TELA students perform holiday hits at silent auction

By Kalvin Valdillez

The future leaders of Tulalip sang their little hearts out at the Betty J. Taylor Early Learning Academy Silent Auction and Preschool Concert on the evening of December 7.

During the event, the preschoolers helped spread Christmas joy by performing a few classic holiday hits such as Frosty the Snowman, Feliz Navidad and Jingle Bells. The students even switched up some of the lyrics and incorporated the traditional Lushootseed language into the songs.

“Montessori had been doing the Christmas program for twenty-three years,” explains Montessori Manager, Tami Burdett. “When we moved into the Academy, we stopped offering the program. But last year, the parent committee wanted to have an auction and said they really missed the Christmas program, so they asked if we could coordinate both of them because everybody loves watching their children sing. The kids get to practice singing the songs at school and they love it.”

The silent auction was planned by the Early Learning parent committee and was a huge success. Community members bid on a variety of items including holiday gift baskets, an original James Madison painting as well as Seahawks memorabilia and tickets. All funds raised during the event will be used for the upcoming annual preschool spring dance.