Yellowknife (Dec 05/03) - Yellowknife residents looking for refuge from the holiday buying-spirit enveloping the city, need look no further than city schools.

Five-year-old Anita Cole hangs a decoration on a Christmas tree in the great hall of the legislative assembly. - Lisa Scott/NNSL photo

This year, schools are organizing events that focus on the true spirit of the holiday, while bringing community members together.

At K'alemi Dene school, principal Angela James combines Dene and western traditions into one holiday celebration.

The school is holding a Christmas feast on Dec. 12, with a traditional Dene meal and a western-style turkey dinner with all the trimmings.

Parents and community members are invited and the small school gets pretty crowded, says James.

After the feast, each class sings carols to the crowd, making sure to sing songs in the Dogrib language.

"We have to ensure that we celebrate the Dene culture and Dogrib language. But we also have to remember that these kids are part of the global community," James said.

J.H. Sissons elementary school continues to hold its annual Santa's Workshop, which is in its third year.

Principal Paul Bennett said his school switched to the workshop idea to create a relaxed alternative to the standard Christmas concert for students.

"This takes a lot of stress off," he said.

The event builds community in the school, as well, mixing grade levels together in groups.

Gingerbread houses

Groups rotate through workshops where they will make decorations, gingerbread houses and a holiday quilt to hang in the school.

"We're trying something different," Bennett said.

At Yellowknife Catholic schools, staff increase their focus on Christ leading up to the holiday season.

At Weledeh Catholic school, staff emphasize the celebration of advent, preparing for the coming of Christ into the world.

For four Mondays before Christmas, students gather together for a liturgy and to light candles.

"We really focus on the birth of Christ," said Simone Gessler, vice-principal of the school.

"The students see that there's more than the commercial aspect. It puts even more value on what Christmas is," she added.

Parents can join students and staff in events as spectators or as volunteers. That sense of community is exactly what the city's schools are trying to achieve this Christmas season.