The year is coming to an end, and schools are already throwing “end of year party” to celebrate God’s grace.
When planning order of program, there is consideration for Christmas session – most of the activities should attune to “celebration of the birth of Jesus”, for Jesus is also the reason for the season.
But then, the pagans, that see Christmas as a religious observance by Christians, would also throw parties to mark the conclusion of the year, as has been seen by community-hosted street parties.
In a school environment, the party can be called, “Christmas party” or a Christmas equivalent, as it would always signify the birth of Christ one way or another.
Before coming up with an order of program, certain prerequisites must be met, including but not limited to preparedness for presentations, provision of equipments, availability of space, timing, audience category, content of presentation, etc.
To avoid awkwardness and public humiliation, a presentation should be discarded if the necessary prerequisites aren’t met.
Read How To Organise End Of Year Party In Nigerian School to understand what the prerequisites are and how to attain them.
The party should not be too long, or guests grow bored and leave before it is over. It should not be too short, or it seems everything is rushed and the fun and entertainment fades out. A 4 hour party is sufficient.
For organisers searching for a sample order of program, I have from experience gathered what they can avail. But not all can suit the needs of all parties.
Order of Program For End Of Year Party
Duration: 12 noon – 4pm
Opening Prayer (5 min)
A staff leads the opening prayer, the christian way. It should encompass appreciation for witnessing the moment, guidance throughout the party, intervention for smooth presentations, protection for guests (present and en route). Under 5 minutes, the whole prayer should wrap up.
Praise & Worship (15 min)
A 15 minutes praise and worship session led by a group of students or teachers, can be accompanied by drums and instrumentals, if available.
Opening Remark By Principal (10 min)
The principal gives an opening speech, welcoming the guests, and painting the picture of the party beautifully in the minds of the guests in no less than 10 minutes.
1st Carol (3 min)
The choir sings a Christmas hymn to kickstart the commencement of presentations. The hymn should be short so that it can finish under 3 minutes.
Bible Reading (2 min)
A student reads a passage of the bible about Christmas from a particular chapter in 2 minutes.
1st Drama Presentation (20 minutes)
The drama group of the school showcases their first drama under 20 minutes (accounting for props). This is usually not the main drama, as it is saved for last.
Choreography Presentation (10 min)
The choreography unit of the school presents their dance steps, which should be performed in 10 minutes.
Game – Sword Drill (30 min)
Sword Drill is a bible competition in which we give students the name and number of a Bible verse and they race to be the first to locate it in the bible. The whole activity lasts for 30 minutes, during which time, a winner is declared.
2nd Carol & 3rd Carol (10 min)
The choir sings two Christmas hymns for 5 minutes each. They shouldn’t be too short like the first one.
Class Dance Competition (1 h)
At this stage, the MC calls out each class, one after the other to dance for a prize. For six classes, each class would have 10 minutes. The whole competition should then conclude in 60 minutes (1 hour).
2nd Drama Presentation (40 min)
Then the drama unit presents their main drama which should conclude in 40 minutes, props included. As this drama is towards the conclusion of the party, refreshments can be served as during the 40 minutes performance.
Closing Speech & Prayer (5 min)
The closing speech can by given by the principal or vice principal in 5 minutes. It marks the conclusion of the party along with promises for an even better one next year.
Dance! (30 minutes)
This goes on till the party ends. The DJ plays danceable songs, and everyone dances till the end of the party. During this time, photography can also be taken, and farewell can be bid by those who would not be seeing themselves until resumption.
A key giveaway in any party is effective time management. A party that is memorable isn’t stressful but enjoyable and entertainment, and this is made possible by integrating proper timing.
Therefore, It is better for them to say they want to see or do more, than being bored, tired and exhausted from long presentations.
