The Hidden Accomplishments of Our Teachers

For those of you who attended our Christmas Program, you know what a truly beautiful program it was. Afterwards, it was quite easy to accept all the accolades from parents who were equally moved by the program, but it certainly would not be fair.

The accolades for the evening's program have to go to our faculty. As the students processed in at the program's conclusion, I was wondering how many parents who ever experienced the frenzy of putting together a birthday party for ten children realized what a truly spectacular occurrence it was to move three hundred students reverently into the Church, onto the altar, while singing such a beautiful rendition of Silent Night.

This year, the faculty of Holy Angels worked as a committee to make sure the program went well. I have to admit that some friction existed shoed itself along the way, but I think that's actually one of the strengths of working as a committee. When varying thoughts and viewpoints are considered, heads will bump occasionally, but ultimately, you come out with a superior end product. That's what our faculty accomplished.

Christmas programs are a great deal of work and actually very stressful for teachers. They are expected to continue to keep the students focused on their school work, while practicing and polishing their performances, and try and get the students to ignore the excitement of the upcoming holiday. Our faculty did an excellent job and need to be commended for everything they ALL did to make the program work.

Probably the two staff members who undertook the greatest bulk of the work were Mr. D'Leon, in teaching the students a multitude of traditional Christmas songs, in other languages, and Mrs. Bennett, who arranged the beautiful Nativity Scene and helped choreograph many other aspects of the program.

I think it is often overlooked that our teachers voluntarily take on many extra assignments outside of the classroom. Every one of them has taken on days of significance this year, be it during Catholic Schools Week or events like the Art Show or Grandparent's Day. We need to be thankful that we have a staff capable of working together, while sharing talents that ultimately go towards the improvement of the school experience for our students. Thank you to all our teachers.