Derby Academy Celebrates the Holidays

Since November, Derby students have been hard at work preparing their holiday
programs.

The Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten classes held a concert in the Lower School Library, singing a variety of holiday and winter-themed songs. Students in Grades 1-3 celebrated with activities in their classrooms, having already performed their Thanksgiving Play before November break. Middle and Upper School students took the stage in Larson Hall for their performances, “Holiday Traditions” and “Let There Be Light: A Celebration,” respectively.

Directed by Thalia McMillion, “Holiday Traditions” covers a wide variety of winter holidays, with fourth graders taking the lead roles. Scenes include dialogue and music from eight different holidays: Japanese New Year, Hanukkah, Christmas, Diwali, Kwanzaa, Three Kings’ Day, Ramadan and Lunar New Year. Students in Grades 5 and 6 participate by singing various songs, with special performances by the Grade 6 Band, Chorus, Dance and World Percussion groups.

Upper School students take part in, “Let There Be Light: A Celebration.” First performed in December of 1995, this show allows students to participate in music and readings from a variety of cultures. This year, “Let There Be Light” included festive songs, readings and dances about winter celebrations including the Winter Solstice, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas and the birth of Jesus Christ, St. Lucia Day, Diwali and Chinese Lunar New Year.

Among the student performances were an Irish Step Dance, Hebrew song, traditional Arabic chant and two Derby-exclusives: The Derby Snow Dance (song and tap dance) and “La Musique,” by Teachers Mark Rabuck and Michael Connelly. The song, “Peace in Twelve Languages” by Thomas Knight closed the show.

Prior to “Holiday Traditions” and “Let There Be Light,” Derby Academy’s holidays programs focused on Christmas. The Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten dramatized the Christmas carol, “The Friendly Beasts,” and the Lower School had a traditional performance with fourth graders in lead roles as Mary and Joseph, Wise Men, angels and shepherds, supported by Grades 1-3. The Upper School presented the Christmas pageant at New North Church.

As Derby became more diverse in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the school had to reflect upon the impact of several time-honored traditions, including the Christmas celebrations.

The Lower School quickly adapted their performances to be more inclusive and participatory for children and parents, performing their last traditional pageant in 1990. In the mid 1990s, Headmaster Ed Foley recognized the need to address
how other school traditions, such as the Christmas pageant, played a role in this more diverse community.

A committee of students, faculty, trustees and parents was formed to look at ways in which Derby celebrated holidays and recognized its students. During the committee’s year-long tenure, they discussed the pageant, performed for nearly 50 years, recognizing the strong traditions associated with it for students, parents and alumni. However, after careful consideration, the committee recommended that the pageant be changed. Under the direction of McMillion and the Arts Department, a new, more inclusive program, known as “Let There Be Light: A Celebration” created a holiday tradition the entire community could embrace.

As was said in the closing reading of “Let There Be Light,” an excerpt from “The Peace Poem” from an address by Kofi Annan at the United Nations, “Children often know better than adults that today’s world is a global village and we are all
neighbors.” Therein lies the success of the current format of Derby Academy’s holiday celebrations.

–Derby Academy