With the holiday season just around the corner, the North Ridge Elementary Honor Choir decided to embark on a journey around the community to spread the holiday spirit. The honor choir is made up of fourth and fifth graders, and directed by Francis Smith, the music teacher at North Ridge.  

On Friday, December 8, the honor choir students regaled the Frenship Central Office staff with Christmas songs. The students showed off their personalities and talents as they performed several songs for the office staff. The holiday spirit could be felt throughout the room as staff clapped along as the students sang.  

Frenship staff were not the only ones to enjoy the North Ridge Honor Choir performance. The group also caroled at Walmart on 82nd and Milwaukee, Brookdale Assisted Living, Vision Affiliates/Visionmart, and People's Bank on 82nd. 

While Smith is new to Frenship, she has been taking her student Christmas caroling since she started teaching music. Smith led the students through fun holiday songs such as "Here Comes the Snow", "Rock the Holly", "Hip Hop Elves", "Rock-n-Roll Snowman", "Winter Fantasy", "A Hawaiian Christmas" and "We Wish You A Merry Christmas".   

The students had a blast caroling around the community. Smith mentioned that the students were a bit nervous at the first location, but quickly gained confidence as they started to sing. “They loved seeing the reactions of the people listening to them,” said Smith. “The joy and smiles on both the kids and the customers' faces made my heart happy.”  

Smith told her students that they were going out to spread joy to the community. The students experienced that sense of joy at Walmart when the customers started to gather, a feeling that continued throughout the day.  

One of the stops along the caroling tour was the Brookdale Assisted Living Center. This stop was extra special as the students stayed around after their performance to mingle with the residents. “I love to take my choir caroling because it shows them how much they can get from volunteering in their community,” said Smith.  

The nursing home was extremely thankful because the residents loved to see children singing Christmas songs. “The kids tell me about their experience and how happy it made them feel to put a smile on the residents' faces,” said Smith. All of the students made Christmas cards to hand out to someone in the audience. Most of the students saved their cards for the residents of Brookdale.  

At the end of the day, the choir rounded out their caroling with a dazzling performance at the City of Wolfforth Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. Those in attendance applauded and showered the choir with compliments.  

While the North Ridge Honor Choir is finished with their Christmas Caroling endeavor, you can catch them at the February 14 Lady Raider Basketball game. The honor choir will open the game against Oklahoma State University with a performance of the National Anthem.