The big show

On Ocracoke, the biggest show of the year is the school Christmas program, and this year was no exception. The gym was packed with community members of all ages, from the youngest babies to the oldest grandparents. There were smiles on all the faces, as the standing room only crowd watched the kids (from pre-kindergarten through high school) perform (and project) their hard-prepared Christmas songs, skits and even one short movie.

The first and second grade classes kicked off the show with a wonderful performance of "We Need a Little Christmas", utilizing several props and featuring one of the kids as the Christmas tree, which they decorated during the song! It was an adorable and festive way to start the program. The pre-K and kindergarten students then performed "Here Comes Santa Claus" (the Elvis version: several of the kids wore Elvis wigs!) and "Jingle Bells".

Several more excellent performances followed, both sung and played on musical instruments from guitars and keyboards (the pep band) to violins and harmonicas (the 4th grade music club) and even handbells (the 7th grade class). The 6th graders performed a hilarious version of "I'm Getting Nothin' for Christmas" (starting with a "breaking newscast" reporting the "bad behavior" of kids on Ocracoke, including stealing the wreath from the Lighthouse).

The 8th grade class recited (and acted out) a poem about Santa getting stuck in the chimney. Luckily the jolly old elf escaped, so Christmas won't be delayed this year - whew! The High School students then presented the short film they produced, which was an Ocracoke version of Dickens' A Christmas Carol. It was excellent, and the "blooper reel" at the end of the credits was quite funny. The final act of the evening was the entire school singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas". I love that the entire school body (pre-K through 12, plus teachers and staff) can all fit on one stage. Good thing it's a strong stage!

Hope you're enjoying the holiday season. My advice: go see a show performed by kids - it's good for the soul and heart to smile that much.