PRINCIPAL’S CORNER

There is a wonderful French Advent hymn that begins “ People look East, the time is here for the crowning of the year.”  Of course, that crowning of the year is the coming of Christ at Christmas. It is a time that we at St. Joseph the Carpenter School look forward to with great excitement.

Even though it is only the first of four weeks of Advent our hallways and classrooms are buzzing with Christmas activity.  Every day more decorations are going into our cafeteria and it is looking very festive. Our retired custodian, Mr. Dave, faithfully returns annually to turn so much of the school into a scene of joy.  Along with decorating the classes and choir are practicing for the annual Christmas Concert on Dec. 13th. This much anticipated event really showcases the wonderful talent that so many of our students have.  In addition our fourth grade thespians have been preparing to tell the story of St. Nicholas on his feast day this Friday, December 6th. Why, the good saint may even make an appearance and students may receive a shoe full of goodies in his honor.

Not to be outdone, the preschool has been practicing daily for their celebration of Christmas which is also Dec. 13th.  Filled with all the joy and fun of a little child’s understanding of the Feast it also has its heart stopping moment when they portray the story of the Nativity.  It is a wonderful expression of who we are as a school.  

We don’t stop there.  We will have cookies with Santa on Dec. 6th.  Door decorating and carol singing not to mention ugly Christmas sweater day and a bagel breakfast along with the beautiful ceremony of Las Posadas round out our Advent celebrations.

We return in January in the midst of the Christmas season and continue our joy with the blessing of classrooms, the celebration of the Epiphany, Catholic Schools Week and finally the blessing of seeds and the retelling of the story of the Presentation on February 2nd.  Yes, we keep Christmas well here at St. Joseph’s!

So take this wonderful season to look East and receive the Son of God born at Christmas in your heart. That is what it is all about.  That is what we are all about.

Blessed Advent and Christmas from all of us here at St. Joseph the Carpenter School .