Abbott Elementary Recap: How Mrs. Howard Stole Christmas

As a child of immigrants who grew up celebrating different holidays than my classmates, I can relate to the joy and longing that Khadija felt during wintertime at Abbott Elementary. The school’s dedication to inclusion, as showcased by Barbara, truly warms my heart. It was a refreshing reminder of the power educators have in creating welcoming environments for all students.

Instead of a special episode for Thanksgiving, Abbott took a short break before coming back with something truly special: not just one but two holiday episodes, both airing consecutively to fill you up with all the wintertime joy. This season in particular resonated deeply with me as someone who didn’t celebrate Christmas growing up. When I share this fact, people often react as if my pet had unfortunately passed away. Do you remember Abbott’s very first holiday episode when Janine gave an undecorated and plain cookie to one of her students, a Jehovah’s Witness? Well, I was that student, but for cultural reasons rather than religious ones (I was familiar with the term “American consumerism” at a young age). Abbott continues its non-denominational representation through one of Barbara’s students named Khadija, who is Muslim.

Barbara is thrilled for the upcoming Christmas concert because her class will be the main act, performing “Deck the Halls.” However, when Khadija looks at her with her deeply expressive brown eyes to explain she can’t join as her family doesn’t celebrate Christmas, Barbara goes out of her way to ensure everyone is involved. Although Barbara cherishes tradition and Christianity, her compassion for her students shines brightest. This empathy becomes apparent when one contemplates the hurtful words “Santa doesn’t like you” that her classmates might say to Khadija while she sits alone during rehearsals. This sentiment would tug at anyone’s heartstrings. Moreover, it’s refreshing to witness Barbara taking a progressive approach — focusing on non-religious practices is often associated with modern progressive thinking — as it appears her character has been confined to repetitive storylines about being stuck in the past.

In this scenario, Janine takes over as captain of the step team and plans a performance of “Christmas in Hollis” by Run DMC for the school show. However, since all students were born after the song was released, they’re not familiar with it. Just when Janine perfects a routine that appeals to the whole team, Barbara rebrands the show as “Winter at Abbott,” removing any Christmas references, including Christmas songs. Barbara then asks Janine to find songs that emphasize spending time with loved ones and warm drinks, while also being appealing to adults and engaging for young people – a seemingly impossible task since no such song has been written yet.

The idea of crafting a unique, non-religious Christmas song sparks Barbara’s enthusiasm for performing under the stage lights (which doesn’t require much to kindle her passion for singing, considering she gets excited just by singing her own name). She tirelessly encourages a group of five-year-olds to learn a fresh melody, unaware that these students had already penned their very own song. They present it to Barbara, grinning widely with their gaps between teeth, singing, “Santa’s coming; hot cocoa makes me pass gas!” Upon hearing this, Barbara swiftly halts their creative endeavors, and when the children continue to struggle learning her song, she makes a decisive move to transform the winter concert intended for student showcases into a solo performance featuring herself.

In the storyline, Barbara works diligently to minimize the winter festivities, whereas Jacob eagerly awaits his brother Caleb’s visit. It’s high time that our beloved character, Jacob, experiences growth beyond Abbott’s walls. Chris Perfetti, a talented supporting actor, skillfully injects humor into scenes unrelated to Jacob, making him pivotal to the ensemble’s chemistry. Moreover, Perfetti masterfully subverts the white-savior stereotype, keeping Jacob likable while maintaining comedic undertones – his response “just like Morehouse” after Melissa mentions Jacob being on the waitlist for her Christmas Eve dinner is a prime example of straddling the line between annoying (if I encountered a white man applying to any HBCU, it would be our last encounter) and endearing (but I adore Jacob! He meant no harm!). Jacob’s bond with his brother stirs up his inner child, and even before Caleb arrives, Jacob becomes fiercely protective. He describes Caleb as the epitome of his parents’ dreams, highlighting that he was popular, played football, and managed to have a teenage pregnancy scare yet still remained the family’s favorite.

In the past three years, the brothers haven’t spoken, so when Caleb unexpectedly arrives at Abbott just a day before Jacob was expected, Jacob feels unsure about welcoming the surprise. Caleb, in contrast to Jacob, is tall, charming, and a jock who works as a personal trainer. Melissa finds herself drawn to Caleb, even though he’s a Giants fan, a detail Jacob mentions in an attempt to keep his brother from bonding with his roommate, Melissa. However, Caleb explains that he dislikes the Cowboys more than he supports the Giants, which is similar to “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” for Melissa, leading to Caleb receiving an invitation to her dinner before Jacob does. Caleb charms everyone from kids to teachers, quickly gaining Ava’s approval, promising Gregory he won’t bother him with small talk, and even earning a spot on the student podcast This Abbott Life, which pushes Jacob over the edge. He interrupts the podcast recording, cutting off Caleb while he was telling a story about Jacob going to prom without a date. Jacob calls Caleb into the hallway, asking why he came to town in the first place and complaining that Caleb hogs all the attention as “the favorite.

In a surprising turn of events, Jacob’s outburst leaves Caleb speechless, as their relationship dynamic seems foreign to him, much like how Janine’s sister felt upon her arrival in town (we sure do miss Ayo!). Moved by the situation, Caleb decides to seek solace with a friend. In conversation with Gregory, Jacob expresses his persistent feelings of being overshadowed by his brother, a sentiment that also prompted him to leave home. To provide clarity on Caleb’s perspective, Gregory persuades Jacob to hear an entire podcast recording.

When the winter concert arrives, Ava cautions Barbara, in front of a full audience, not to spoil winter since she’s already messed up Christmas. Dressed stylishly in a white suit adorned with pearl-encrusted shoulder pads, Barbara tries to sing but can only produce a squeaky half-note. Mysteriously positioned backstage (he claims he doesn’t know why he’s there; he just follows where his feet lead), Tariq steps in to handle the situation, as is his habit: by playing a rhythm and observing the outcome. He instructs the kindergarteners to perform their composition while the step team gets excited. Initially, it’s a mix of off-key sounds and uncertain choreography, but then things start coming together, like when you spontaneously put on a performance with your cousins in the living room. The parents watch proudly as their children take center stage, beaming with joy for their diligence and imagination.

Following the performance, Barbara’s actions were gratefully acknowledged by Khadija’s mother for finding a solution that enabled her daughter to join in, and the gratitude in her eyes was palpable. I can relate, as I’ve been in situations where I felt left out, like when I sat at my desk during Christmas, unable to participate in the carol singing, politely smiling as friends showed off their gifts. Barbara’s commitment to inclusivity resonated with me on a personal level. The sadness I experienced as a child wasn’t primarily due to not having a tree or presents, but rather the longing to be a part of a shared experience that seemed enjoyable while respecting my family’s traditions. Thanks to Barbara, Khadija was able to have that very experience. Kudos to the team at Abbott Elementary!

Teacher’s Notes

At the closing scene of the episode, Gregory decides to get a long-overdue haircut following his colleagues’ continuous remarks about his unkempt locks. The barber chair is skillfully manned by none other than Keith David, a renowned figure on television. This unexpected appearance not only adds star power but also introduces a thrilling twist: he turns out to be Ava’s father! I’m eagerly looking forward to witnessing more of him and uncovering details about Ava’s childhood background.

As for Ava, it’s great to see O’Shon back again, looking dapper as ever. He drops by Abbott to mend the projector for tonight’s screening, but I can sense he’s hanging around just in case something untoward happens – and I suspect that translates to “I’ll take your number whenever you’re ready, Ava.” This playful dance between them is quite endearing, and her casual demeanor speaks volumes about how deeply she feels for him.

• Here are my fave lines from this episode:

Barbara: “And as the children say — It’s going to be a ‘sleigh’! S-L-E-I-G-H. Get it?”

Student after Janine, Jacob, and Ava perform “Christmas in Hollis”: “Can we just do Ariana Grande?”

Barbara and Tariq on how inappropriate “Let It Snow” is:

Barbara: “It is far too adult with all of that kissing in front of the fire.”

Tariq: “You can’t forget the good-bye-ing too. They was nasty.”

2024-12-05 05:54

Abbott Elementary Recap: How Mrs. Howard Stole Christmas

Teacher’s Notes

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Minority Mindset