The Neilburg Composite School Christmas concert was held Dec. 15 in the gymnasium. Food for the needy was collected at the door.
The program began with a welcome from MCs Kristian Hiscock and Wyatt Marshall. O Canada was then sung, led by the Grade 1 and 2 students.
The kindergarten class presented a poem, Jack in the Box, and a song, This Little Toy, under the direction of their teacher, Ms. Allison Winsor.
The main item on the agenda was a musical presentation called Jingle All The Way, written by John Jacobson and John Higgins. Ethan Moir starred as Santa Claus and the role of Mrs. Claus was shared by Hannah Pratt and Jordan McGarry. The musical consisted of six songs, which were sung by the various grade levels. Grade 1 and 2 performed Jingle in My Heart to start things off. Grade 5 and 6 performed Whatever Happened to Christmas? Then the kindergarten and the Grade 3 and 4 students teamed up for Our Night to Shine. Colby Urlacher was the voice of a GPS system in the song SOS, which was sung by the Grade 1 and 2 and Grade 5 and 6 students. Ring the Bells of Christmas was rendered by the Grade 3 and 4 class before the grand finale - A Jingle in My Heart.
To conclude the program, the Grade 5 and 6 students sang Away in a Manger while the kindergarten students acted out the nativity play. Joseph was portrayed by Devon Whitney. Mary was Raegan Husch. Four angels were represented by Skylar Stewart, Taeya Wiens, McKenna Goodfellow and Dianne Dimaano. The three shepherds were: Isobel Ramsay-Mackenzie, Tavianna Moth, and Colton Jacquest. Kale Worman, Cooper Whitney and Edward Borja completed the cast as the three wise men from the east.
As the children left, they were able to meet with Santa Claus in the library. Each one had time to sit on his knee and to whisper in his ear what they wanted for Christmas, as their parents snapped photos to remember the occasion in the years to come.
Congratulations to Janice and Barry Peters on the birth of their fourth child, and second son, Garret Tyler. He was born Sept. 21 in Lloydminster and is a sibling for Carson, Emily and Chloe.
Sympathy is extended to Ivan Wiens and his family on the loss of his father, just before Christmas.
Sympathy is also extended to the family and friends of Alun Glenn Brown. Sadly, Alun passed away Oct. 22 at the age of 43, following a valiant battle with cancer. Although born in Swift Current, Alun was raised in the Neilburg area. He later relocated to Calgary and was employed with B & F Auto Electric since 1986. He was an avid golfer and curler. Music filled his life and he was a fully engaged movie and audiophile. Alun's warm demeanour, gracious heart and incredible sense of humour will be missed. He is survived by his loving wife, Marie-Chantal Proteau of Calgary; his parents, Gary and Shirley Brown of Vermilion, his brother David (Candis) Brown and his sister, Deborah Brown, as well as two nieces. The funeral was held at Christ Church Elbow Park Oct. 28. A tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park as a living memorial to Alun.
