Merry Christmas and Peace on Earth

‘Tis the season of Christmas.  For unto us the Baby Jesus was born.  He is the light of the world who gives us hope.

On the last day of school before the Christmas break, some parents were able to join us to say farewell to the Tomioka family, who will be assigned back to Singapore in January. The transfer was so sudden, we were sad to learn of Hanae’s departure to a new school.  The children made a special album for Hanae to remember us by.  Perhaps in the future, Hanae may return to Saint Maur wearing a full Saint Maur uniform.  Families may come and go; such is the life at an international school.

The month of December was a busy month. The Montessori children prepared for their Christmas concert (see photos below). The Montessori and Elementary Christmas concert started at six in the evening on Friday, November 31st, and the Montessori children performed according to age groups.  The Fine Arts auditorium was packed, and the children performed happily in front of the Elementary students, parents, and friends.  For some of the children, it was their first time to be on stage, yet nobody cried or showed any stage fright; everyone seemed to enjoy performing.  It was a meaningful stage experience, a debut for the children.

On December 14th, Mr. Agnew, the school’s religious studies teacher, invited the Montessori children to attend Christmas service in the school chapel.  We listened to the story of the first Christmas, and about God’s love that Christmas brings to us. “Thank you, God, for baby Jesus! We love you!”

Each child made a tiny Christmas tree out of a pine cone that Hanae and her dad picked up for us from the park.

On the last week of school, we had our annual Christmas Pizza party.  “Yummy, we love pizzas!”

This semester, many of the children made maps…

Touched and smelled Earth’s treasures…

Lent a helping hand…

Made turkey crafts for Thanksgiving…

Learned parts of an “excavator”…

Brushed our teeth…

And laughed.

The children chose the Christmas cards to give to their parents.

Merry Christmas and have a restful Christmas vacation.  See you back in school in January!