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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2011-12-22, Page 34With the last Christmas concert to be performed by Blyth Public School a week past, teachers and staff at the school are undoubtedly remembering the adventures they had at previous concerts. Jeff Gole and Morag Watt, two of the more tenured members of the school’s faculty, recently shared some of their memories about past concerts with The Citizen. Gole remembers his first concert at the school nearly a decade ago. “Every class was responsible for their own act,” he said. “My class re- enacted a Mercer Meyer [a popular children’s author] Christmas story,” he said. Watt, who recently helped put on her 18th consecutive Christmas concert, remembered that concert and said that had been the standard for quite some time. “Everyone came in with their own idea, each teacher,” she said. “The classes all had their own thing going on.” The two had fond memories of concerts throughout their time at the school, and were more than happy to tell stories of their favourite moments and the funny foibles that happen at the concerts. “I remember doing Skateboarding Santa one year,” Gole said. “We had one student, Isaac Nicholson, riding a skateboard through the audience. People loved it.” While neither Gole or Watt couldn’t remember any specific crises, he did remember students suffering from stage fright as well as upset stomachs and worse, but everyone seemed to step it up at the last minute. “We did have one young lady who was sick all day, but she was big in the play,” Watt said. “And sure enough, by the time the play rolled around, she had somehow got to the school and did great. The students and everybody really just come together and great things happen.” Gole remembered one year where Watt had actually been one of the stars of the play when she jumped out of a Christmas present. “No one knew who it was,” Watt said. “Then I jumped out at the end and it was pretty funny.” Watt has fond memories of the plays and concerts, but many of them focus on the unexpected. “One year we had a kindergarten class that used flashlights to light their play and, sure enough, one of them had to find their parents,” she said. “So he walked to the front of the stage and started using the flashlight to try and find his mom. “That happens pretty much every year with the younger kids,” she said. “There is always someone who is going to try and find their parents and give a little wave or have a huge smile on their face when they finally see them.” Watt said her brief time in the spotlight was nice because, assecretary, a lot of the logisticalthings usually fall to her and the creative endeavours are handled by the teachers. “People see the play and it is ahuge job, but the logistics of it arealso pretty important,” she said. “I couldn’t do it by myself, but PAGE 34. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2011. Offering gifts Bringing some gifts to the baby Jesus on Dec. 14 at Memorial Hall for the annual Blyth Public School Christmas concert were Bailey Coles, left, Ward Verschaeve, centre and Adam Shortreed, right. (Vicky Bremner photo) Long-time staffers remember concerts past JAMES BROWN PHARMACY 198 Josephine St., Wingham, Ont. 519-357-1629 Hours: Mon. - Fri. 9 - 6 Sat. 9 - 4 Rear Parking Available Delivery available Wishing all our customers, a safe and happy Christmas holiday filled with a large measure of peace, joy and merriment.Many thanks to our customers COUSINS CONSTRUCTION Ken, Sheila & family Bob, Donna and family Bob Wattam's Backhoe Service Inc. Wingham 519-357-3069 KRAEMER CONCRETE LTD. 220 Industrial Park Drive, Brussels 519-887-8763 Jim Kraemer R.R. #1 Brunner 519-595-2343 Season’s Greetings Wishing everyone a joyous holiday season. By Denny Scott The Citizen Continued on page 37