I would drop the c-note. Thank God for Aris!
This is why we are on the front lines, yo miss! We do this because we don't want any kid to not have presents...
I agree that the story is heartbreaking, and I know you already said you "don’t care if it’s 'appropriate'". Despite that, I will state that although the temptation must be great, there are lines that must not be crossed and giving money to the family of a student, even anonymously, is one of them. Instead, why not donate the money to an established charity? The results will be the same even though you won't know the recipients.
Merry Christmas!
The line, the line where is the line. The problem is that she's not the only one without a tree. She's just the beginning of what's happening.
It's important that you've shared the story, so that it's on our minds. Keep communicating.
I think she is probably not the only student in your class that is feeling the economic crisis. I am sure many other students either in your class or school are experiencing similar stories. You just happened to overhear this one. Her family might forgo the tree for presents instead.
If you do this for one kid and then find out others are in the same situation, you may feel guilty about not helping the others.
Did you have a project where the kids make presents? The best project I ever did was pillow making. Do you also give out gifts? For that same C-note you can get everyone in the class something for the holidays.
You say you don't decorate your classroom. I always did for the holidays. I found a small tree on sale at CVS as well as other decorations for the other holidays. For Kwanzaa, I found holiday cards with a kinara. The rest I had for such a long time that I just store them carefully. One of my former admins used to say to make our classrooms beautiful for the students because we don't know what their home situation is like.
When you say 9 bulletin boards are you talking outside your classroom, or does those include the ones inside your room??
First of all, thanks for all the kind words from everyone. 
It's good to know that I'm not the only one who's faced the situation. I haven't taken it any further, but, as you can tell, I haven't forgotten it either. It's tough, as you all know.
I wanted to reply to Schoolgal in particular: I have nine bulletin boards in my classroom and I also put stuff out in the hall! I think my classroom is a very cheerful place--I have lots of posters and charts and student work posted--I just don't decorate for specific holidays is what I mean.
Any good ideas for something that's small, inexpensive, friendly, and NOT candy for each kid for the holiday? Last year I gave out candy but I hate doing that. I give out supplies as occasional "caught doing good" prizes--pencils, notepads, sticky notes, mini hand sanitizers and tissue packs, etc.
I HATE when I overhear things like that. I know there are places that will help, but it seems like some of my families that could really use help for the holidays, don't get it because they've just been laid off, aren't used to "taking charity," or don't want to and just do without instead of asking for help.
Anywho, here's what several teachers at my school did as holiday NOT candy gifts for their kids. . . these little make a tree sticker kits, or make a snowman sticker kits from orientaltrading.com. Search for stickers, then click christmas and you should find them. Hopefully it's not too late to get them before school lets out for you.
Umm, I give "Winter break" gifts so that so one will think I'm pushing a religious holiday on them, because we are so... darn... sensitive!
And, cripes, a Christmas tree costs a c-note????? You've actually made me happy to be living in the Land Between the Coasts.....
It may be crossing a line, but it's one I'd cross- esp. if it was anonymously. I once was really angered by the fact that someone had stolen another student's brand new copy of Harry Potter, so I bought him a replacement and anonymously. No one ever knew and he and I felt a little better about the world.
Sometimes people need a visit from an angel, and sometimes that angel is us.
Yes Ms. C,
It's hard to believe that Christmas trees are that expensive, but they are.
I never decorated one bulletin board for the holidays, I just added snowflakes and other holiday decor along the edges of the boards. I put the tree, menorah and kinara on top of one of the library shelves. The tree is very short and came with decorations. The students made the snowflakes. I also had many b-boards in my room as well as the major one outside. Every December my class would write winter poems using sensory images. Poems were always included on the ELA, so I killed 2 birds with one stone. I had there wonderful cutouts of a snowman. The students would cut color his scarf, mittens and broom. They would write their poem within the base of the snowman since that was the largest circle. Then they would cut the pieces and paste them on black construction paper. With chalk they would draw bare trees and snow and hills for the background. It looks very pretty up and can stay there for 2 or more months.
We usually ordered our gifts from Oriental Trading. Try to get a catalog with free shipping. I think it may be too late to order now unless you are willing to pay for express delivery. But there are stores where you can get puzzle books for less than a dollar. I also used my Scholastic bonus points to get a book for each student.
The only candy I gave out was a candy cane, but I would probably skip that now.
Good luck and thanks for sharing your story.
Just a thought here, but as a naturally thrifty person I'm wondering why a tree would have to be new and cost $100. Maybe if you ask around you'll find that someone has an extra tree to loan out. My mom just gave away her tree when she got a new skinnier one. And I say "loan" the tree because in my experience people who are having a temporary rough time are more receptive to being loaned things than they are to accepting charity.
Fresh trees are that expensive. Some people go upstate and cut their own trees, but you need a car. Others buy from local street vendors and fruit markets that sell trees. And living in the city, very few people buy more than one fresh tree at a time.
You can find deals on artificial trees, but this story sounded like this family traditionally put up a new, fresh Christmas tree otherwise there would be no problem taking one out of storage and decorating it.
Fresh trees are that expensive. Some people go upstate and cut their own trees, but you need a car. Others buy from local street vendors and fruit markets that sell trees. And living in the city, very few people buy more than one fresh tree at a time.
You can find deals on artificial trees, but this story sounded like this family traditionally put up a new, fresh Christmas tree otherwise there would be no problem taking one out of storage and decorating it.
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