Potomac School Christmas Concert Community Tradition

POTOMAC - The annual Potomac School Holiday Program, also known as the Community Christmas Concert, was led by Potomac School Music Teacher Beth Ann Ryan, Dec. 16. Accompanying the singing on piano was Potomac resident and Potomac School "Grandma" Maureen Talbert.

More than 80 students participated in the program. Grades Kindergarten through sixth sang or signed songs like Way up High in the Christmas Tree, Up On the Housetop and Sign Language Jingle Bells.

The seventh and eighth grade girls' elective chimes class presented songs including Santa Bells, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Silent Night and Carol of the Bells.

The audience joined in and sang along during Silent Night. The chimes elective program is organized and led by Potomac teacher Sarah Schmill.

Ryan said the staff and she produced the program. "Everyone chips in to make it great," she said.

The lower grades began practicing in October while the seventh and eighth grade boys started with the decorating and backdrop. Other students also cut and painted and glued to create decorations for the festive evening.

"The upper grades did a tremendous amount of work for the program," Ryan said. "I couldn't have done a lot of the decorations without them."

The eighth-graders also sold Potomac School calendars during the concert with proceeds going towards their upcoming class trip to the Catalina Island Marine Institute.

Ryan thought the concert went well. "It was exactly how I had planned it [but] with better results that I thought," she said. 

Potomac School Principal Angie Williams said she enjoyed the concert and was pleased with the turnout. The Potomac/Greenough Community Center had more than 277 people in attendance including families and community members.