Joy in the Air at the Grade 1 Holiday Concert

Grade 1 students provided plenty of holiday cheer to the audience at the Bucknall theater, during the First Grade Holiday Concert on Dec. 14.

Directed by Louis Hoffman, lower school music teacher, with riser choreography by Gail Palmer, lower school performing arts teacher, the entire first grade class sang a diverse repertoire of holiday-themed songs, including “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” “Deck the Halls” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” and also performed some lesser-known tunes such as “Candy Candy,” “Shine Little Candle” and a medley of traditional songs about Hanukkah. In between performances, students periodically spoke a few lines of amusing dialog.

The halfway point of the show featured a dance number to the song “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” by Johnny Marks, with choreography by after-school dance teacher Kristin Maurer. During the second half, the audience was delighted to see grade 1 homeroom teachers Rita Stone, Cindy Proctor, Diann Chung and Mary Holaday take the stage during the song “Gingerbread Cookies,” dancing with giant gingerbread cookie cut-outs.

Elaborate stage scenery courtesy of scenic artist Whitney McLelland enhanced the ambiance of the show, as did the lovely array of poinsettias provided for the show by Sarah Leonard, lower school division head. Danny Dunn, lower school technical director, as well as her middle school tech club handled the slide show and props, while the students in her grade 5 technical theater class acted as the show crew.

Following the show, students and parents attended a special after-party at the Bucknall gym, where they enjoyed cookies, hot chocolate and a special appearance by Frosty the Snowman.

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