https://fox42kptm.com/news/local/el...-memo-banning-candy-canes-red-and-green-itemsThe principal of Manchester Elementary school has been placed on leave as of Thursday morning, according to an Elkhorn Public Schools spokesperson.
As of this morning, Principal Sinclair has been placed on administrative leave. Due to the fact that this is an ongoing personnel issue, the District cannot comment further.
It comes after officials say Jennifer Sinclair sent a memo to Manchester Elementary staff earlier this week.
It listed acceptable things to have in classrooms and on assignments like sledding, scarves, yetis and even Olaf from the Disney movie Frozen.
It also outlined things that were not acceptable: Santa, Christmas trees, candy canes, reindeer and more.
Wednesday, officials sent a statement saying "the memo does not reflect the policy of Elkhorn Public Schools regarding holiday symbols in the school."
Official policy on the district's website does allow Christmas trees and Santa Claus. The district says these are considered secular in nature.
https://www.ketv.com/article/elkhor...anes-and-other-christmas-decorations/25424233he organization, Liberty Counsel got wind of the principal's memo and sent a demand letter to the superintendent of Elkhorn Public Schools asking the district to lift the Christmas ban.
The list of "not acceptable" practices include:
The principal’s “acceptable” list included:
- Santas or Christmas items (clipart) on worksheets
- Christmas trees in classrooms
- Elf on the Shelf - that’s Christmas-related
- Singing Christmas Carols
- Playing Christmas music
- Sending a Scholastic book that is a Christmas book - that’s Christmas-related
- Making a Christmas ornament as a gift - This assumes that the family has a Christmas tree which assumes they celebrate Christmas. I challenge the thought of, ‘Well they can just hang it somewhere else.’
- Candy Cane - that’s Christmas-related. Historically, the shape is a ‘J’ for Jesus. The red is for the blood of Christ, and the white is a symbol of his resurrection. This would also include different colored candy canes.
- Red/Green items - traditional Christmas colors
- Reindeer
- Christmas videos/movies and/or characters from Christmas movies” (emphasis added)
- Gifts to students
- Snowmen, snow women, snow people
- Snowflakes
- Gingerbread people
- Holidays Around the World
- Sledding
- Hot chocolate
- Polar Bears
- Penguins
- Scarves, boots, earmuffs, and hats
- “Yetis” and “Olaf” (the snowman from the movie Frozen.