The nativity performances have just finished! As ever they were fabulous, tremendous and just lovely. Every year we worry that things won’t come together and every year they do! However, as wonderful as this time of year is, this is such a busy time for school. We start on the 1st of December with our pantomime visit (oh yes we do!) and from then on everything is glitter, fairy lights and very excitable young people (and the not so young too). It is a wonderful time of year to be in school but it is full on – and there is still the learning and teaching going on too.
As a teacher I have struggled to convey the wok that goes into a nativity performance of any kind. We are fortunate to have a stage, sound system and lights to say nothing of a bank of costumes and lots of craft-minded staff in the early years. Getting our youngest pupils to sing, act, dance, take stage directions, learn everything off by heart and wear costumes takes organisation and team work akin to the D-day landings! Words always fail to convey the goodwill and support from everyone and the true team effort that makes this so wonderful each year.
Next week the older children have our annual Cakes and Carols event which is a wonderful community gathering with lots of organisation and planning behind the scenes. The P4-7s get on stage and sing a wonderful variety of seasonal songs as everyone enjoys being together for a festive catch-up.
Behind the scenes though planning, forward thinking about next term and the general core business of learning is still going on as ever. We are open for business as usual we are just a bit more shiny! This time of year always makes me think of how fortunate we all are in so many ways. This does not mean that we don’t have concerns or challenges but, considering the Christmas that some face we are fortunate. Listening to the story of that first Christmas over two thousand years ago I am struck by the similarities facing families today; displaced people, war, unrest, prejudices and unhappiness. I hope that in-between the heartache families in crisis wherever they are can find the hope, love and kindness of others that shone through our nativity story today.