Harmonious jingles struck a chord with senior citizens during the 44th annual holiday program held Tuesday at Slatington Elementary School.

Organized by Sarah Fink, a fourth-grade teacher at the school, the festivities began with the concert portion of the event.

The program included entertainment from the Slatington Elementary School students and staff, cookie treats, ornament gifts, student designed place mats, and a free holiday meal and dessert served by the Slatington Elementary School Student Council and staff.

The attendees enjoyed choral arrangements by all of students in third, fourth, fifth and sixth grades under the direction of general music teacher and instrumental band director Steven Jonkman.

The Slatington Elementary School Band provided instrumental music.

Students in all grades made gifts and placements for guests under the guidance of Slatington Elementary School art teacher Brittany Warner.

The Bulldog Beats Concert Band performed “Hot Cross Buns,” “Merrily We Roll Along” and “Jingle Bells.” Fourth graders sang “Ode to Joy” and “Stuck in the Chimney Again,” and fifth grade sang “It’s Great to be a Kid at Christmas Time” and “We Wish You A Merry Christmas.”

The Bulldog Beats Concert Band performed “Diary of a Grumpy Elf” featuring school Principal Todd Breiner as the Grumpy Elf, and “Jingling and Jollying” by Jonkman.

Other songs included third grade singing “Deck the Halls” and “Pets vs. Decorations,” sixth graders singing “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” with a solo by sixth grader Layla Stein, and “Jingle Jive,” featuring Cassie Fried and Alexander Reyes Espinal on glockenspiel.

Senior citizen Larry Reitz of Emerald commented: “It was an excellent program. The kids did a great job, the organization was excellent.”

Joyce Thompson of Slatington summed up the program in one word: “Phenomenal.”

“We all enjoyed it,” Thompson said. “We thank them very much for doing this for us.”

Of course, the festivities wouldn’t be complete without the free hearty turkey meal for lunch, proudly served by the students themselves.

Sixth grader Allison Cuba said she was more than happy to help brighten the spirits of the senior citizens who attended the program.

“I like that I can do something and help them,” Allison said.

Sigrid Harding of Slatington said she makes it a point to attend.

“I enjoy it every year,” Harding said.

Fink, along with Karen Beltz, Slatington Elementary School administrative assistant, organized the meal, invitations and all communication that went out to the community and families for cookie donations.

Students, faculty, staff and families donated cookies that were boxed for the guests.

In addition to those senior citizens who transported themselves, bus runs were made to the local senior living facilities in Slatington and Walnutport including Dillard Manor, Mt. View Apartments and Eastern Comfort Assisted Living. Those unable to attend from the senior living facilities were provided with cookies and a gift.

Breiner said the meal was prepared by the Northern Lehigh School District Food Service Department, with special thanks going to Fink, Beltz, Jonkman, Warner and Dylan Hofmann for organizing and running the event, along with thanks to Fink and Chris Mann and their staff for assisting with food, setup and cleanup.

Special thanks also went to Krise Transportation, the Northern Lehigh School District contracted transportation company, for donating the buses and drivers’ time to transport senior citizens to Slatington Elementary School for the event.