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St. Norbert students seek out story of a lifetime
St Norbert School students (left to right,) Nora Callahan, Ryan Hogan and Julia Gehrs, rehearse their roles as the Three Wisemen during dress rehearsal for "Breaking News in Bethlehem." | Michelle LaVigne ~ Sun-Times Media
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Updated: January 28, 2013 6:24AM
NORTHBROOK — In a break from tradition, St. Norbert School in Northbrook presented a slightly different kind of Christmas play this year.
Eighty-seven pre-school through fourth-grade students on Dec. 20 delivered their version of “Breaking News in Bethlehem, “ which has two young reporters looking for “the story of a lifetime” not in yesteryear, but in real time.
“We thought it would be a fun, new way of telling the Christmas story. And it had more modern songs for the kids to sing,” said Jennifer Szczerbinski, their music teacher.
Fourth graders played the main characters and 87 pre-school through fourth- grade students sang carols.
The fictional reporters, Sally Sleuth and Harrassus, went to Bethlehem to report on the census, Szczerbinski noted.
However, during their search for those facts, they uncovered an even more amazing story – why Christmas is commemorated every Dec. 25, Szczerbinski said.
“They found out that it’s not about fame or fortune, but about the birth of Christ,” she added.
Molly Parker, 10, said she absolutely had to play one of the main characters, because she wants to be a reporter when she grows up.
“My character, Hadria Harrassus, wants to be the one to find the good news,” Parker said.
“In the play, she wants to steal the other reporter’s story, but I learned it’s better to share.”
Kate Thoward, 9, played Sally Sleuth, the reporter whose story is stolen by Harrassus.
“I get really mad at her in the play. My favorite part is when Molly pushes me off stage to get coffee for the boss,” she added.
Tasey Rich, 9, who plays a camera man, films the news the reporters find in the production.
“I like the part because I had a lot of lines,” Rich said. “But the hardest thing about the play was learning so many lines.” In a break from tradition, St. Norbert School in Northbrook presented a slightly different kind of Christmas play this year.
Eighty-seven pre-school through fourth-grade students on Dec. 20 delivered their version of “Breaking News in Bethlehem, “ which has two young reporters looking for “the story of a lifetime” not in yesteryear, but in real time.
“We thought it would be a fun, new way of telling the Christmas story. And it had more modern songs for the kids to sing,” said Jennifer Szczerbinski, their music teacher.
Fourth graders played the main characters and 87 pre-school through fourth- grade students sang carols.
The fictional reporters, Sally Sleuth and Harrassus, went to Bethlehem to report on the census, Szczerbinski noted.
However, during their search for those facts, they uncovered an even more amazing story – why Christmas is commemorated every Dec. 25, Szczerbinski said.
“They found out that it’s not about fame or fortune, but about the birth of Christ,” she added.
Molly Parker, 10, said she absolutely had to play one of the main characters, because she wants to be a reporter when she grows up.
“My character, Hadria Harrassus, wants to be the one to find the good news,” Parker said.
“In the play, she wants to steal the other reporter’s story, but I learned it’s better to share.”
Kate Thoward, 9, played Sally Sleuth, the reporter whose story is stolen by Harrassus.
“I get really mad at her in the play. My favorite part is when Molly pushes me off stage to get coffee for the boss,” she added.
Tasey Rich, 9, who plays a camera man, films the news the reporters find in the production.
“I like the part because I had a lot of lines,” Rich said. “But the hardest thing about the play was learning so many lines.”
