HOPE – The Hope Public Schools are shifting into holiday calendar mode with events, activities and campus cheer through December.
Classes across the district will be dismissed early Dec. 15-17, including, Hope Academy of Public Service – 1:10 p.m. All six HPS campuses and administrative offices will close for the Christmas holiday at the end of the day Dec. 17 and will reopen Jan. 3.
‘A CHRISTMAS STORY’ PARADE
HAPS was represented in the revival of the annual Hope/Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce Lighted Christmas Parade on Dec. 6. The parade returned this year after a hiatus created by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Chamber Executive Director Beckie Moore. HAPS students brought their “Anything But Green Beans” holiday canned and non-perishable food drive to the parade with shopping cart collections of donations along the parade route. All donations will be distributed locally during the holidays, according to faculty sponsor Hosea Born.
The theme for this year was taken from the film “A Christmas Story” adapted from the short story by humorist Jean Shepherd. Hope native Melinda Dillon portrayed the mother of young Ralphie in the movie.
LITTLE DRUMMER BOY
The HPS bands department will present its annual Christmas concert Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 6:30 p.m. in the Hope High School auditorium.
Head Bands Director Chris Davis said all band students should report to the HHS band hall between 6-6:25 p.m.
The Hope High School Jazzcats will seat the audience and open the program. The Hope Academy of Public Service/Yerger Middle School Beginning Band will perform next, followed by the HAPS Sixth Grade/Yerger Eighth Grade Concert Band, then the HAPS Symphonic Band will take the stage.
The Hope High School Symphonic Band will round out the evening, Davis said.
HAPS and YMS musicians should wear concert black within school dress codes and HHS musicians are to wear red Polo, black slacks, black socks, and marching shoes. Davis said musicians may wear holiday hats if they do not obstruct vision.
SARTORIAL SPLENDOR
Holiday… uhm… fashion (?) took over HAPS beginning Dec. 6 as each campus celebrates the season with highs and lows in holiday sartorial splendor.
HOPE ACADEMY OF PUBLIC SERVICE
Dec. 6 – Christmas Character Day… bring out your inner elf, angel, reindeer, etc.
Dec. 7 – Candy Cane Day… red and white colors take over.
Dec. 8 – Ugly Sweater Day… need we explain?
Dec. 9 – New Year’s Eve… dress like you mean it for a successful year.
Dec. 10 – Cozy Day… flannel and Christmas socks; all you need is the fireplace.
MORE THE MERRIER
HAPS seventh and eighth grade advisory classes participated in creating luminaries for the annual Christmas and Candlelight production at Historic Washington, while HAPS fifth and sixth grade advisory classes created holiday cards for local nursing home residents.
HAPS EAST program students are also involved in a Towel Drive to benefit Hope in Action through Dec. 17. Towels will be used in the residential program at Hope in Action No. 2. Donated towels may be dropped off at the Sixth and Grady streets side of the HAPS campus under the EAST lab awning. Call 870-722-2700, ext. 411 for questions.