Christmas story on stage at St. Augustine
By Becky Zimmer
Journal Editor
St. Augustine School was singing to the rafters at their Christmas Concert on Dec. 15 with both the afternoon and evening shows being packed houses.
The evening kicked off with the St. Augustine grade six and grade seven and eight bands playing some Christmas tunes under the direction of Sharon Bates.
For the grade six band this was their first performance outside of the practice room and played some beginner classics, such as Hot Cross Buns and Au Claire de la Lune, and some Christmas classics, like Jingle Bells and Good King Wenceslas.
The grade seven and eight band also mixed it up a bit with Christmas classics like Angels We Have Heard on High and Silent Night, as well as wintery tunes such as Shine and Penguin Promenade.
The grade eights then had their own video to share as they sang their own rendition of the 12 days of Christmas.
The Kindergarten class had a poem and two songs for everyone with students from the rest of the grades then taking part in retelling the Christmas story with Mary and Joseph’s travels being told by grade eight narrators. In between the narrations, classes told the story through poems and songs, not only ones that were sung but songs played on recorders and drums.
Little Drummer Boy was done on hand drums with two students per drum playing opposite parts.
Grade three to eight music teacher Carla Barlage directed the show with students learning their parts during music classes.
“The kids really worked hard and it is always fun to see the end result.”
Sounds of Christmas at HCI
By Becky Zimmer
Journal Editor
It may not look it outside but the sounds of Christmas is in the air at HCI.
The HCI Choir, guitar and band joined forces for the HCI Christmas Concert on Dec. 7, under the direction of Glenda Lees.
They were also joined by Humboldt Public School 7/8 band under the direction of Sharon Bates.
It was a time for traditional music but Lees and Bates both included some new tunes, including the HCI Band taking on Let it Go from Frozen and Bates adding some non-musical instruments for HPS’s Santa’s Noisy Workshop.
All the extra noises are intentional, she said.
The bands also had the opportunity to perform together which required the bands learning the numbers separately and then coming together for a dress rehearsal before opening night.
Lees says it worked out well.
“Miraculously enough, we put them together and they sounded pretty good,” Lees laughed.
Bates’ class meet once a week for an hour while Lees’ music students practice two noon hours a week while also having a half hour sectional to also work on music.
Students are involved with so many things and some students play larger instruments that at home practice is not possible, says Lees, so practice time in school is all that is available to them.
“We do have a fairly good among of time to practice together and the sectionals do help,” says Lees.
Through the dress rehearsal, elementary school students got a taste of band and choir for themselves. Lees hopes this encourages them to join band and choir when they reach Grade 9.
“We’re hoping to continue to grow our performing arts program. There are so many different ways students can get involved, it’s not just band but it’s also choir.”
Students in the community have a lot of opportunities to get involved in the performing arts, says Lees, and she hopes they appreciate that.
Combined show celebrates the season at HPS
By Becky Zimmer
Journal Editor
Humboldt Public School was all aglow on Dec. 6 with their combined Winter Celebration and Christmas Concert.
Traditionally, the two are done separately but this year they were combined, says HPS Principal Clayton Parobec.
“It was the first time we’ve done it this way and I think it went great.”
The night was a three part event with the grade 5, 6, and 7/8 bands opening the night with some holiday music under the direction of Band Director, Sharon Bates.
The Kindergarten, grade 1, and grade 2 classes then presented some Christmas themed songs, including songs about making gingerbread houses, reindeer dancing, snowmen, and Santa.
One song by a grade 2 class saw the students telling a Christmas story from the point of view of their teachers with Parobec playing himself.
Stressed out and tired, the song ends with the teachers going for the DVD cupboard instead of trying to teach students who have already checked out for the holidays.
The last portion of the night was for all the families as stations were set up all around the school for holiday treats and activities.
Cookie decorating, hot chocolate, colouring, play-doh, and karaoke were enjoyed by all with a packed house.
With the cold weather the outdoor activities where brought inside but this was done fairly easily with organizers resorting to indoor curling in the gym.
Parobec says the whole school community values this opportunity to spend time together with family and friends.
St. Dominic showcases their skills at Christmas concert
By Christopher Lee
Journal Reporter
Christmas is in the air at St. Dominic School.
Students from St. Dominic School welcomed family and friends into the school on Dec. 8 for a pair of Christmas Concerts, which featured the whole school.
The show kicked off with the grade six band performing a couple of songs before handing the stage over to the grade seven and eight band.
After a couple of songs the band accompanied the whole school, some 234 students in the singing Do You Hear What I Hear?, the grand opening of the show.
Having the band accompany the whole school during the opening song was a new wrinkle to the show, says one of the coordinators of the show Celeste Leray-Leicht, who notes that it is something they would like to continue doing in the future.
“We find our grade 7s and 8s quite strong for still being fairly new to playing instruments and Ms. Bates was very supportive of the idea so she’s great, it’s good to try something new.”
The show continued from there with each of the eight grades and two kindergarten classes each performing songs.
Leray-Leicht says it was important to include each of the students to showcase their skills and says having the concert was important as a way for the catholic school to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
With so many moving parts during the show the school got started on their preparations early, says Leray-Leicht, who notes that some of the classes would have started getting ready for the concert in early November.
The school began ramping up preparations for the concert at the end of November upon the conclusion of three-week conferences.
“We go hard into practicing for the Christmas Concert and the gym is shut down during the day for heavy duty practices,” says Leray-Leicht.
“A lot of time and effort goes into this.”
Each year the teachers of each of the classes come up with the plans for their class and each year they manage to come up with a great mix of religious and secular music, says Leray-Leicht.
“We get a nice balance and mix of everything with a more serious tone, a sacred tone and some with just with a more fun and lively spirit and we always manage to make it work out.”
Leray-Leicht would like to thank the families and friends of the students for coming to support the students each year.
