For the first time in six years St George’s CoE Primary School in Langton Matravers near Swanage is holding a second evening performance of its nativity and inviting local residents to come along.
This will mark the first time that the school has been able to be in nearby St George’s Church at Christmas for three years due to Covid restrictions.
Mary and Joseph by the traditional crib scene in the church
Allowed back in the church for Christmas
In 2020 the school nativity was performed on Zoom and in 2021 in the playground with a limited number of parents and close relatives.
But this year the children are back in their local church and are putting on two performances on Monday 12th December 2022.
The first is in the afternoon for parents and the second is at 5.30 pm for parents, friends and the wider local community.
The open invitation is expected to be warmly welcome after the last few years when events like this could not happen due to the pandemic.
The whole school of 90 children are taking part and have been rehearsing hard in the church.
The whole school takes part
All have worked hard to learn their lines: Back left to right: Snowflake played by Rowan, Snowflake played by Maddison, Shepherd played by Albie, Mary played by Erin, Joseph played by Jasper; Front left to right: Angel played by Elowen and Whoops-a-Daisy Angel played by Madeline
“We pride ourselves on our family feel”
The school’s headteacher Katy Astle said:
“It’s the first time in six years that we are holding an evening performance of our nativity and after the last few years we thought it would be nice to welcome everyone to come and see the children perform their modern take on the nativity called Whoops-a-daisy Angel. They’ll also be poems, prayers and Christmas carols.
“We pride ourselves on our family feel within the school, with everybody looking out for each other. Also important are our links to the wider community within our beautiful surroundings.”
Two little snowflakes glowing under the church’s heaters!
“Eat, breathe and live the nativity performance until Christmas!”
Producing and directing this year’s nativity is Hannah Bower who teaches reception and year one pupils and has been at the school for eight years. She said:
“We start rehearsing after the October half term and then it’s just a question of eat, breathe and live the nativity performance until Christmas!
“Everyone who wants a talking part gets at least a line and they are encouraged to work out what roles and lines they want. But we don’t force anyone who doesn’t want to speak. We also have our own musical band with pupils playing guitar, violin and ukulele.
“They’ve all worked really hard this term and it’s going to be good, especially now that we are back in the church, which is lovely.”
The school’s new headteacher Katy Astle
“Advantage of small class sizes”
The headteacher Katy Astle was appointed to her role in September 2022 but she’s been at the school since April 2021, first as the deputy head and then as acting head.
Having taught since 2004 she is very passionate about ensuring that all the children achieve their full potential. She said:
“As a small primary school we have the advantage of small class sizes, with about 20 children to each teacher, which is a real positive and allows for more individual support.
“Years two, five and six each have their own class, while reception and year one work together, as do year three and four. This encourages the older ones to support the younger ones and there are good relationships between the children and staff too.
“Art and music is something we do really well here and we were delighted to recently come runner up in the primary school category of the Dorset Art Prize for our work on the theme of conveying messages.
The school was quite surprised to do so well against all the other schools across Dorset and was very pleased to receive a prize of £250.
The school was delighted to come second in a Dorset-wide art competition and the work was put on show at Upton Country Park
“Inspired the children”
Katy Astle added:
“We like to bring creativity into other lessons and recently we had a day when we all dressed up and pretended that there had been an alien invasion.
“We had a spaceship in the playground and this inspired the children to write some very creative prose – they all came up with some very good ideas and it was great fun!
St George’s CoE school takes children from the local village of Langton Matravers but also attracts students from Swanage, Harmans Cross and Worth Matravers.
Two little angels who can’t wait for Christmas Day!
Further information
- The school nativity is at St George’s Church in Langton Matravers High Street from 5.30 pm on Monday 12th December 2022.
- Anyone who wishes to find out more about the school for their child is welcome to contact the school office via its website
The school is in the High Street in Langton Matravers near Swanage in Dorset
