If you’re an Early Years Carramar parent you’ve probably made a recent trip to Big W or Kmart to purchase a white or black t-shirt. This errand on your to do list is just a small part of the behind-the-scenes preparation for the highly anticipated Early Years Nativity, performed for families by our Kindy to Year 2 students on the Monday and Tuesday in the last week of school.
The Early Years Nativity has a long history at St Stephen’s School Carramar, “I’ve been here for 17 years, and it’s been going the entire time, it’s changed and evolved, it’s now a full production style.” shares Year 1 Teacher and Early Years Coordinator Felicity Clay.
A little digging into school history from our Primary Teacher Librarian, Mrs Sue Oliver, reveals the tradition goes back even further, right to the opening of the Carramar campus. The event is credited to the founding Head of Primary, Dr Phil Ridden, who brought the cherished cultural celebration with him from the Duncraig campus.
Over the course of 24 years the Nativity tradition at Carramar has grown to what it is today with each year group being assigned a key role, “Every year the Kindy kids are Angels, Pre-Primary are Shepherds, Year 1’s are Kings and the Year 2’s get the casting roles.” explains Mrs Clay.
Planning for the nativity begins in Term 3 when the Nativity Committee come together, this year it includes Ms Hotchkin, Mrs Doig, Ms Vorster and Mrs Clay. Every year a staff member writes the script and in 2025 the Year 2’s will pose as newsreaders informing their viewers of the breaking news that Christ our saviour is born.
Whilst our students engage in weekly rehearsals, learning their lines and carols, the nativity committee prepare costumes and builds sets, “The great thing is it’s all-hands-on deck, it’s a community endeavour” says Mrs Clay. It’s also a family endeavour with Mrs Clay’s cousin, a stage designer at Crown Theatre generously donating a new stable for the performance and assisting with the stage design in 2025.
“The nativity play is a great opportunity for children who are budding young actors or actresses to practice those skills without pressure. No-one is forced to perform it’s just about giving kids an opportunity” explains Mrs Clay. In addition to ensuring our kids won’t have public speaking fears the annual nativity play is a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together, “it’s so special to welcome grandparents and extended family to the performances. It’s a time that enables people to pause and remember the true meaning of Christmas.”
If you’re a Kindy or Pre-Primary family, we look forward to welcoming you to watch the performance on Monday, December 1 at 9am. If you’re a Year 1 or 2 family, we invite you to come along on Tuesday, December 2 at 9am.
A heartfelt thank you to the staff, parents, and volunteers who pour time, skill, and love into making the Nativity possible each year and to our young thespians, break a leg!
