WES students spread holiday spirit in an old fashioned way

Post date: Jan 02, 2015 7:26:22 PM

“The best way to spread Christmas cheer, is singing loud for all to hear,” so said a group of 50 students in unison, before they commenced two brief impromptu holiday concerts on December 22^nd. The quote was from the holiday movie, Elf and the carolers were Multi 3-4 and fourth grade students from three classrooms at Wells Elementary School.

Three days before Christmas, the contingent of students, staff and parent volunteers began by walking from their school to Wells High School where they sang several holiday favorites to the older students in the school’s lobby.

Next they walked a short distance to Wells Town Hall where they were greeted at the front door by Town Manager Jon Carter and staff members, some of whom watched the carolers singing in the courtyard below from the front windows of the building’s second floor.

With virtually no snow on the ground and warmer than usual temperatures, the children sang from their repertoire of four songs including Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Accompanying the group were teachers Beth Bush, Annie Brown, Melissa Stapleton plus parent volunteers. This is the second year for this group to go caroling with last year’s caroling limited to inside visiting classrooms at WES.

“Yes, I think this should be the start of a tradition,” commented Melissa Stapleton when asked about the possibility of student caroling becoming a new school tradition. “Next year, I would like to make stops at WJHS and the Superintendent's office,” continued the Multi 3-4 teacher who added, “Teaching is so much more than academics in the classroom, it is an opportunity to teach kids to care and to give back. We are so fortunate to have a shared campus in Wells. By caroling at WHS and Wells Town Hall, it was an opportunity for us to come together as a community.”

Town Manager Carter and staff appeared pleasantly surprised and pleased to take a break from town business to step outside to meet and listen to the school singers. Carter commented that the visit by the carolers “…was a great seasonal event” and added that the he and staff “hope we can elaborate on it and make it an annual event!”

Caption: At right of the entrance to Wells Town Hall is Town Manager Jon Carter along with staff and others taking a short break to listen to several holiday classics sung by students of Wells Elementary School. WES teacher Melissa Stapleton is also facing the carolers at far left.