The First Presbyterian Nursery School hold mini concert for parents to celebrate Palm Day.
By: Matthew Kirdahy
The children at the First Presbyterian Nursery School on South Main Street embraced the arrival of Jesus on Monday in song.
Waving palms and parading around the First Presbyterian Church sanctuary, the 3- to 5-year-old students performed a miniconcert for their parents in a Palm Day celebration.
"We’ve been practicing for a month," said Nursery School Director Janice Parker. "We brought the kids in for a rehearsal and talked to them about Palm Sunday. Then we turned the sanctuary into Jerusalem. And in the next few days we’ll tell the story of Easter."
All 144 students at the nursery school participate in this Palm Day event, which Ms. Parker said the school has been holding for about seven years. Monday afternoon, it was the children’s moment to shine.
"The kids like the songs," Ms. Parker said. "They really enjoy singing and it’s cute to watch with all their different movements. "
Parents were invited to watch the miniconcert, which was held in the church sanctuary.
From their classrooms, the students walked into "Jerusalem" singing "Praise Him, Praise Him All You Little Children." Music instructor Dorothy Klotzbeacher led the song on piano.
"I think it’s that this is the parents’ favorite program," Ms. Parker said. "I like it especially because it ties in the Christian nursery school and the Christian holidays."
Ms. Parker said that the secret to getting the young kids to understand the holiday and the meaning of their celebration is bringing the theme to their level.
She said the celebration heralding the arrival of Jesus to Jerusalem was like a parade, but not like one you might see on Thanksgiving.
"There are no floats because when Jesus was here on Earth we waved palms to celebrate and that’s how parades were," Ms. Parker said she told the students. "If you bring it to their terms and relate it to them, they understand."