St. Nicholas Concert

Kindergarten students dressed as snowflakes for the St. Nicholas Concert

 

On Thursday, December 6th, the students and staff of IHMS gathered in the gym for a short musical performance celebrating the feast day of St. Nicholas (or Sviaty Mykolaj). This is an annual tradition – IHMS has been celebrating the feast day of St. Nicholas for years with music and goody bags for the kids.

 

 

St. Nicholas was a fourth century Greek speaking bishop who had a reputation for giving anonymous gifts of money, food, and toys to the poor. He remains a patron saint of Christmas, and his secret gift-giving has been the inspiration for our present day Santa Claus. Because he is so beloved by Christians around the world, he is referred to as “St. Nicholas”, even though he was never officially canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church.

 

The St. Nicholas concert began after students and staff assembled in the gym and Mr. Picklyk welcomed everyone with a brief introduction. The program began with the Kindergarten class and eventually everyone singing a song entitled “O xto? xto?”.

 

Students, teachers, and parents gathered in the IHMS gym on Thursday, December 6th for the school’s annual St. Nicholas Concert

 

During the singing, St. Nicholas entered the gym and moved to the wall where the students were assembled. He was accompanied by two grade 7 “angel helpers” who remained by his side during the entire performance. Four grade 6 students narrated the concert with a short description before each song.

 

The four grade 6 students who narrated the concert in English and Ukrainian

 

St. Nicholas greeted the students before sitting down with his angel helpers to listen to a musical performance conducted by Mrs. Stanowych.

 

St. Nicholas with his two grade 7 “angel helpers”

 

Each of the grades from K-6 sang a song during the concert. One of the highlights was a song sung by the Kindergarten class. While singing about snow, they wore a snowflake headpiece which made them look even cuter!

 

K-6 students singing at the St. Nicholas Concert

 

At the end of the concert, St. Nicholas spoke to the kids for a few minutes. He then handed out goody bags to the kindergarten to grade 3 students. The grade 4-8 students found a similar goody bag on their desk when they got back to class.

 

St. Nicholas talking to the students (top photos) and giving goody bags to the kindergarten students (bottom photos)

 

The short concert for St. Nicholas was organized by Mrs. Stanowych, the school’s Music/Ukrainian teacher. In addition to the St. Nicholas concert, Mrs. Stanowych is also busy preparing for the school’s two Christmas concerts, both only 2 weeks away. Check back in a few weeks for two more spectacular performances!