Every December, a beautiful and deeply moving tradition comes to life at Oakleigh Grammar – Primary School students put on their brightest smiles and visit aged-care facilities across Melbourne’s community to sing Christmas carols.
With their pure and joyful voices, they fill each space with warmth, hope, and festive cheer, offering grandparents and elderly residents precious moments of companionship and love, moments that touch the heart and remind everyone of the true meaning of Christmas.
This year’s visits took place over three days and involved Year 5 students. On Monday, December 1, the students visited Baptcare Southaven Day Centre in Bentleigh. On Tuesday, December 2, they brought their festive spirit to Brimlea Aged Care in Murrumbeena and to Fronditha Care in Clayton South. On Thursday, December 4, the students completed their visits with stops at Estia Health in Oakleigh East and Oak Towers Aged Care in Oakleigh.
The festive program prepared by the teachers in each venue began with a musical tribute to Greece.
The Greek songs performed by the students filled the rooms with images and memories from the elderly residents’ homeland. Many of them were transported back to their childhood years, moments of innocence, tradition, and community, as they recognised echoes of their own stories in the children’s voices.
The program continued with Christmas and New Year’s carols, along with other festive songs that created an atmosphere of joy for all. The melodies awakened treasured memories of Greece, and for a few moments, the elderly became children once again, singing along with the students.
Each visit concluded with warm wishes for the New Year and a heartfelt promise to continue this beautiful tradition next year.
For Oakleigh Grammar students, the experience was truly special. It allowed them to connect meaningfully with elderly members of the community and share smiles, music, and kindness.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, December 2, students of the Oakleigh Grammar Byzantine Choir visited the offices of the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Melbourne in South Melbourne, where they chanted the traditional Christmas and New Year’s Carols, as well as a selection of Christmas songs.
Singing with reverence and enthusiasm before His Grace Bishop Kyriakos of Melbourne, the students captivated everyone with their melodic and heartfelt voices. At the end of the visit, they received His Grace’s blessing, along with festive treats and a small gift.
