The staff, pupils and parents of The Roman Ridge School (TRRS), have hosted a colourful and vibrant production of 9 Lessons & Carols.

The programme was structured on 9 pieces of scripture from the Holy Bible, chronicling the story of Genesis until the birth of Jesus Christ.

Selected readings were delivered by representatives of key stakeholders within the TRRS community, including pupils, staff and teachers, parents TRRS Parent-Teacher Association, School Management, the Academic Board of Governors and Board of Directors.

The Festival of 9 Lessons & Carols is a traditional Christmas programme that has been performed around the world for almost 100 years and is arguably the most famous carol service in the world.

In her Christmas Message, the Principal of The Roman Ridge School - Mrs. Valerie Mainoo, expressed her delight that students, parents and staff, hailing from various backgrounds, cultures and religions, were joining together on stage to perform and celebrate Christmas together.

She also reminded those in attendance that though Christmas is a time of celebration and festivity, filled with gifts, parties and ‘enjoyment’, she urged her students, staff and parents community to remember that “Christmas is also a time for reflection, pause and gratitude, a time to say thank you and recognise all we have been blessed with and indeed take for granted.

“We are all guilty of getting swept away with amassing, consuming and collecting, guilty of posing, posturing and wasting.  The Holiday Season is also a time for us all to take stock and carefully analyse, prioritise and challenge ourselves to grow, serve, evolve and always do better and uplift those around us.”

In line with this, at the close of the programme, Abrema Quarm (TRRS Lower Sixth Form) spoke on behalf of the entire Lower Six Class, reaffirming the TRRS Student Body’s ongoing commitment to serve, assist and mentor those less privileged.

She spoke passionately about her form’s recent visit to the Village of Hope and amazing children they met and their stories that touched their hearts.

Alongside their teachers, TRRS student presented gifts to the children at Village of Hope in Gomoa Fetteh (Central Region) following a successful whole school Charity Drive entitled: Raising Hope 2015, held in the last few weeks of term.

Representatives from the Village of Hope were on hand to accept over 10 large parcels of clothing, toys, food items, apparel, stationary and other needed items, thanking the TRRS community for their generous support this Holiday Season.

Following the programme, all in attendance enjoyed a festive Christmas Buffet sponsored by the TRRS Parent-Teacher Association (PTA).

There was a jubilant air of family and friendship in the air, and all in attendance left filled with the Christmas Spirit!  This year’s programme was a wonderful way to ring in the Christmas Season and conclude another successful school term at The Roman Ridge School.

The Roman Ridge School (TRRS) was founded in 2002 and is a private co-educational institution of approximately 550 students, from ages 4 to 18. At TRRS, we aim to offer our pupils the highest quality of education, based on the British Preparatory & Independent School system, whilst being firmly rooted in Ghanaian life and culture.

Steeped in tradition, it originates from King’s College in Cambridge UK and was created by Edward Benson in 1880, who was eventually appointed the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The choir of King’s College, which was extremely popular and reckoned to be the best church choir in the world at that time, first performed this service at King’s college in 1918 as a way of celebrating the end of the First World War.

King’s College continues to perform 9 lessons every year, which is broadcast on BBC radio across the world on Christmas Eve Day. 

Since 1919, the first carol performed in this classic programme has been Once in Royal David’s City, and the entire TRRS congregation was invited to participate in this nearly 100 year old tradition.

Student performances included a dazzling array of TRRS renditions of beloved Christmas Carols like: Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Joy to the World, Ding Dong Merrily on High, alongside classic hymns and anthems like Adam Lay-Y Bounden and O Come O Come Emmanuel, and many more.

TRRS student choirs, Charisma and The Angelic Voices, showcased their vocal talent, alongside the TRRS Parent Choir who performed Douce Nuit (Silent Night – French) and TRRS Staff Choir, who closed the programme with a rousing medley of Ghanaian Christmas songs, all under the direction of TRRS Music Teacher & Choirmaster, Mr. George Edzie.