HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2011-12-22, Page 33THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2011. PAGE 33.
Ken Scott remembers that school
Christmas concerts didn’t change
much in North Huron during his
time as an educator.
Scott, who retired in 1996 after
working at Brussels, East
Wawanosh, Blyth and Hullett
Central Public Schools for over 30
years, said that while changes
happened, they more happened up to
and after the Christmas concert and
not to the concert itself.
“It stayed pretty much the same
throughout my time, the only thing
that I can remember changing is that
the day after the concert we usuallywould have the whole school singChristmas carols, rent a 16 mmDisney movie and play it on aprojector,” he said. “I remember
having to change the big reels and
tape up the film while I was in
Brussels, but by the time I got to
East Wawanosh, most schools had
VCRs and tapes.”
Scott said that each class would
put on their own play with the
Kindergarten and primary classes
focusing a lot on recitations with the
older students focusing on skits.
“The spring concerts were usually
the bigger productions that featured
plays and musicals,” he said. “The
Christmas concert was more about
the music and the individual
contributions of each class.”
He said that, if there were any
changes over the years, it was the
effort and final product becoming
better each year.
“We tried to improve every year,
and maybe the sets got more
elaborate, but the basic style stayed
the same,” he said. “We didn’t buy
too many Christmas scripts and we
used a lot of old booklets with skits
and songs in them that had been
around for years.”
He said that every once in a while
there would be something unique
like using a projector to make a
shadow play on a sheet, but beyond
that it stuck to the same method.
“In 32 years the curriculum
changed a lot but the Christmas
concerts remained pretty much the
same,” he said.
He said that he remembers that
regardless of who was involved,
there was always energy in the
school prior to the show.
“There was always a great
excitment in the school leading up to
the concert,” he said. “Props and
costumes were being made or found
from where they were stored and the
parents were so involved.”
He said that each class would
practise on their own and that made
scheduling time in the gym a little
diffuclt but it was worth it when the
dress rehearsal and plays were put
on.“The gymnasium was always filled to capacity,” he said. “We
Continued from page 21
do their own play or do the nativity
scene and that the rest of the school
would do one of the pre-packaged
Christmas concerts. It changed the
format of the play as well.
“During that time the show really
changed from a concert to a play,”
she said. “The narrator became much
more important.”
In 2008 Cronin retired, but she has
continued to help by playing piano
and practising with the members of
the plays.
This year’s concert was a unique
one and one that impressed her.
“This year’s concert was a whole
nativity scene for the entire school,”
she said. “It was impressive and nice.
It was a peaceful, quiet way for the
school to celebrate its last
Christmas.”
She said the traditional music and
costumes were very well done.
“This year’s [concert] was a real
mixture of new and old,” she said. “It
follows the biblical passages from
the Book of Luke and follows the
stories of King Herrod, the wise men
and Joseph and Mary,” she said.
“There are very few speaking parts
aside from the two narrators and it
involves every child.”
Cronin has a long history of
working with local schools and their
Christmas concerts.
While she has been working at
Blyth’s concert for 25 years, she has
been a teacher for more than 40 years
and has been involved in plays for
38 years.
She worked in Brussels from 1975
to 1986, at Hullett Central Public
School from 1974 to 1975 and, just
prior to taking a break to raise her
children, taught in Lucknow from
1968 to 1970.
Long-time area teacher reflects
Hold it up high
Wrapped presents were on display on Dec. 13 at Hullett
Central Public School’s annual Christmas concert. Kaleb
Johnston, left, and Delsie Rego did their best to hold up
their presents so people in the back of the auditorium could
see them. (Shawn Loughlin photo)
Retired teacher remembers one-room school shows
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Season’s Greetings
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
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