Wrapping up 2015 with fun and cheer

Ending the year with holiday cheer, the Lawrence Woodmere Academy (LWA) community comes together forming a close-knit bond between the students and teachers who all join in to prepare for the holidays. Students, faculty and staff walk around with their festive Christmas sweaters, which have become a tradition at the school.
Sing-alongs have also become a tradition for students and faculty at LWA. In the morning of the last day before break, the faculty sings carols in the front hall until first period starts. Had visitors stepped through the front doors on the last day of school before winter break, they would have heard the joyous strains of “Jingle Bells,” “Frosty the Snowman” and “I Have A Little Dreidel.” Students entering the school in the morning love it.
Another annual tradition at LWA is the big sing-along at the end of the day before the kids are dismissed. Students sing carols alongside their peers and teachers. This year, students took over as the masters-of-ceremony. Led by their peers, the entire student body, from Pre-K to 12th grade, gathered in the school’s auditorium to sing together with music director, Alex Altieri, playing the piano and Head of School, Alan Bernstein, on the saxophone. The dance club performs to a holiday song combining various styles from hip-hop and ballet. This year, students danced to a hip-hop variation of the “Nutcracker.” Dance club president, Lauren Cruz, choreographed the dance and made it fun for everyone. The crowd was wowed when the lights shut off and colorfully glittering lights appeared on stage. All the dancers wore gloves with LEDs on the fingers. “It was exciting to watch and very original – it was so unexpected!” said fellow student, Arianne Philemy.
Throughout the day, students exchanged gifts with their friends and teachers, revealing how grateful they are for one another. The cards and gifts helped to take everyone’s minds off of approaching midterms. Different clubs held bake sales to raise money and sold candy grams for students to give to their friends. Some favorites were homemade chocolate chip cookies, red velvet cupcakes and warm, gooey brownies. There were a number of ways that LWA raised money for the outside community. A school-wide fundraiser associated with the US Marine Corps known as Toys for Tots provided gifts and toys for the less fortunate. After reading “The Mitten Tree,” a children’s book by Candace Christiansen, lower school students donated warm clothes, mittens and scarves to kids in need at Jacobi Medical Center. LWA wrapped up 2015 with fun, while sharing the holiday spirit.