‘Twas the Week Before Christmas (At Dewberry School)
(Adapted from the original poem, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas)
Written by Susanna Pankiw
Twas the week before Christmas, as happened for many weeks before,
The students were greeted by the Breakfast Club as they stepped through the door.
They enjoyed some friendly conversation and a nutritious meal.
In hopes that the classrooms would soon be overflowing with zeal.
The Snow Angels were all dressed in winter gear, from head to toe,
And shovels in hands were ready to go.
Weekdays and weekends, even through the cold and in the snow
They cleared the walks, with a twinkling of their wings and cheeks all aglow.
When Old Man Winter blew out a frigid sigh,
And the elementary students were stuck inside, they didn’t bat an eye.
They sprang across the hall in a flash,
To join Mr. Lancaster’s Just Dance party bash.
The sun not quite peeping through the clouds onto the icy snow,
Gave the sparkle of morning to the objects below.
When, what to our wondering eyes should appear,
But two sleighs drawn by horses, and drivers spreading the holiday cheer.
With the cold nipping at their nose,
The children sat atop the bales on the sleighs all bundled in their winter clothes.
They toured around town with a giggle and a jingle,
Finally stopping to enjoy some hot lunch and time to mingle.
Later, they were concert practice bound,
Rehearsals, guitar performances and songs were the only sound,
Heard from the classrooms, hallways and every nook and hollow,
Heard by everyone, even the chimney swallow.
As the end of the week came near,
A hustle and a bustle and a scratching and a scritching were all you could hear,
From students furiously completing assignments and tests,
To the Secret Santas leaving gifts, to noone’s protests.
On the last day before Christmas break,
The smell of pancakes filled the air and tables were packed with goodies that were baked.
Christmas music echoed down the hall
As the students and staff shared their laughter and Christmas cheer, I do recall.
Soon the gym was crowded with family members and friends
They listened to the carols and tunes bursting with joyous blends.
Enjoying all the little Whos in Whoville,
As they showed the Grinch some goodwill.
They even observed the “Christmas Present” being shoplifted by joyless strangers,
Only to be reminded that the “key to holiday hope lie in the gift God sent us”; the babe in a manger.
Their festive production ended on a happy note,
With a visit from the jolly man in a red coat.
The children all scrambled to sit on his knee,
To whisper in his ear, “Please bring me...”
When he was sure he heard every last wish,
A gift to each child appeared from his bag with a swish.
He sprang through the doors, and he gave a whistle,
And away he flew like the down of a thistle,
But we all heard him exclaim, as he ran out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”
(Adapted from the original poem, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas)
Written by Susanna Pankiw
Twas the week before Christmas, as happened for many weeks before,
The students were greeted by the Breakfast Club as they stepped through the door.
They enjoyed some friendly conversation and a nutritious meal.
In hopes that the classrooms would soon be overflowing with zeal.
The Snow Angels were all dressed in winter gear, from head to toe,
And shovels in hands were ready to go.
Weekdays and weekends, even through the cold and in the snow
They cleared the walks, with a twinkling of their wings and cheeks all aglow.
When Old Man Winter blew out a frigid sigh,
And the elementary students were stuck inside, they didn’t bat an eye.
They sprang across the hall in a flash,
To join Mr. Lancaster’s Just Dance party bash.
The sun not quite peeping through the clouds onto the icy snow,
Gave the sparkle of morning to the objects below.
When, what to our wondering eyes should appear,
But two sleighs drawn by horses, and drivers spreading the holiday cheer.
With the cold nipping at their nose,
The children sat atop the bales on the sleighs all bundled in their winter clothes.
They toured around town with a giggle and a jingle,
Finally stopping to enjoy some hot lunch and time to mingle.
Later, they were concert practice bound,
Rehearsals, guitar performances and songs were the only sound,
Heard from the classrooms, hallways and every nook and hollow,
Heard by everyone, even the chimney swallow.
As the end of the week came near,
A hustle and a bustle and a scratching and a scritching were all you could hear,
From students furiously completing assignments and tests,
To the Secret Santas leaving gifts, to noone’s protests.
On the last day before Christmas break,
The smell of pancakes filled the air and tables were packed with goodies that were baked.
Christmas music echoed down the hall
As the students and staff shared their laughter and Christmas cheer, I do recall.
Soon the gym was crowded with family members and friends
They listened to the carols and tunes bursting with joyous blends.
Enjoying all the little Whos in Whoville,
As they showed the Grinch some goodwill.
They even observed the “Christmas Present” being shoplifted by joyless strangers,
Only to be reminded that the “key to holiday hope lie in the gift God sent us”; the babe in a manger.
Their festive production ended on a happy note,
With a visit from the jolly man in a red coat.
The children all scrambled to sit on his knee,
To whisper in his ear, “Please bring me...”
When he was sure he heard every last wish,
A gift to each child appeared from his bag with a swish.
He sprang through the doors, and he gave a whistle,
And away he flew like the down of a thistle,
But we all heard him exclaim, as he ran out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”