During the month of December, please check back as we upload photos of the activities taking place at Saint Martin's during our month-long celebration of the Christmas season.

On Monday, December 3rd, the students gathered in the gym where the first prayer service of this year's Advent season was conducted by the 8th grade students.

"Light the Advent candle one.
Now the waiting has begun.
We have started on our way.
Time to think of Christmas day.

Candle, candle burning bright.
Shining on a cold winter night.
Candle, candle burning bright.
Fill our hearts with Christmas light."

Our Blue Ribbon School gives a new meaning to the term "Blue Christmas."

The students have been busy making ornaments, which will be used to decorate the Christmas trees in the school and in the church.

Several of our 8th grade students helped decorate the tree in the school lobby.

The younger students celebrated St. Nicholas Day on December 6th. They placed one of their shoes in the hallway just outside their classrooms. St. Nicholas was kind enough to leave some candy for them inside their empty shoe.

Each year, the 8th grade students paint Christmas-themed pictures on the windows around the school. They began with an outline. Photos of the finished windows will be posted when the "stained glass" windows are completed.

The halls are alive with the sights and sounds of Christmas. The students have been busy making Christmas pictures, and these are on display throughout the hallways. The Pre-K classes have made pointsettias . . .

. . . and funny reindeer.

Jesse trees, Christmas stockings, advent wreaths, and angels also adorn the walls and bulletin boards.

Today, the second purple candle was lit during the 2nd Advent prayer service.

"Light the Advent candle two,
Think of humble shepherds who,
Filled with wonder at the sight
Of the child on Christmas night."

Senor Garay helps the 2nd grade students practice the Christmas Carol "O Arbol de Navidad" ( Spanish for "O Christmas Tree").

The first of three Christmas concerts was held tonight and featured our first through third grade students. They sang a medley of festive carols and concluded with a sing-a-long with the audience of the more traditional Christmas hymns and carols.

The Kindergartners and their 8th grade buddies engaged in one of the most enjoyable activities of the Christmas season--decorating gingerbread houses. These budding architects had fun using the icing, marshmallows, gumdrops, licorice, and other candy to "tile" the rooftops and create windows and doors. Our kindergartners look forward to the times they spend with their older buddies, and our 8th graders are always patient and attentive to their young friends.

Mrs. Bellino, Mr. Varuzzo and members of the Saint Martin de Porres band entertained the crowds at Barnes and Noble Night on December 13th.

Students in PreK through 3rd grade spread a little Christmas cheer with their renditions of some popular carols.

Browsing for books.

Fun at the craft table.

Here are the finished windows.

Some of the windows reflect fun aspects of the season.

Others depict the reason for the season.

At this week's Advent prayer service, the pink candle was lit.

"Light the Advent candle three,
Think of heavenly harmony
Angels singing, 'Peace on Earth'
At the blessed Savior's birth."

On Monday, December 17th, Saint Martin de Porres School presented the second of three Christmas concerts, featuring a performance by the band as well as a nativity play with performances by members of grades 4 through 8.

Members of the school band gathered their instruments and sheet music from the parish lounge.

At the direction of Mrs. Bellino, the band members played "St. Nick's on the Housetop," "Silent Night," "March of the Kings," "Christmas Chimes," and "Rockin' Drummer Boy."

While the band played, the 8th grade students gathered in the center room to wait for their cue.

The shepherds make their way to the gymnasium . . .

. . . and they keep coming.

6th grade shepherds

4th grade shepherds

5th grade shepherds

7th grade shepherds

And so begins the story of the First Christmas . . .

One Solitary Life

He was born in an obscure village
The child of a peasant woman
He grew up in another obscure village
Where he worked in a carpenter shop
Until he was thirty

He never wrote a book
He never held an office
He never went to college
He never visited a big city
He never travelled more than two hundred miles
From the place where he was born
He did none of the things
Usually associated with greatness
He had no credentials but himself

He was only thirty three

His friends ran away
One of them denied him
He was turned over to his enemies
And went through the mockery of a trial
He was nailed to a cross between two thieves
While dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing
The only property he had on earth

When he was dead
He was laid in a borrowed grave
Through the pity of a friend

Nineteen centuries have come and gone
And today Jesus is the central figure of the human race
And the leader of mankind's progress
All the armies that have ever marched
All the navies that have ever sailed
All the parliaments that have ever sat
All the kings that ever reigned put together
Have not affected the life of mankind on earth
As powerfully as that one solitary life

Dr James Allan Francis © 1926

On Wednesday, December 19th, the students in the Pre-K 3, Pre-K 4 and both Kindergarten classes presented their Christmas concert for their parents and grandparents.

Sweet Baby Jesus

Sweet Baby, Jesus, gentle and mild
Born in a manger, sweet Holy Child,
Shepherds and Wise Men came from afar,
Seeking a Savior, they followed a star

Sweet Baby, Jesus, sent from above,
Son of our Father, gift of God's love,
In realms of glory, angels did sing
Heavens rejoiced as they welcomed a King.

Sweet Baby, Jesus, Mary's sweet Child,
Light of our life, sweet Babe so mild,
There in a manger, Thou art adored,
Jesus, we greet Thee, our Savior, our Lord.

Sweet Baby, Jesus, send peace to earth,
Lift up all hearts through Thy holy birth.
Now at Thy crib, as evening draws nigh,
Hear this our praises from earth to the skies.

Thursday, December 20th, was Polar Express Day. The students enjoyed cookies and hot chocolate topped with marshmallows and whipped cream, and they screened the Christmas movie, "The Polar Express," while snuggling on their blankets and pillows.

More photos will be uploaded over the next few days.

The final advent calendar was lit during the prayer service on Friday.

"Light the Advent candle four,
Think of joy forevermore
Christ child in a stable born,
Gift of love that Christmas morn.

Light the Christmas candles now,
Sing of donkey, sheep and cow.
Birthday candles for the King,
Let the Alleluias ring."

Following the Advent prayer service, the entire student body joined together to sing Christmas carols.

The head wear was very festive. Snowmen, reindeer, santas, and even Christmas trees adorned heads.

When the students at Saint Martin's sing "The Twelve Days of Christmas," the decibel level is off the charts each time they get to "five golden rings."

The Pre-K 3 students use their fingers to control the sound level.

For others, the excitement is so overwhelming, they sleep through all the singing.

"In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled.
2
This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3
So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town.
4
And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,
5
to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
6
While they were there, the time came for her to have her child,
7
and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8
Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock.
9
The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear.
10
The angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
11
For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord.
12
And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.'
13
And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:
14
'Glory to God in the highest
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.'”

The Gospel According to Luke


MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!