Santa the Guest of Honor at Adelphi Academy
of Brooklyn’s Annual Happy Holiday Brunch
Head of School Ms. Iphigenia Romanos prepares to cut the ribbon to open the brunch.
BAY RIDGE – Santa Claus made a very special appearance at Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn’s annual Happy Holiday Brunch on Saturday, December 7th, 2019. The festive tradition, held inside the John Lockwood Auditorium Theatre welcomed more than 175 guests to enjoy a delicious brunch as well as “An Original Holiday Musical Revue Show” presented by students in Adelphi’s Lower & Middle School and the Adelphi Performing Chorus accompanied by faculty and staff!
Lower School students kicked off the performance with several popular holiday songs that captured the spirit of the season. Reprising their roles from last year, Middle Schoolers Kenn, Saba and Jake portrayed Alvin, Simon and Theodore, respectively, for a rousing rendition of “Wonderful Day.” Upper Schooler Albert once again played the role of David Seville trying to get the rambunctious chipmunks to finish their song. Other numbers included “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” “All I Want for Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)” and “Nuttin’ for Christmas!”
Once the little ones had concluded their performance, Adelphi’s Performing Chorus took the stage for a full-on holiday rock show that had the entire audience clapping along.
Among the highlights were renditions of “Run Rudolph Run” by Chuck Berry, “All Alone on Christmas” by Darlene Love and “Happy Christmas (War Is Over)” by John Lennon.
During the program, as Chorus members sang a rocking version of “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Santa Claus himself entered the auditorium to loud applause. Once the show had concluded, jolly old St. Nick sat on stage and posed for photos with all the children (and many adults) in attendance as each visitor told Santa what they wanted for the holidays. Each child also received a special candy cane delivered straight from the North Pole.
The annual event also featured dozens of unique gift baskets made up of high-end holiday goods and services donated by parents, staff members and Academy supporters that were raffled off and presented to lucky winners. Prizes included baskets of cheer, holiday goodies, artwork, cocoa and coffee, gift cards, holiday movies and, of course, lots of toys!
Members of Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn’s Performing Chorus pose with Santa Claus himself!
Adelphi’s Head of School Ms. Iphigenia Romanos said, “We are proud to welcome so many of Adelphi’s families to share in the holiday spirit at Adelphi’s Annual Happy Holiday Brunch. The students shined on stage, as always, and engaged the audience with their spirited performances. This event always serves as the perfect way to usher in the holidays at Adelphi!”
As the oldest private, independent, continuing, coeducational, college-preparatory day school in the borough and one of the oldest in the nation, Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn, “the little school of big dreams” has been “effectively preparing young people for college, career, and life, one day at a time” for over 150 years. Founded in 1863 and located in the historic Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn, Adelphi enrolls students from two years of age through twelfth grade. A strong emphasis is placed on small class size, individualized attention, self-expression, critical thinking and challenging hands-on learning through Adelphi’s founding philosophy and dedication to the education of the “total child.” Adelphi students excel within a small, intimate, safe, caring, nurturing, and secure environment through Adelphi’s core values and founding principles of pride, tradition, spirit, and excellence. The student-teacher ratio is 8 to 1 and Adelphi is a New York State Regents Exempt Program with a 100% college application, acceptance and attendance rate. A founding member of the Coalition of Essential Schools, Adelphi receives its charter from the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York and has been a member of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools since 1928. Ms. Iphigenia Romanos serves as Head of School.
* Photos courtesy of Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn