Much like the holiday itself, the Open Door School Christmas show had a little something for everybody. Most all the students from the school got in on the act and some revealed special hidden talents.

As with any Christmas celebration, music was one of the staples, with several rousing choral numbers, including favorites like “Joy to the World,” “Away in a Manger,” and “O, Come All Ye Faithful.”

Some of the students took part in a bell choir, performing “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” and their own rendition of — appropriately enough — “Jingle Bells.”

P.E. Instructor Angie Kelley coordinated the show after the eight classes involved pieced together their own sections. Kelley said that the bell and vocal choirs are always a hit with the children.

“They love it, they really do, they get so excited about it,” Kelley said. “The bell choir and the singing are the ones they like the most.”

Young thespians also got a chance to shine, with interactive stories that explained why Santa has a beard and told the tale of a helpful, dieting church mouse.

A solo bass guitarist was plucking along with Dolly Parton’s rendition of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.”

An event like this doesn’t come together without some serious work, but Kelley seemed to think that it had paid off.

“Since the beginning of December we’ve spent about 30 minutes a day, but these past few days it’s been … hours,” said Kelley with a tired laugh. “It went really well. I was really pleased.”

Even though it’s an enjoyable form of schoolwork, Sarah Diamond Burroway, grants/special projects coordinator with the Lawrence County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, said that it all serves a purpose.

“All the students have an individualized education plan, so perhaps the student might have goals to help develop their verbal skills or their gross mobile development,” Burroway said.

“So by speaking in front of a group, or by presenting part of a poem or the dance portions of the program, all those reinforce the individual goals that the students have been working on throughout the school year.”