GENEVA — The first quarter of the 2009-2010 school year has ended and a new grading period has begun, giving rise to a whole array of Thanksgiving and Christmas festivities at Geneva High School.

The GHS Drama Department promises two hours of nostalgia and entertainment when it stages “It’s A Wonderful Life,” adapted from the film by Frank Capra. This is the heartwarming story of George Bailey, from the small town of Bedford Falls, whose dreams of escape and adventure have been repeatedly destroyed by feelings of family obligation and duty. It is Christmas Eve, and George’s guardian angel, Clarence, comes to save him from despair and to remind him (by showing him what the world would be like had he never been born) that his has been, after all, a wonderful life.

“My challenge for the drama students has been to really look at the true meaning of the play, and to realize the wonderful things in their own lives. My hope is that the audience members will pick up on this and count their own blessings,” said faculty director Robin Christopher.

This production will star talented GHS actors Bradley Jewell as George Bailey, Desiree Lomas as Mary Hatch, Ryan Zalimeni as Clarence Odbody and Kyle Huff as Henry Potter. Performances will be 7 p.m. Dec. 5 and 2 p.m. Dec. 6 in GHS auditorium. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students and are for reserved seatings. They will be on sale at the GHS ticket office 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 1, 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 3 and 2:30 to 5 p.m. Dec. 4.

Thanksgiving festivities will begin a few days early for the students of the GHS Career Based Intervention Program and their special guests. Each year CBI students, under the guidance and direction of instructors Michael Strater and Dwight Fritz, prepare and serve a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with turkey, ham, stuffing and all the trimmings to faculty and staff members who have had a positive influence on them and the CBI program. Each class member signs up to prepare and bring in his or her favorite Thanksgiving dish and all members help to set up, serve and clean up the feast. This year’s dinner will be held Tuesday in Rooms 402-404.

Senior Elena Cruz said she is looking forward to bringing in her famous rice and beans and senior Ashley Frisch said she promises a wickedly rich sweet potato casserole.

On a musical note, both the GHS band and choir will be contributing to the festivities this year. The 2009 Christmas parade is scheduled for Dec. 4 and “step-off” time will be at 7 p.m. The route begins at the corner of Park Street and South Broadway, and proceeds north on South Broadway until the band reaches Depot Street. For this parade, Marching Geneva will perform such holiday favorites as “Winter Wonderland.” Band members are encouraged to dress in costumes appropriate for the season.

“The band members never cease to amaze me as to how creative they can be when designing costumes for either the Halloween or the Christmas parade,” said band director Marion Carrel.

Choral director Michelle Mather anticipates a very busy schedule for members of the Concert Choir, Women’s Chorale, Geneva’s Image Show Choir and High Definition, the A cappella group. The annual holiday concert will be 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17. Listeners can look forward to hearing holiday favorites such as Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus,” “O Holy Night” and selections from Amy Grant’s “Christmas in the Country.” The grand finale for the evening will include all current and alumni choir members being invited to the stage to sing “White Christmas.” The G.I.’s and Concert Choir will also be presenting holiday concerts at each of our district elementary schools.

The Geneva High School choirs and band will not be the only groups this year showing their excitement for the season through music. Spanish classes are planning to go caroling this year, singing many different Spanish carols for all to enjoy. The Spanish Club this year will also be fund-raising by putting on a bake sale near the auditorium during the fall play. Shannon Dalton’s French I classes will be celebrating St. Nicholas Day on Dec. 6 with traditional French holiday food and music.

JoAnn O’Connor reveals that her upper level French classes are planning a fete in December to celebrate Noël. “Students will be making and enjoying French food such as crêpes and a buche de Noël. They will be choosing a secret Santa and exchanging gifts,” she said.

Congratulations to GHS students Tyler Carlisle, Garrhett Via and Matt Horgan who placed first, second and third respectively in the local level of the annual Veterans of Foreign War Voice of Democracy Speech Contest. All three of these young men will go on to compete in the district competition. We wish them well.