The Boothbay Region Elementary School gym was almost standing room only as parents, family members, friends and neighbors waited for the K-4 holiday concert to begin.

Excitement began to build as the children took their places on the stage, one class at a time; camera phones also began popping up in the audience.

After BRES Principal Mark Tess, festively crowned with a Santa hat, welcomed everyone, the concert kicked off with the kindergarten singing “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,” accompanied by music teacher Genie O’Connell on piano. 

Following the song about everyone’s favorite, though not needed every year, reindeer Rudolph, Tess welcomed a special guest for the rest of the show, none other than the North Pole’s Number One Elf, the one who rides the skies with that team of eight .... Santa Claus himself. And, considering Christmas Eve was just two days away, it was quite lucky Santa was able to get to the show. 

The first grade class sang “All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth” — and judging by their reactions, some of the other BRES students seated nearby could relate! This group was then joined by the kindergarten and second grade for “Jingle Bells.”

The second grade class did a charming “Must Be Santa” with handheld props — a Santa hat, yellow star (for a special night), a white beard ... you get the idea, particularly if you know the song.

Toby LeConte’s students played “Silver Bells” with  handheld bells. After the applause, the third grade brought up the energy level with “Deck the Halls” and  “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.”

The fourth grade was accompanied on piano by Jennifer Lassen for “Where Are You Christmas?” The second grade joined the fourth grade for “When Christmas Comes To Town.”

The concert ended on a happy holiday note with the children leading a sing-a-long with their audience, starting with “Up On a Housetop” and ending with “We Wish You A Merry Christmas!”