There’s nothing that says Christmas quite like a group of toddlers in adorable candy cane outfits.
Precious Stones preschool and after-school program held a Christmas play that acted out favorite holiday traditions and a Nativity on Thursday, Dec. 8.
Parents, grandparents and more gathered to see the kids perform inside Rock of Ages Lutheran Church, which is the church under which the school is run.
Though the speaking lines were taken mainly by the adult church members, the children came up in organized groups to dance or act out their specific scene. In addition to candy cane children, there were stars, the wise men, Mary and Joseph and at the end a real baby playing Jesus — carried by an adult version of Mary.
There were two shepherds from the afterschool program who stayed brave by employing “ninja skills.”
Lead teacher Phyllis Dixon said that the whole church community came together to help put on the play.
“The biggest thing for me is getting the idea,” Dixon said of organizing the event. “God just gave me the vision of the hallelujah Christmas.”
Dixon looked into getting music as early as September, breaking the play into eight scenes.
The community pitched in, with her husband building the manger and face painting provided by Jean Nixon. A photographer was hired to create a slideshow and coffee cans were collected for all the little drummers.
“We pulled a lot from the community,” she said. She added that the parents were quite helpful as well, and before the play their was a small networking effort for the business owners of the parents.
Dixon also noted the work director Marla Sutclisse has done for the school and said she would not have had time to put on the play without her.
The children learned their roles through steady repetition in their classes and in Bible clubs.
“What goes into it is that, No. 1, developing that love relationship with each child,” she said. Then, it boils down to practice.
Dixon’s daughter, who is 12, choreographed a dance as well, where the youngsters stepped in unison.
The preschool and after-school program are accepting new members. Call Precious Stones at (928) 282-4091 or stop by the office off Dry Creek Road.
