Sandy Hook Elementary School fourth grade chorus students sang songs prepared for the school’s Winter Concert for younger grade levels during an assembly on Wednesday, December 2, ahead of the concert’s Thursday, December 3, presentation for parents at7 pm at Newtown Middle School.

The fourth graders gathered on risers at the center of Chalk Hill Middle School’s Lecture Hall and rehearsed just before the younger students were escorted in by teachers.

Sandy Hook music teacher Maryrose Kristopik led the students through the assembly, offering guidance and encouragement quietly between songs.

The performance began with singing the “Star Spangled Banner” and the “Sandy Hook School Song” before songs like “Happy Winter,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Do You Hear What I Hear,” “Just Chillin’,” “Jingle Bells,” and “Dredyl, Dredyl, Dredyl” were sung by the students.

When the students sang “Light The Candles All Around The World,” some students entered the Lecture Hall with electric candles in hand to sing in the aisles next to the younger students in the audience.

Sue Vogelman played the piano for the assembly, and Ms Kristopik picked up her guitar to play along with students as they sang a few songs, and in some places the audience members were inviting to sing along with the chorus.

“You guys rock,” said Ms Kristopik to her students at the end of the assembly. “It was awesome.”