DS walked out of reception with a suspiciously bulging bag today, and I exclaimed something like, "Oh GOD, you have the Lion!" I then threw my head to the sky and mouthed the word F*&K, and when I looked down again, DS's teacher was in front of me. She sort of gave me a timid smile and said, "Sorry about that." Of course I immediately started talking loudly to DS about how LOVELY it will be to have the class toy home with us for the night, etc. But she wasn't buying any of it. 
Oh, and did I mention the cussing and taking of the Lord's name in vain in the context of this being a Catholic School of the sort that you practically need a tatoo of the Virgin Mary to get into? 
Please don't get me wrong. I love a cuddly toy as much as the next mum. But having this little fellow home for the night is A Lot of Work, as in photographing, journaling, reading a non-fiction book about lions, memorizing a fact about Lions, etc. And DS is four. And supposed to do the writing himself. And we already had a lot on tonight (including two other reading homework assignments, swimming lessons and a doctor's appt!), plus several family members (including me) down with the flu.
Anyway, excuses aside -- I think I need some damage control ideas, please?! I do like his teacher/school, and am honestly pretty embarrassed... So maybe I answered my own question, Y, YABU!