A Ripple of Hope

Due to Covid 19 and all the restrictions pertaining to social distancing and occupancy numbers, we knew early this past Fall that the Singing Christmas Tree would not be happening in 2020.   Because of the fact that these kids have missed out on so much already due to Covid, the school and the choir board worked frantically to come up with something that could "kind of" replace the Tree experience.  They hoped that postponing the concert until March of 2021 and setting up the Tree and rebranding the concert as "The Tree of Hope" would happen - unfortunately due to the venue not allowing more than 100 people inside (which wouldn't even cover the number of kids in the tree) that idea had to be scrapped and they went back to the drawing board.  They came up with "The Ripple of Hope" which was a concert held in the school's Sailor Center with the choir on one side of the bleachers and socially distanced limited audience on the other side. 

It didn't quite match the Tree experience, but it was something, and these kids really needed something. 

Trent helped out backstage and I told him to take pictures of Evan and his friends.  Grad boards are coming up.  I can hardly even fathom that. 

They processed in to their traditional Tree song of "Siyahamba"which was emotional.   It brought me back to times pre-Covid, when things were so much simpler. 

The show was great as it always is.  The talent of these kids is outstanding.  The concert was so necessary to spark just a little bit of hope in a long stretch of disappointments. 

Evan and his guys sextet group sang Elton John's "I'm Still Standing" as one of the breakout acts. 

Because of the limited number of tickets sold, they decided to live stream the show on Sunday evening.  Our tickets were for the Saturday show so we got to watch at home on Sunday.  It is always a funny experience to see your kids on "TV".  

I am always amazed and forever grateful for all our school administrators and teachers are doing to try and make things as normal as possible for our kids.  They will forever be heroes of this pandemic.