Here’s a chance to get to know our teachers and staff a little bit better! We asked them to share favorite Christmas traditions for celebrating this festive time of year.

Jodi Davis – 3^rd Grade Teacher
On Christmas morning, we all pile into one bed and read the Christmas story from Luke 2. Then we listen to the Charlie Brown Christmas CD while opening presents and eating brunch.

Julie Ashcraft – Assistant Administrator
The Ashcrafts invite our small group and family over for Christmas Caroling. In past years, we caroled for friends with health problems. Last year, we started caroling at Lower Cape Fear Hospice.

Ginny Craft – 1^st Grade Teacher
My husband buys me a dated Christmas ornament every year.

Paula Starling – Kindergarten Teacher
On Christmas Eve, we go to church. At the end of the service, we turn out the lights, and form a circle around the sanctuary. Each person holds a lit candle and we all sing “Silent Night.” When my children were little, I used to worry that they would catch something on fire…like their hair!

Glenn & Angie Pleasant – Lower School Principal and 6^th Grade Science Teacher
For almost 20 years the Pleasants have kicked off the Christmas season at the Island of Lights Christmas Parade in Carolina Beach. We also celebrate with our small group by having a progressive dinner.

Tami Hebert – 6^th Grade English Teacher
Each year, my husband’s grandmother and mother buy him a Christmas ornament. When we got married, he shared with me the memories that were attached to each ornament. This was very sweet because his grandmother passed away in 1997. We will continue this tradition with our new baby, Lux.

Laura Poteat – Librarian
After Thanksgiving, we use turkey leftovers to make a thick, turkey soup. We freeze it and serve it on Christmas Eve for a simple extended family meal before we head to the Christmas Eve candlelight service.

Brooks Koff – Art Teacher
On Christmas morning – at the crack of dawn, I, along with all 5 of my kids, gather at the top of the stairs. We march down while my husband videos our entrance into the den where the tree and presents are. My kids are now ages 17 through 30; and a few years ago we thought they were too old for it, but the youngest revealed that it didn’t feel like Christmas without that “march down the stairs.”

Lora Padula – PreK Teacher
We get together with friends for a “Baby Jesus Birthday Party.” We have a living nativity pageant complete with musical instruments, scripts, and costumes. We’ve done this since before our kids could read.  The kids now direct the play themselves.

Tiffany Ivey – 2nd Grade Teacher
My husband and I pack the family into the car, get hot chocolate and Krispy Kreme donuts, then drive around Wilmington to look at Christmas lights.

Ashley Raye – 3^rd Grade Teacher
Every year since I have been married, we have a Christmas party called the RAYEndeer games where we split people on teams and play “minute to win it” games for prizes.

Chris Jensen – 7^th Grade English Teacher
A tradition I’ve enjoyed for years is eating braided Norwegian Christmas bread straight out of the oven. My wonderful mother-in-love taught me the “secret recipe,” which her mother taught her. It’s the same one made in Norway by her grandmother. I’ve continued the tradition of making Yule Kagga for the family and for Christmas gifts and have passed it on to my daughter.  It’s wonderful to think that the making of this bread has continued in this family for over a hundred years. It reminds us of the true reason for celebrating . . . the BREAD of life came to save us!