Mother Emma McNally ignores her children's constant questions and requests during the skit "Hey, Mom!" Children (L-R): Loryn Neudecker, Silas Hessler, William Applegate, Matilda Hessler (back), Mabel Hessler and Alexandria Lapka.
During the skit "The Elf Who Ruined Christmas," Holly Hazelnut (Loryn Neudecker) spills the beans that Elf Folly Flakester (Matilda Hessler) ripped Santa's magic Christmas bag. The rest of the elves react in shock. Mrs. Claus (Emma McNally) calmly replied "Don't worry. It is easily fixed with my magic needle and thread."
During a segment of "North Pole News," Jolly (Land Neudecker) shows that kindness still exists as Jill (Alexandria Lapka) and Jane (Mabel Hessler) exchange gifts.
During a "word from our sponsors," Crazy Hank (Angela Williams) was selling used Christmas trees. Here William Applegate holds a 2015 model Christmas tree being sold for $2. Crazy Hank told potential customers that this was a no mess, no fuss option since there were no needles to fall on the floor. At the end of the commercial Crazy Hank said, "Stop by Crazy Hank's Used Christmas Trees where the trees are literally 'on fire.'"
During a segment of "North Pole News," anchors Hal (Kyle deRonnebeck) and Gal (Emma McNally) interview Miss Hap (Abby deRonnebeck) about an unfortunate wreck she had with her sleigh full of gifts. As she is sharing the trauma she endured, her rescuer, the Abominable Snowman (William Applegate), appeared with the gifts.
Announcers Bobsled Costas (Land Neudecker) and Frostbite Snowflake (Loryn Neudecker) give the play-by-play during the Reindeer Games. In this match, Faline (Sawyer Hessler) was the clear winner against Prancer (Silas Hessler).
The students from the big room at Ovando School shared a Christmas Rap during the production. Pictured (L-R): Sawyer Hessler, Abby deRonnebeck, Kyle deRonnebeck, Land Neudecker and Emma McNally.
Matilda Hessler sits at her computer compositing a letter to Santa. Her siblings Silas and Sawyer also shared monologue letters to Santa intermixed with other skits.
Snowman Kyle deRonnebeck and his sister reindeer Abby deRonnebeck provided little quips of humor throughout the production with their Knock-Knock Jokes and other stories.
OVANDO – Despite the challenges presented by COVID and a shorter-than-usual time frame between Thanksgiving and winter break, Ovando students hosted their annual Christmas Program Dec. 17. The students rose to the challenge and gave their immediate families some comic relief during the hustle and bustle of the season.
Ovando School Teacher Leigh Ann Valiton explained this year's production "Christmas Shorts" written by Lucy Williams was a series of short skits, with slap-stick humor, much like a Saturday Night Live show.
This style allowed the students to perform in small groups where they could be spaced out on stage to maintain distance. When students were in close proximity for the duration of the skit, they were often paired with their siblings.
Despite attendance being limited to immediate family only, the Ovando School gym was filled with laughter and applause following the opening skit where Santa, played by Kyle deRonnebeck, and Mrs. Claus, played by Emma McNally, discussed the importance of his Christmas shorts, aka underwear.
The program continued by incorporating humor and word-plays to share news and stories from the North Pole. Between the skits and songs, attendees enjoyed monologue letters to Santa from the Hessler family, knock-knock jokes from the deRonnebeck siblings, a movie trailer for "Santa Claus, the Movie" and a couple advertisements for a local lawyer's "Christmas Pain Extra – get the Christmas money you deserve" and "Crazy Hank's Used Christmas Trees." Amidst the humor and fun, the production wove in more serious messages about sharing the holiday spirit, kindness and goodwill towards others.
"We have had a lot of fun and I've very proud of the students," said Valiton. "They have worked really, really hard."
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