Open Door students sing, ring in Christmas

Published 10:02 am Sunday, December 21, 2014

the tribune/jessica st. james (ABOVE) Bell Choir Group Two from Open Door School performs “Jingle Bells” and “Silver Bells”on Friday during the annual Christmas program.

the tribune/jessica st. james
(ABOVE) Bell Choir Group Two from Open Door School performs “Jingle Bells” and “Silver Bells”on Friday during the annual Christmas program.

The seats were full and the gym walls lined with standing spectators as students at Open Door School on Friday helped spread the spirit of the holidays by performing their 2014 Christmas program.

After a short welcome from Kendra Heim, Open Door principal, the pre-vocational 1 students presented “Christmas Around the World,” which concluded with a rousing performance of “Feliz Navidad” with student Tucker Fisher on lead vocals. During the performance, Christmas tree ornaments handmade by the pre-vocational 1 students were given away to members of the audience.

“They work really hard in the Christmas Program,” Heim said. “Many of our students have multiple disabilities and structure is a big part of their daily routine. They practice for the Christmas program twice a day and by the time they perform it has become part of their routine.”

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Santa Claus handed out candy canes as Gabby Abrams, donning a blue satin dress, sang “Let it Go” from the movie “Frozen.”

the tribune/jessica st. james A student from Open Door School meet with Santa Claus.

the tribune/jessica st. james
A student from Open Door School meet with Santa Claus.

Bell Choir Group One performed “Joy to the World” and “Let There be Peace on Earth” before intermediate one and two presented “The Cactus Christmas Tree.”

The group “The Christmas Stars with Santa’s Elves” made up of Ashley Artis, Alicia Adkins, Tiffany Easter, Blake White and Zach Toppins sang “Favorite Time of the Year” followed by Bell Choir Group Two performing “Silver Bells” and “Jingle Bells.”

Clayton Lyon, Trevor Hall, Sidney Pratt, Raven Webb, Kate Ross and Lauren Grace, known collectively as “Clayton and the Carolers,” performed “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”

Primary 1 and 2 classes presented “Reindeer Pokey,” Jingle Bells” and “I’m a Dancing Christmas Tree” and all students and Open Door staff ended the program by singing “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

The third floor students and staff were stagehands and helped with props.