EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES The initial work in this category undertaken by the Sisters in North Rustico was the preparation of the first Christmas Concert held in Stella Maris School. It might be interesting to those who were involved to read over the program presented on the night of Dec. 23, 1940. It ran as follows: Chorus: The Birthday of a King (Neidlinger) Playlet: The Light in the Window Chorus: English Carols Song: The Santa Claus Express Dialogue: Les Orphelins a L 'Enfant Jesus Chorus: French Carols Playlet: Santa's Toys (animated) Recitation: A Child at the Crib Dramatization: The Christmas Spirit Chorus: Beautiful Star of Christmas The pastor, Father Douglas McNeill , was always greatly interested in the cultural as well as in the religious and academic development of the students.. Had funds been available he would have done his utmost to provide a director and have a school band formed at Stella Maris . Not to be entirely thwarted he asked Sister St . Catherine ( Edna Pitre ) to organize a rhythm band with the younger boys. In the spring of 1941 a group of twenty-five boys from Grades 1 to IV were happy to be chosen for this novel experience. A good friend of the pastor's saw to the expenses of the necessary instruments. These pupils were taught the basic rudiments of Music, and soon they were able to follow their scores with ease. Mr. Aeneas Poirier very generously made light wooden stands for the score sheets. Some time later, the younger girls were given the same instructions and the Rhythm Band became a looked-for item on many programs. Toward the end of the same year, knowing that the church organist and nearly all the choir members had to leave the village immediately after Christmas for winter work elsewhere, Father McNeill made the request that a boys' choir be prepared to replace their elders. Fortunately they had been singing the "mass of the Angels" with the congregation, but for these twenty boys it required many hours of practice in order to be able to sing it with some assurance. The huge task was to master the Latin for the different parts of the " High Mass !' However, the enthusiasm and self-confidence of these boys together with much work would excuse the defects in their performance that first day of January, 1942. When the men returned a few months later the boys were proud to be kept on as members of their choir. A year later a girls' choir was formed. They sang at 55