The students of class 11.C gave their caroling performance today, which they had planned, organized, and rehearsed all on their own. All their homeroom teacher and I did was give them time to prepare it; they handled all the rest. In accordance with our annual tradition, they went from room to room, performing it for different classes and for the faculty. I watched five of the performances. They were spirited, well danced, well sung (the singing was recorded in advance, because of Covid restrictions), and full of humor and goodwill.
That was most of the day for me; in the remaining time, I had conversations with my classes, but Tuesday is a short day for me anyway. Then, in the afternoon, we had a lovely faculty celebration. Several faculty and staff members were honored, the principal spoke kindly to us, we greeted each other at a reception, and then we all headed down to the school lunchroom for a tasty meal.
At the end of the evening, there were gift bags waiting for each of us. Each year we receive a gift bag for the holidays, but this one had a special element: a personalized “Christmas passport” made for each of us, with a collection of anonymous positive comments about us from our colleagues. Somehow I overlooked the announcement that these comments were being collected; I would have had a lot to say about others! But the comments I received were so warm and heartening, they give a lift to the holidays and the new year. Thank you, all of you. I am so honored to be working with you.
I think back on 2017 and 2018, when we had our most recent Christmas concerts, organized by the music teacher, Andrea Barnáné Bende, and held in the Református Templom. Those were glowing events, filled with student performances—choral music, guitar, other instruments—and a faculty number or two. Here we are singing “Hymne a la nuit” at the December 2017 concert. It was a great welcome to the school.
In 2018, the faculty song was in Hungarian, “Karácsonyi álom,” and we had a few students singing with us too. I was so excited to do this that I memorized the song and practiced it a lot. But I had no idea that a surprise had been planned. You will see what I mean.
In 2019, everyone was so busy that there wasn’t time to prepare a concert like this. Then came Covid. But this year, even without a concert or live singing, we had celebrations that brought us together. As before, there was a genuineness and beauty to them. Thanks to everyone for this.
Take Away the Takeaway 
veronikakisfalvi4972
/ December 21, 2021Thank you for this wonderful post, so needed in these dark times. I especially appreciated the last video (from 2018), with all those pinpoints of light at the end, on this, the shortest day of the year. So beautiful! Best wishes!
Diana Senechal
/ December 21, 2021Thank you, Vera!