By Cristina Cabrera Jarro -
A Christmas Nativity scene, with some of Santa's elves in the background, is a must during the Christmas play performed by third graders from Sts. Peter and Paul School during their Christmas around the world-themed STREAMS Day.
Wesolych Swiat! Fifth graders Ethan Centeno (left), Rene Santana (center) and Moana Pu'ulei (right) celebrate a traditional Christmas dinner in Poland, with 12 dishes and even hay under the tablecloth.
Surf's up, Santa: Third graders Isabella Montes (left) and Marley Garrillo (right) sit on a blanket displaying a Hawaiian inspired picnic.
She's got some crafty skills: Sts. Peter and Paul fifth grader Sarah Valdes shows students how to make handmaid Christmas paper baskets which are typical of Norway.
Christmas in L.A., D.C, or NYC? Why not: Sts. Peter and Paul eighth graders Andrea Lopez (left) and Sofia Verdear (right) show their class projects which focused on Christmas vacation in various American cities.
A little bit of Flamenco, running bulls and some Jai alai? Sts. Peter and Paul seventh graders must be at the Spain stop of their Christmas around the world STREAMS Day. Middle school religion teacher Maria Jose Groso Elorriaga shows students some Jai alai gear.
It's not too hot for these Parisian mimes. Sts. Peter and Paul eighth graders Najib Chafra (left) and Treyton Congleton performed a silent Christmas inspired routine, wishing a Joyeux Noél (Merry Christmas) to all.
Sts. Peter and Paul students cozy up next to the fireplace and tree as they listen to Christmas stories.
We wanna wish you a Merry Christmas: Sts. Peter and Paul choir sings out during an afternoon of Christmas carols concluding the Christmas around the world STREAMS Day.
Photography: CRISTINA CABRERA JARRO | FC
MIAMI | Santa Claus may be the only jolly Christmas spirit capable of visiting every country in the world on Christmas Eve. But students at Sts. Peter and Paul School replicated much of Santa’s magic during their Dec. 17 STREAMS day, when they explored Christmas around the world.
They transformed their school into a crossroads of multiple countries, and the only thing required for travel was a passport.
“We decided that Christmas is Christmas and there is Christmas around the world,” said Principal Carlota Morales. “So it was a great opportunity for children to integrate social studies, science, English, math and do a day called STREAMS around the most important day of our faith, which is Christmas day. So we call it Christmas Around the World.”
STREAMS is a modified version of STEM, focusing not just on science, technology, engineering and math, but also on social studies, religion and arts. Leading up to the Christmas around the world STREAMS day, each grade level and class was assigned a different country to research. The list ranged from as far down under as Australia to the northern reaches of Norway; from as spicy as Mexico and Cuba to as royal as England and as chic as France. Of course Israel, the birth place of Christ and Christmas, was included.
“We want to be sure that everyone knows that there is a Catholic Christian population in Israel, and we are going to bring it to life today,” Morales said.
Morales was not joking, as students who visited Israel were taken on the journey of the Magi with fourth grade teacher Martha Portugal. Portugal took students back in time and through the desert, following a star until they reached Bethlehem and the Christ child. At the end of their journey, students reached the manger, with a star hanging above, and they knelt in reverence and prayer.
Meanwhile, west of Israel across the Atlantic, in the tropical climate of Cuba, Noche Buena (Spanish for Christmas Eve) was underway with middle school teacher Vicki Alvarez and some of her students. A student-made salsa dancing music video introduced visiting students to the customs, sights and sounds of the island-nation during the holidays. To add to the celebration, maracas and conga drums were handed out. Students shimmied to the music of Celia Cruz as they lined up for a photo booth inspired by Noche Buena.
“We really got into it,” said Alvarez. “The kids all came together and it was a great experience. We learned a lot.”
The Cuban classroom also touched upon Los Reyes Magos (Spanish for Three Kings Day). The Epiphany of the Lord is a holiday in most Hispanic and Latin American countries around the world as well as parts of Europe, Russia, and even the Philippines.
“Today has been a great day because we got to experience different types of cultures during this season of the year so we can compare them all and see the similarities and differences,” said Dimitri Enriquez, an eighth grader at Sts. Peter and Paul School.
But the STREAMS displays were not the only learning opportunity. Some of Sts. Peter and Paul’s students celebrate the American Christmas with an international flair.
Eighth grader Alexis Heartz, for example, has spent seven Christmases in France visiting his father and his family. He is drawn to the magic of sharing a meal with his loved ones during the holidays, and especially the dessert.
“There’s the yule log, it’s one of the most well-known things,” Alexis said. “They put a lot of cr�me on it, chocolate and all that.”
Due to the terrorist attacks in Paris, this year will be the first in seven that he will not visit his father and his family for the holidays. Still, Alexis said he looked forward to spending Christmas in Miami with his mom and the family that he has here.
So whether it is Christmas in the City of Light, or right here in the Magic City, Sts. Peter and Paul School students learned that Santa isn’t the only one blessed with the power of seeing how the spirit of Christmas thrives all over the world.
Photographer: CRISTINA CABRERA JARRO| FC
A Christmas Nativity scene, with some of Santa's elves in the background, is a must during the Christmas play performed by third graders from Sts. Peter and Paul School during their Christmas around the world-themed STREAMS Day.
