Christmas at Woodstock

The Christmas season is always one of high excitement for both staff and students as the semester culminates in concerts, Christmas performances and services. There's too much to cover in detail - if we went to everything, nothing would get done! - but here are a few highlights.

19th November, Advent Service at Christ Church. Each year Woodstock students play a prominent part in this, the first real event of the Christmas season. Indeed, the brass ensemble opened the programme with a prelude, followed by the choir and string ensemble singing and playing the processional hymn, "The First Noel/Pachelbel's Canon". The choir and ensembles performed further pieces, and led the congregational singing. Woodstock was one of many local schools present, and our students, as ever, made us proud.

24th November, Christmas sale. This is the chance for staff to catch up on the buying of Christmas gifts for family and friends. Our friends from the Moravian Institute, SIDH, the Living Tree, CNI and others come along to display their wares, and the Quad is packed with keen buyers. One of the unexpected treats this year was the availability of broccoli and bok choi from a local supplier.

26th November, Christmas Chapel. This year's chapel focused on the part played by Mary, with dramatised readings from the gospels showing her character and faith. The stage was jam-packed with a full orchestra and choir, helping to really lift the community carol singing. The music programme included "Ding, dong, merrily on high", "We three kings", "O come, O come, Emmanuel" and a beautiful arrangement of "The first Noel" set to Pachelbel's Canon. The brass section concluded the service with "Carol of the bells".

After the chapel, students who attend the Sunday voluntary chapel were invited back to the Wildmans' house for pizza and a big-screen viewing of "It's a Wonderful Life", the James Stewart classic. Yes, they did enjoy it - they laughed at all the funny parts while the adults just sat in corners and cried.

30th November - 54h December, Elementary School presentations. The tea garden is the usual venue for these, but some very wet and cold weather meant that the last event was held in Parker Hall. This became something of an extravaganza, with presentations from grades 4 and 5 and some rousing carol singing. The grade 4 presentation was effectively a 15 minute mini-musical, with memorable contemporary songs telling the Christmas story. The show finished with total audience involvement for the singing of "The twelve days of Christmas", complete with appropriate actions.

5th December, Elementary school dance. As a little added extra, diners were regaled at lunchtime with a series of Hindi dances performed by members of the Hindi class under the tutelage of Mrs. Vandana Dhammi.

5th December, Middle School breakfast and carol-singing. Possibly the Middle School students are jealous of the Elementary School's Santa breakfast, since they were keen to have their own celebration. The staff obliged with a special breakfast in the dining room, followed by the presentation of awards for the best-dressed students during "Spirit Week" (when students have a fancy dress theme for each day). The breakfast finished with a carol sing-song led by Mr. Raman McArthur.

6th December, Santa Breakfast. The dining room was turned into a veritable fantasy grotto for the Elementary School's farewell event of the season. The ES choirs and recorder group performed interesting musical items, the visitors enjoyed the food, and - to cap it all - Santa made an appearance (thanks to HS drama teacher Ben McKenzie).

8th December - staff banquet. A final opportunity to greet one another before most people begin departing for the Christmas break. This year, as well as the traditional carol singing, the entertainment included a movement from the first string quartet written by music teacher Zingrin Shishak.

From all of the staff and students of Woodstock - may you have a blessed and peaceful Christmas.