Last Day of School Pastorela

Today is our last day of school. And the kids have a play to put on. Laurel is calm, cool and collected, but Bryce is showing signs of upcoming stage fright as we get them ready for school in the morning. Plus the emotions of leaving our new friends shortly are probably affecting Bryce, too. This is going to be a big day.

The second grade play is a pastorela - a re-enactment of Joseph and Mary's quest to find a place to stay when Jesus was being born. In town, they have posadas, where people open up their houses and invite groups of strangers in to pray, and then to receive food and candy. The school is great about following in the local traditions, and this fits perfectly.

The second graders have been chosen to be the shepherds, Joseph, Mary and the gang. Laurel got to be Mary, which is a pretty plum part. Bryce in all his cuteness got to be a sheep. He is a darling sheep, too. For the show, the second graders go around to all of the classrooms, asking to be let in to spend the night. All the classrooms deny them entry, until they reach the dome classroom where they are taken in. A song accompanies each episode. It's pretty cute.

Laurel/Mary was supposed to be riding a real donkey throughout all of this, but unfortunately the donkey was sick. Bummer. That would have made for a great Kodak moment.

Once inside the dome, the second graders do a ten minute play. Earlier that day, Bryce was teased by some of the first graders about his costume, and given all the emotions and his stage fright, makes him a bit of a wreck. Nevertheless, he rallies and does his sheep part like he's supposed to. Laurel basically has to look stoic. Neither one of them has any lines, but they do sing. For a grand finale, all the second graders play a song on the recorder. The play went well.

Afterward, Maestra Catalina has the group play a goodbye song for Bryce and Laurel, and acknowledges our whole family. That was really nice.


Laurel as Mary


Bryce the Frightened Sheep


Bryce rallies and plays the recorder

After the play, they had piñatas for each grade, and hot cider for the parents.

When the school day had ended, we went to the Xote water park with Sam and Anne, Liz and Fernando, Debra and all their kids. Then to a microbrewery for dinner and beer. It was relaxing, and the kids all had a great time playing.

It was a really nice way to end the school year. And I'm sure it's a day both kids will remember for a long time.