Though most of the students at the school could hear little or no part of the music being played for them, they put on their Christmas performance, "The North Pole Express," this week with all the joy and laughter and cast or audience could want out of the season.

With highlights as diverse as a choir robed performance of "What Child is This" and "How Much is That Doggie in the Window," complete with a little help from Killian, a real bassett hound, the performance played to a packed house on Dec. 13.

"I've been here since 1973," said Betsy Murphy, Coordinator of the School for the Hearing Impaired, "and we've been having a Christmas program as long as I have been here. Every year, the children work so hard and have so much fun doing it."

There is no difference between the hearing impaired and other students when putting on a Christmas performance. Not being able to hear does not affect the creation of scenery, props or costumes, and the children need to learn their lines and songs just like in any other performance. The only difference is that in addition to learning the words, they learn the signs that correspond to them.

"We finalize the concept and script around Thanksgiving," said Murphy, "then the students spend three or four weeks learning their various parts."

The performance was bittersweet on only one point. A long time volunteer and fundraiser for the school, Kathryn Hendrickson, passed away during the summer of 2005. For three decades, Hendrickson had been a dedicated advocate and volunteer with the school. And, through her, the Eagles' Ladies' Auxillary, became a part of the School for the Hearing Impaired's programs and activities.

At this time of year, Hendrickson and the Auxillary were responsible for helping with the Christmas Program and in bringing Santa Claus to see the children and distribute gifts to the children. In her name, the Auxillary continued the tradition.

"For some of our children," said Quetta Karcher, a 31-year veteran teacher with the Williamson County Hearing Impaired, "he is the only Santa they will see."

The students of the school dedicated their performance on Dec. 13 to Hendrickson's memory, and during Santa's traditional visit on Dec. 15, they donated a plaque to the Eagles' Ladies' Auxillary commemorating Hendrickson's decades of dedication.

By Julie Ratliff
http://www.mariondaily.com/articles/2005/12/19/local_news/news01.txt