Students dazzle at Dodson Christmas Concert

The Dodson School Christmas concert last Thursday featured 12 songs, lots of holiday cheer and a surprise visit by Jolly Old St. Nick.

During the opening of the concert, Dodson Schools Superintendent Gary Weitz welcomed the crowd in the school’s gym and promised a great showcase. Shortly into his speech, Weitz got an unexpected phone call from a crowd favorite.

“Hello…it’s Santa,” Weitz informed the crowd. “Yes, we are looking forward to you coming tonight…I will let them know.”

Weitz said Santa told him he was currently in Malta, on his way to Dodson, but he was having a slight problem with his slay.

“He said he will be here a little bit later,” Weitz reported. “He’s got my direct number.”

The nights songs -- led by Dodson music teacher Melissa Henry -- featured Santa Clause Is Coming to Town and Peppermint Candy Cane by the kindergarten and first grade class, Frosty the Snowman by the second and third grade class, Turn Off That Nose and Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree by the fourth and fifth grade class, Have a Holly Jolly Christmas and Deck the Rooftops by the sixth grade while the middle school sang Sleigh Ride, performed Oh Come All Ye Faithful on recorders and Little Drummer Boy on Native flutes.

Several of the high school students followed the younger children on stage with a rendition of Jingle Bell Rock which featured Shaun Bell on bass and Kailee Henry on drums with the vocal stylings of Donna Dale, Jasper Doney and Kyla Racine.

Following a slide show presentation by the student council, all the students again took to the stage for the final song of the night, Feliz Navidad.

"We have grown as a school even since last year," Mrs. Henry told the audience. "To the point that this year, we can't even fit all the K-through-8 students on the stage at the same time. That is a good thing."

With that, as promised, Santa made his appearance and gave gifts to all the children.