Bond Mill Elementary's winter concert kicked off the holiday season in a big way. As usual, there was a full house, and Principal Justin FitzGerald greeted the anxious crowd. Vocal director Rolanda Brown waited as the fourth- and fifth-grade students paraded through the hallway, throughout the auditorium and on to the stage, while holding battery-operated candles to light their way. The mood was set.
The choir reverently performed "Like Diamonds in the Night" as their candles flickered in the dark. The lights came up with "We Sing Gloria" and then "A Song for Hanukkah" dazzled the large crowd, with soloists Noel Klund, Madison Jones, Grace Beck and Alayna Rivera. "Mister Frosty Winter" was lively with a surprise visit from a whimsical, dancing snowman, Sydney Endres, who artfully twirled her way through the audience. The chorus appeared to have an especially great time with "Hip Hop Reindeer." Elf percussionists Tiami Foster, Natalia Bonilla, Lade Tinubu, Rianna Clash, Tanner Perkes and Camryn Tweedy accompanied the choir on "The Sounds of Santa's Workshop." Khaleed Piard made quite a jolly Santa Claus. The chorus wrapped the vocal concert up like a bow with "Este es la Navidad."
The instrumental concert followed as students from beginning and advanced band and orchestra took their places on stage. Instrumental director Patrick Fitzgerald conducted his young proteges, with "Jingle Bells" as the obvious favorite. Two-year advanced band and orchestra students who displayed their more experienced talents were Nicole Campos, Danielle Moody and Jennifer Reynoso on the flute; Ryan Sokolowsky on oboe; Isaiah Webb on clarinet; Laila Webb on bass clarinet; Elijah Clary, Kai Dagadu, Henry Morales and Kory Estep on alto saxophone; Norilian Lambe on trumpet; Nate Ludlam on trombone; Thomas Whitley on baritone horn; and Drew Durrington on tuba.
Two Bond Mill students, Alexander and Anderson Lambert, visited Laborie, St. Lucia, where their father was born. They were surprised and disappointed to see that the children's library had scarcely any books on the shelves. They considered what they might do to help and asked the other children at Bond Mill to donate any new, or used in good condition, children's books [nursery school age to 12th grade]. A box was placed in the hallway and it has been filled up many times so far. The Lambert family will send all of these books to St. Lucia to fill the bare library shelves. The students of Bond Mill truly know what holiday spirit is all about.
May you have a very merry Christmas filled with peace and joy.