Sophomores Lexi Kaspar and Rylee Watschke surprised Spanish teacher Allison Conley before school on Dec. 5 with a new Christmas tree for her classroom.

Conley has a tradition of putting up a Christmas tree in her room each year for her students and herself to enjoy. Each student gets to put one ornament on the tree resulting in a special bond created between Conley and her students.

“It’s really a way for everyone to feel included,” Conley said.

After Conley’s old tree was put in storage last year, fire marshals came to the school to do an inspection. They said the tree needed to go, ruining a tradition she created with her students.

Kaspar and Watschke decided to go shopping for a new tree to surprise their “favorite teacher” and to continue the Christmas tradition Conley has had each year.

Conley said this wasn’t the first time students went out of their way to brighten her day. She says students do things like this all the time.

“I’m incredibly blessed to work in the Superior School District. I have students that are so giving,” Conley said.

Watschke and Kaspar bought the tree to show their teacher how much they appreciate her.

“Rylee was able to pick the tree up, but we split the cost from our own pockets, to give back some of the kindness she has always shown and given us. Mrs. Conley is an amazing teacher, and person. We thought she should be recognized for that,” said Kaspar.

Conley and her students believe this tradition has brought them closer as a classroom community.

“I thought this is really fun and unique, no other teacher has done that, and I think it brings her class communities closer together, it shows unity,” said Kaspar.

Their kindness will be a fond memory every time the tree is put up in her classroom.