The Teachers: Keeping Christmas Fresh

Children across the country sing in holiday pageants, raising their voices to “Jingle Bells” and ”Winter Wonderland.”

For teachers, it's the same thing year after year, and as such, they try to find a moment, an observation to make things seem new again.

At this year, it took one unnamed little boy to help teachers Laura Bradford and Linda Litrenta focus on why they have helped organize campus Christmas programs for years.

A Silver Strand staffer, John Coolidge, overheard the boy and his mother talking to an administrator last week about how Friday morning's Christmas show would be recorded and featured on the school's web page.

His father is away, like so many other parents at the school, because of his military commitment. The boy paused, as an idea struck. He could barely contain himself.

“Mom, does that mean Dad will get to see me at Christmas?” he asked. 

Bradford, a tough woman tasked with corralling the energy of every class performing at Silver Strand's production, broke down when she heard the story.

“I cried, flat out,” she said.

The emotion won't stop there. Litrenta, who will accompany the young singers on piano, finds her unique perspective, from stage right, allows her to view the performers' faces, along with their parents' reactions.

“That's what brings me joy,” she said. 

Bradford and Litrenta are two of Coronado Patch's 12 People of Christmas, business people and celebrants whose work and hobbies give them a unique perspective on the holidays. Watch in the coming days as we talk to more people who offer their take on the holidays and advice for how to make it through this busy time.