helpers” crafted a Christmas Countdown Bell, marking the days until break while sharpening fine-motor skills.
Together, the celebrations at both schools reflected a shared focus on connection and joy during a busy time of year.
Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com
