Singing about Santa
By Chris Simon

Kindergarten students at Goodfellow Public School in Alcona sang several holiday-themed songs and poems, during a concert at the school last week. About 50 parents, relatives and friends watched the performance, just a few days before the beginning of a two week school break.

With just days left before a two week school break, it can sometimes be difficult to keep a student's attention.

But Goodfellow Public School Kindergarten teacher Sarah Sportun has an entire classroom full of young students to keep amused. Along with fellow Kindergarten teacher Andrea Gates, Sportun has managed to keep the excitement level high, while focusing on classroom activities.

"It's very difficult to keep their attention on what we're doing," she said. "Everything is always about how many more sleeps until Santa comes. It's hard to (keep ourselves) focused as well. They're very excited."

The students have been spending the last few days watching holiday-themed videos, writing letters to Santa Claus, making decorations, and practicing for a Christmas concert in the school's library. Donning brown 'antler' hats, the students performed Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Santa is his Name-O, and several poems for about 50 parents, teachers and friends last week.

"The kids have been writing letters and getting responses back. They're really excited about writing letters," said Sportun. "They've been making reindeer food with oatmeal and magic sparkles to put out on Christmas Eve. We've been singing a lot of Christmas songs and reading poems. A lot of our activities have been centred around that."

Sportun says the teachers have been focusing on the importance of family in each lesson.

"Christmas is a time to appreciate family," she said. "We talked a lot about how, at Christmas time, it's important to give to other people who are less fortunate. Once we talked about that, almost every Kindergarten (student) brought in at least two items each (for the school's annual food drive). It was wonderful."

Gates says the Christmas concert helps build student confidence and enthusiasm.

"It builds a lot of self-confidence, self-esteem and stage presence," she said.