Christmas 2023

Christmas decorations started going up in Inuujaq School at the beginning of December.  Classes decorated their doors and staff decorated the main hallway, main office, and staff room.  The student support assistants made a large banner in one corner of the main hallway on behalf of the school staff.  Christmas themed pencils were given to teachers to distribute them to students.  The decorations made the school’s interior appear lively, a needed distraction from the constant darkness outside. 

The school’s Christmas Concert was on everyone’s minds.  Classes had been busy preparing their acts while also making decorations for the concert.  The high school drummers & I were also busy preparing our set list.  There would be three cadences performed as a drumline followed by solos.  The selected three cadences were more challenging, but doable.  I just had to rearrange a few parts.  Everyone practiced their acts at the afternoon dress rehearsal two days before the concert.  The dress rehearsal took place at the community hall.  I borrowed Frank’s truck to transport the drums, stands, music, hardware, and a keyboard.  The keyboard would be used for the final act: school staff singing a Christmas song.     

Classes also made decorations for the upcoming Christmas concert.  High school & middle school students put up these decorations at the community hall on December 14.  The decorations were transported on vehicles provided by staff.  Students & staff also set up chairs and a few tables.  The setup lasted the entire morning.

December 15 was very busy & exciting.  Santa visited classes and took pictures with students.  One of my high school drummers volunteered to play the role.  He was the first person to try on the new Santa costume I bought from Spirit Halloween.  (Yes, they also sell Christmas costumes).  Thankfully, the costume fit.  A few high school students helped Santa dressed as elves.

Several middle school students helped staff set up tables & chairs in the gym for the evening Staff Christmas dinner.  White tablecloths were placed over the tables, a sound system was set up at one end of the gym, the large staff banner was taped to a wall, garbage cans were placed in strategic locations, and a large Christmas was placed near the sound system.  Everything was ready just before the bell rang for lunch.

Everyone headed to the community hall after lunch.  Doors opened at 1:30pm and people flooded in to find good seats.  Students & staff were dressed in their best clothing.  The place was packed when the concert began at 2pm.  Performing acts were arranged in order of grade.  Kindergarten began the festivities by performing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.  Grade 1 did the Chicken Dance.  Grade 2 sang & danced to the tune of This Little Light Of Mine.  Grade 3 sang an Inuktitut song titled, Maani, Maani. 

Grade 8.

The theme of dancing continued with the next three acts.  Grade 4 did a Christmas dance, Grade 5 did a Jerusalem Dance, and Grade 6 did a Winter In Wonderland dance.  (Those were the names of the acts).    

Grade 9

Grade 7 performed a Grinch Skit.  Grade 8 sang the song Hallelujah and Grade 9 did a Christmas dance number.  My drummers & I set up our drums in the main foyer during the Grade 8 performance.  When the curtains closed after the end of the Grade 9 performance, the moment had finally arrived.  It was time for the High School Drumline to perform.

Kids crowded around the front of the stage as the drumline & I moved our instruments and equipment on stage.  Several people also helped.  You don’t want to keep the audience waiting.  We got everything in place in less than 5 minutes . . . I think.  We did our final stretches, made sure our music papers were in order, took one final deep breath, and exhaled.  I signaled to the emcee that we were ready.  The curtains were drawn, and we came face-to-face with the audience.  Just like at the Halloween assembly, I raised my sticks, clicked 4 times, and the music began.

The snare drummers had to play with their snares off because it would have been too loud.  We played the three cadences without problems.  The audience applauded each performance.  The drumline then took a step back to give the soloists their space.  The first soloist was a tenor player who played blindfolded.  He got through it without dropping his sticks.  Next was me on the snare drum.  I think I did quite well.  The last solo was more of a duet.  A student & set up two quad tom drums facing each other.  The duet was short & simple, but the main highlight was the two of us moving around the toms and playing at the same time.  The audience really liked that.  We all took a bow and waved at the audience as the curtains closed.  We survived.

The drumline quickly packed & moved everything off stage to make way for Inuujaq School staff.  The keyboard & a chair were brought out for the vice-principal.  Staff got into their places on stage with music sheets in hand.  The curtains opened, and the staff sang a Christmas carol in Inuktitut and English.  They practiced several times before the concert.  They performed well.  And with that the concert came to an end.

Several staff & students helped me move the instruments & equipment into Frank’s truck.  I then got a few volunteers to help me bring it back to school.  I then drove the volunteers home.  Students were now dismissed for the Christmas holidays.

The Staff Christmas Dinner began at 6pm.  The local hotel catered the event.  Staff & guests were welcomed by the principal.  An Elder blessed the food, and everyone lined up with plates in hand.  The menu consisted of roast, ham, turkey, stuffing, vegetables, gravy, peas & carrots, juice boxes, and various desserts.  The hotel kitchen staff did an excellent job preparing the food.  Secret Santa gifts were handed out thereafter and the staff played a dice throwing game for prizes.

Leftover food was distributed among the staff & guests.  Everyone helped with the cleaning of the gym.  We wished each other a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!  School would resume early next year.  Several people flew down south for the holidays the next day.  I was one of them.

Happy New Year!  See you all in 2024!