Abbott Elementary Season 5 Episode 8 (mid-season finale) was titled 'Birthday' and it aired on ABC on December 10. The official synopsis for the episode reads as follows:Jacob takes the lead on organizing Abbott's annual winter show and Janine celebrates her 30th birthday.The latest episode in this popular and Emmy-winning sitcom was a special holiday-themed episode, where teachers were preparing for their annual Winter recital for the parents. However, Mr. Johnson warns Principal Ava about the broken furnace and how it can destroy the building if overheated.Here's what happened in Abbott Elementary Season 5 Episode 8.Abbott Elementary Season 5 Episode 8 recap: Gregory and Jacob butt heads over the Winter recital View this post on Instagram Instagram PostIt's officially the Holiday season at Abbott and the teachers were planning a Winter recital for parents and students. Surprisingly, Jacob took charge of the event in Abbott Elementary Season 5 Episode 8 and he was partnered up with Gregory, who disapproved of his choices. When Melissa asks them about the preparations and reminds the duo that expectations will be high as parents will also be in attendance, Gregory snaps and finally reveals that he does not want to plan the recital with Jacob. Gregory says:“All decisions were made by Jacob. I didn’t weigh in because I do not care.”However, when Jacob says how he is planning a complete 'vibe shift' (a subtle foreshadowing of the upcoming twist), Gregory disapproves of his music choice. The duo continues to prepare for the event but their differences in management styles are apparent.Abbott Elementary Season 5 Episode 8 brought back Janine's mother for her 30th birthday View this post on Instagram Instagram PostBreaking the suspense, the 'Birthday' hinted in the title of Abbott Elementary Season 5 Episode 8 was of Janine, who was celebrating her 30th birthday tonight and had invited her mother, Vanetta, for dinner with Gregory. Seasoned sitcom fans would remember how Vanetta first appeared in Season 2, and was highly dismissive of her daughter's career and life choices. Fans expecting a change in her character arc and a warm reunion for the Holiday season were proven wrong as the latest episode proved that Vanetta had not changed her ways.While Vanetta was dismissive of Janine's boyfriend in Abbott Elementary Season 5 Episode 8, she eventually swallowed her pride and told Janine that she approves of her life. Vanetta even pretends to approve of Janine's career and partner choices as long as she is happy. However, when Janine reveals how she plans to marry Gregory and build a family with him, her mother snaps once again, criticizing Gregory and calling his 'lack of infidelity' suspicious. While Janine tried her best, she realized her mother would never change her toxic ways and concluded the episode by uninviting her from the birthday dinner.Abbott Elementary Season 5: The shocking twist in the midseason finale View this post on Instagram Instagram PostWhile Abbott Elementary Season 5 Episode 8 started as a feel-good holiday episode, Mr. Johnson's ominous warning about the broken furnace was looming in the background. Ava and all the teachers were warned about the furnace, which needed immediate attention, according to Mr. Johnson. However, Ava pushed back on the repairs till the Holiday season and asked the teachers to shift their students to the lower floors, where the heat would be stronger.This temporary fix did not hold out for long and the pipes burst mid-recital, flooding the school and forcing the teachers, students and parents to flee the building. With the school building destroyed, the teachers needed a fix and this is where Abbott Elementary Season 5 brought in its most shocking twist: a mall. The final moments of the episode featured Ava outside a mall building, considering making this the new Abbott Elementary. Introducing this temporary building to the staff, she says:''So, instead of sipping Mai Tais on the beach all break, our hero, Ava Colman, has been looking for a new school building. Zillow, Craigslist, Tinder, the works. Turns out I have to use the options the school district gave me. Welcome to the brand new Abbott Elementary! It’s an old mall, OK? We’re gonna make it work.''With this mall twist, Abbott Elementary Season 5 has set the stage for an exciting development and it would be interesting to see how the staff makes this work when the sitcom returns on ABC on January 7.For the latest scoops on your favorite TV shows and movies, follow SoapCentral.