Paula Rueda Holiday Cheer for All to Hear

12/6/12

Santa is coming! Santa is coming! Yes, it is that time of year again and Christmas is just around the corner. While many people are last minute shopping, putting lights up on their houses and decorating their Christmas trees, Ridgefield Parks high school students have been busy with their own holiday rituals. Since the very beginning of October, RPJSHS students have been in preparation for their 23rd annual holiday concert. Lead by Mr. Elmo and Mr. Goodman, both high school and junior high bands performed their share of holiday spirit. The junior high band performed songs such as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Up on the House Top, Frosty the Snow Man, Jingle Bells, Rock On Merry Gents, Feliz Navidad, Who Let The Elves Out, Carol of the Bells, and Jingle Bell Rock. As for the high school band, they performed, Deck the Halls, Good King Wenceslas, Linus and Lucky, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, This Christmas, Youre a Mean one, Mr. Grinch, Funky Old St. Nick, and Christmas Eve/Sarajevo. The high school finale was shared with the high school chorus along with the songs, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, and Auld Lang Syne. The high school chorus, of approximately two hundred students, also had their fair share of spreading holiday cheer along with the band. Lead by our very own chorus teacher Paul Simeone, the high school students performed songs such as, Sleigh Ride, Little Saint Nick, Light One Candle, Peace, Baby Its Cold Outside, and Hallelujah. Practices in preparations for the concert were not only held during school hours, but also after school. After school rehearsals were very helpful in the sense that they gave me a more complete picture of what the entire group would sound like, explained Swami. Spreading holiday cheer for those who attended the schools concerts was not enough celebration for Mr. Simeone, though. Throughout the whole month of December, high school chorus members who attended after school rehearsals were chosen to visit and perform outside of school. In Teaneck, the chorus students visited Brightside Manor, and Five-Star Premier Residences. In Hackensack, they also visited Prospect Heights Care Center and Division of Human Services. Holy Name and Englewood hospitals were also visited. When asked about why he takes these annual trips outside of school, Mr. Simeone mentioned, I schedule these performances to give my students opportunities to get out and perform in public venues. Also, doing this during the holidays enables us to spread some cheer to those less fortunate than us hospital patients, senior citizens, and disabled residents. To end a successful performance, Santa Claus, Matthew Perdomo, along with his trusty elves, Taylor Mazzarella and Samantha Suarez, handed out candy for all the children in the audience. Once again, RPJSHS students succeeded in bringing holiday cheer for all to hear.