THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 22, 1995 TAG: 9512200191
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
Former rock guitarist and current Salem Elementary School principal Al Wilder raised his voice in song recently. Joining him were about 75 kindergarten students for their annual Christmas carol gathering.
Wilder, the students and their teachers made a musical jaunt as they have every holiday season since 1988. Wrapped up against the cold temperatures and strong winds, the group left the school at 9:30 a.m. one Friday. They walked two-by-two down Salem Lakes Boulevard to the neighborhood park, belting out Christmas favorites, ``Jingle Bells'' and ``Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.''
``Two of my favorites,'' said Wilder, who played ``classic rock'' in a music group until a couple of years ago. ``I went along to help with the kids and, because I just wanted to join in.''
The carolers stopped at the park and sang ``Deck the Halls,'' led by longtime assistant teacher Diane Phillips. They then continued their walk to their first planned stop, the Natoli residence, where they sang ``Santa Claus is Coming to Town.''
As people stepped out of the house to listen, Margaret Renee Walker, 5, followed her dad, Alzie Walker's lead, though her tiny voice was several octaves higher than his booming baritone. Walker was one of several parents to accompany their kids.
``I like Christmas songs,'' Margaret said. ``We practiced a lot.''
Susan Whitesell, a kindergarten teacher, talked about the caroling.
``It has become a tradition,'' she said. ``Most of us (staff members) were together at North Landing, and that was rural, of course, and didn't lend itself to walking.
``But we've been doing it here since the school opened in 1988. It's a nice neighborhood for walking and caroling.''
The group's last stop, the Randolph residence on Antelope Place, afforded the singers a nice surprise.
Pat Randolph, whose son Michael, 6, was among the caroling kindergartners, came out of her house with a basket of Christmas cookies.
``I hope I have enough for everyone,'' said Randolph, as eager little hands reached into the basket.
She did.
Carols concluded and cookies eaten, the students started the walk back to school. ILLUSTRATION: Photos by GARY EDWARDS
LEFT: Wrapped up against the cold temperatures and strong winds,
some of the carolers and their chaperones take a break from
singing.
ABOVE: Some of the 75 kindergarten students head out from Salem
Elementary School to go caroling in the neighborhood surrounding the
school. They were accompanied by their principal and several
teachers and parents.
merry carolers and their chaperones take a break from singing.
Photos by
GARY EDWARDS
by CNB