Holiday Traditions
Here at NDA, we know how to Christmas! As soon as we welcome kids back from Thanksgiving break, we break out the Christmas trees, nativity scenes, and garland. The halls are decked (quite literally), and the trees are lit. To us, Christmas is a time of joy, reflection, and excitement. Decorating our school is just the beginning, though. Our staff and students lead and participate in many fun events and traditions that celebrate this season. Some have been around for ten or more years, while others are new or evolving.
Things our kids and staff look forward to every year:
Decorating Our School
A team of parents comes in the weekend before kids return to school from Thanksgiving break and goes all out! Trees in every hallway, the lunchroom, the office, and the teacher’s lounge. Garlands are strung, and Christmas countdowns are hung everywhere. The joy and anticipation start on the very first day of December.
Middle School Secret Santa
Our middle schoolers may draw names for Secret Santa in their advisories and bless each other with small gifts throughout December and at their Christmas party. It gets everyone in the giving spirit!
Christmas Boutique K-4
This is one of the holiday traditions here at NDA that goes back 10+ years. Every year, a team of parents transforms the basement of the church into a fully immersive Christmas-themed boutique with 1,000+ gifts for kids K-4 to shop for their families. Every gift is $1, and each child is allowed to pick up to 10 gifts for their family members. Then a rockstar lineup of volunteers helps each child wrap and address each package. The kids have so much fun, and years later, parents remember the gifts they received and how much the experience meant to them. Every gift is donated by families or community members. Eighth graders even get a chance to participate as “buddies” to their kindergarten counterparts. They help them shop and wrap. It’s a super fun time for everyone!
Santa’s Workshop
This much-cherished event is put on by the NDA staff. Designed for the younger kids here, there are crafts, catered dinner, music with dancing, and, of course, a visit and photos with the big man himself, Santa Claus. The whole school community comes together to create this fun holiday tradition that kids and parents love.
Christmas Pageant
What would the Christmas season be without a Christmas pageant? Every year, the third, fourth, and fifth-grade classes perform the Christmas story for the rest of the school and parish members. It’s an event that kids remember even when they are in high school years later. Third graders play the roles, fourth graders sing in the angel choir, and fifth graders get to practice their public speaking skills by taking turns narrating the whole story. Parents and grandparents love seeing their kiddos perform the story of Jesus’ birth.
The Christmas Concert!
The last event before break is, of course, the biggest and most exciting. Beginning in early November, Mrs. Wukmir and Mr. Bestler, our music teachers, start working with the kids from preschool to eighth grade to put together a 90-minute Christmas spectacular. Complete with band and vocal music, the kids sing their hearts out, and it’s always a full house. There are oftentimes special guests, solos, and even some dancing by our middle schoolers. It’s a great way to end the Christmas season at NDA! Watch the recording of this holiday tradition here.
As we wrap up our Christmas celebrations at Notre Dame Academy, it’s clear that this season is more than just decorations and events; it’s about building a sense of community, creating lasting memories, and sharing the joy of giving. Our holiday traditions, whether long-standing or newly established, bring our students, staff, and families closer together, fostering a spirit of togetherness and reflection. Each activity, from the Secret Santa exchanges to the grand Christmas Concert, highlights the values of generosity, creativity, and joy that we cherish here at NDA. We are grateful for the enthusiastic participation and support from everyone in our community, and we look forward to continuing these beloved traditions for many years to come. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all of us at Notre Dame Academy!