Traditions are special. Sometimes they are longstanding events we honor, and sometimes they are born from first time experiences that bring joy and connection. For Woodlands High School students and Richard J. Bailey Elementary students, ’tis the season for giving through performance and service.
Key Club and Woodlands High School chorus members have been bringing holiday cheer to the Greenburgh Senior Center for many years through their annual winter concert. The performance is beloved by students and seniors alike. “This event is about bringing together the community and school,” said WHS senior Elizabeth. “The attendees are always so nice and welcoming, and filled with holiday spirit. This is my last year, and I am going to miss it.” For classmate Courtney Cruz, what makes the event especially meaningful is the act of service. “It feels good to do good. It is nice to give back to the community.”
The holiday concert is equally well loved by community members, as evidenced by the quick sell out of all 100 seats and the line that forms well before the doors open. Marionette and Mildred were among the first in line. “I really enjoy the performances. It is wonderful to have students here,” said Marionette. Mildred agreed, adding, “It is really nice to see the youth involved with the community.” Following the chorus performance, Key Club members spent time engaging with seniors while offering coffee, tea, and water.
Younger Falcons stepped into the footsteps of their older mentors with an inaugural winter concert performance at the Theodore D. Young Community Center. The basketball gymnasium was festively decorated, as were the senior attendees and, of course, the elementary students themselves. The joy in the room was undeniable as the chorus voices filled the space. At one table, a spectator could be heard describing the students’ singing as “wonderful.”
“This is the first year we have performed at the community center,” said Ms. Buckhout. “We are hoping this will be the first of many more to come.”
At the conclusion of the spirited caroling, Deputy Commissioner David Reggina praised the students for their performance and shared with the crowd, “This is a wonderful opportunity to teach our youth the importance of giving, love, and service. As a community, we support and guide them right from the start.”