Staff Reporter : Kolkata | 16th December 2025. At a time when celebrations are often measured by scale and spectacle, St. Joan’s School, Kolkata, chose to celebrate Christmas through meaning, mindfulness, and mercy, reminding the city that the true spirit of the season lies in kindness, compassion, and human connection.
On Sunday, 14 December 2025, the Salt Lake campus of St. Joan’s School came alive with music, colour, and warmth during “A Festive Musical Evening”—a celebration that transcended performance to become a reflection of values lived and learned.
The evening brought together 285 student participants, including children as young as two years old, from St. Joan’s KG School, St. Joan’s Primary School (Salt Lake), and St. Joan’s School Newtown. Through a carefully curated programme of choirs, dance performances, theatre, and multilingual presentations, students expressed joy, creativity, and cultural awareness with remarkable confidence and sensitivity.
Highlights included a beautifully staged Nativity Play, festive choirs, spirited dance medleys, Russian dance performances, Christmas carols sung in Chinese, and the much-loved theatrical adaptation of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Each presentation reflected St. Joan’s commitment to global exposure, language learning, and inclusive education, even at the foundational years.
Adding to the evening’s musical distinction, the Senior School Choir of St. Joan’s School has recently been featured on Zee Bangla’s popular programme Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, where they participated in a special Christmas Carol performance—a recognition that underscores the school’s strong emphasis on music education and performance excellence beyond the school stage.
Yet, the heart of the celebration extended far beyond performance.
In the days leading up to Christmas, students from St. Joan’s School visited St. Joseph’s Home, where they donated gifts, spent meaningful time with elderly members of the community, and performed songs and dances specially for them. For many students, it was their first interaction with an elderly care community—an experience that nurtured empathy, patience, and respect.
Teachers accompanying the students observed moments of quiet connection—small hands holding older ones, shared smiles, spontaneous conversations, and laughter—gentle reminders that presence itself is often the most powerful gift.
Carrying these experiences back to school, students channelled their reflections into creativity. As part of a Christmas outreach initiative, they hand-painted eco-friendly shopping bags, each uniquely designed with festive motifs, messages of hope, and expressions of love. Some of these hand-painted bags were displayed at the venue during the Festive Musical Evening, offering guests a glimpse into the students’ creativity and the larger purpose behind the initiative.
The bags will be donated to St. Joseph’s Home and sold at the Home’s annual fête, with proceeds directly supporting the care and well-being of its residents.
This initiative seamlessly wove together art, sustainability, social responsibility, and service, transforming celebration into purposeful action.
“At St. Joan’s, Christmas is not taught as an event but lived as a value,” shared a member of the school leadership. “When children learn to give, to listen, and to care—especially for the elderly and the vulnerable—they absorb lessons that stay with them long after the festivities end.”
The evening was graced by members of various consulates, representatives from different religious orders, and interfaith leaders, reflecting the school’s long-standing commitment to harmony, inclusivity, and global citizenship.
As carols echoed through the campus and children proudly displayed their painted creations, the message resonated deeply:
Christmas is not only about celebration—it is about compassion, continuity, and choosing kindness.
Through music, art, service, and shared humanity, St. Joan’s School once again demonstrated that education, at its best, shapes not just skilled minds, but generous hear.
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