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More Joyful
At Mayfield we are proud to be a joyful community. There is joy in teaching, learning, playing, sharing our gifts and being together. This joy increases ten-fold in December. Call it holiday spirit or Christmas magic – there is a little extra something in our smiles and steps from the first lighting of the Advent wreath to the Christmas Prayer service before students leave for break. Family Christmas cards adorn desks and walls, special holiday treats are delivered, gifts are collected for those in need and many cherished traditions rekindle memories while creating new.
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Music and the arts fill the campus with sweet voices and merry images. Pastel drawings of Magi, Holy Family Triptychs and jolly paper mâche elves add festive color to classrooms and display cases. Rehearsals of holiday songs manifest as extraordinary concerts. The first and second grade Holiday Concert brings families to campus for an informal celebration early in the month to kick off the season. A more formal concert highlights the many talents of students in grades 3-8 in glorious moments within the grand setting of St. Andrew Church. The Mother Mary Christmas Luncheon transforms the gymnasium into a merry setting for a holiday party and marks a milestone moment for our eighth graders as they attend with parents as special guests.
Probably the most beloved of our holiday traditions is the Kindergarten Christmas Nativity Play. First performed in 1935, under the patient guidance of Mother Mary Bede, this retelling of the Christmas story by the youngest members of the student body delights parents and grandparents every year and can easily spark memories for the many alumni who once took the stage as angel, shepherd or king.
While these wonderful traditions and festive activities keep us busy throughout the month, there is also the opportunity to reach out to those less fortunate. Wish lists from Good Shepherd Shelter families are fulfilled each year by School Families, senior living residences are visited by cheerful youth and special collections overflow.
All these events themselves, however, while beautifully executed and immensely enjoyed, are not the only things that contribute to the palpable increase of joy. That comes from experiencing these traditions as a community and finding peace in the many small moments the season brings: Third graders leading a prayer service, reading Christmas stories aloud in the library, singing Silent Night together. As a Holy Child school, this is our season and we look to this special time to bring us peace and guide us as we move forward into a new year.
May the light of the Holy Child sign upon you this Christmas and bring more joy to all in 2020.
Mayfield Junior School
405 South Euclid Avenue, Pasadena, California 91101 626.796.2774
Located in Pasadena, California, Mayfield Junior School of the Holy Child Jesus is a K-8 Catholic coeducational private school. Our kindergarten, elementary school, and middle school experience best prepares students for high school education and beyond.
