Sounds like Christmas

THIS year's Herm School Christmas concert – entitled The Virgin Connection – was billed as something we rarely get here: a traditional nativity.

With a limited number of children there are never quite enough to act out the traditional story, which is why teacher Mary Carey has to stretch facts a little and be more than a tad creative. There is always a Mary and a Joseph, but the rest is up for interpretation.

This year we had two shepherds, two angels and three kings – although, technically, one of the kings was a hand puppet and another was 'Lord Sugar', searching for his apprentice king.

The title for the concert was inspired by the entrepreneurial innkeeper, 'Abe' Branson, going about the daily grind and aspiring to be something more. After witnessing Jesus's birth, he names his company after the Virgin and dreams of one day taking to the skies like the angels.

Not entirely traditional, then.

This year, it was particularly striking to realise that not many children have come and gone over the past few years and it is lovely to see the older ones helping the little ones and remembering when they were small themselves.

There was a real feeling of teamwork when it came to supporting each other with nerves or forgotten lines.

The whole group seemed to really come together, which is what Christmas is all about.

The school takes good advantage of the festive season to raise funds.

Its annual calendar always brings a smile throughout the year.

This year's is filled with colour and culture and shows off the children's creativity well.

The school has produced a tea towel that the children have designed. They have all drawn pictures of themselves and of their favourite places on the island.

The school Christmas card also features self-portraits of the children.