Unmentionables.

I teach at an all girls school. Thus, there are some topics of conversation that come up which might be taboo or a non-issue at a coeducational institution. Not at our school! To give you an idea of what I speak, certain personal hygiene products come up often. As do bodily functions and leg hair.
Anyhow, we also have a Spirit Week. The singe sex environment seems to encourage all-out craziness in dress up themes {look for five very interesting posts coming up some time in March...} which is another benefit of our lack of y-chromosome presence. 
A big part of our spirit week is a service drive. We don't want to condone extreme frivolity without giving back to others. In the past we have had a variety of themes to direct our helping. One year the idea was "Bellies and Booties" and we all brought in as much formula {bellies} and as many diapers {booties} as we could. Homerooms compete to see who can bring in more stuff and the four classes will compete for the same title. "Spirit Points" are awarded accordingly. The class with the most points at the end of the week WINS Spirit Week though this year new rules are being implemented that there will no longer be a "winner" which I think is great because the competition got to be Too Much and the students seemed to be losing sight of what it means to have a good time together as "sisters". 
We maintain our normal teaching during this time, for your information. 
This year we are doing what we did last year and having a collection drive for some products that are sadly overlooked in local shelters and food banks; feminine products! We're adding in women's underwear and socks too. It made a lot of sense to me when we started this in 2011. People donate plenty of food and clothing but these little things make a huge difference in a woman's life and are often forgotten.
The big week isn't for a month or so but the collecting has officially begun. And with that in mind, I present you this image.

From here until March 16th the sight of panties {and maxi pads and tampons} hoarded under a teacher's desk will be completely normal. And we like it that way.
xoxo, natty ♥