Small school, big challenge for a Christmas program

 

December 30, 2015

Steve Edwards

The younger students at the school sing a Christmas song.

North Harlem Colony had earlier announced the date for its annual Christmas program at the school. Pastor Eli Hofer, who also administers the school, said the program would be different this year with music and readings but no Christmas play.

On the night of the program Pastor Eli welcomed colony families and friends of the colony. He said, "This is our school's annual Christmas program but it's also a time to show appreciation for our neighbors." The audience was a mixture of colony residents and visitors.

Steve Edwards

Kelly Mills, far left of photo, and Marc Arensmeyer, center, pose with their students at the North Harlem Colony School during the school's annual Christmas program. Mills is the classroom teacher and Arensmeyer teaches keyboarding and guitar. First-grader, Tanner, was not in the photo. The school has eight students ranging from first to eighth graders.

One of the reasons the annual program changed was because the colony's teacher changed this year. Kelly Mills, a native of Arkansas, started this year as the colony's teacher. Other teachers at one room schools had shared in the past that Christmas programs are difficult when there are few students and they range from kindergarten to eighth graders. Add to that challenge a first year teacher, the Christmas program had to take a different direction.

So, this year the North Harlem Colony School program was all about vocal and instrumental music and readings. Students at the school have instrumental instruction on keyboard and guitar and played instruments as well as sang.

A group of adult women from the colony also did a few vocal selections. It was a varied program with an opportunity for all the students to demonstrate their musical abilities.

At the end of the program there was a time for the families, students and visitors to sing some familiar Christmas carols and the colony hosted refreshments after the program. It was a very nice program and a good effort by new teacher, Kelly Mills, and his eight students.

 
 

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