This wasn't your typical children's holiday production. The McGrath Elementary School "Holiday Sing" did not include a manger scene or rendition of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

Instead, in front of a packed crowd at the Brentwood High School theater on Thursday, the students sang and danced to unique songs about Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa.

Students were asked to arrive early and sit in the seats labeled with their names. The kindergartners and first-graders struggled to sit still amongst the anticipation of their coming performance.

"I'm the best singer in my class," first-grader Torrey Sullivan said. Classmate Jonas Wall quickly chimed in jokingly, "No you're not!" Sullivan retorted with another argument for his case and the playful bickering continued among the chaos of the entering crowd.

Behind the stage curtains, before their opening song, the kindergartners gathered nervously on the risers. Some of the braver students even peaked through a small opening in the curtain to view the huge audience waiting for them on the other side.

When the curtains opened, kindergartner Max Turner stood front-and-center dressed as a Christmas tree with garland and ornaments draped over him.

Each grade, kindergarten through fifth, performed two songs. Students played xylophones, tambourines and hand drums.

Music teacher Lori Rejent was the mastermind behind the event. She said students started practicing at the beginning of November.

"My hope is that each kid remembers how special it is to hear the applause and feel the pride of a job well done," Rejent said.

She said she hopes the students will keep memories from these performances and continue to attend music performances in the future.

As the students left with their families, affirmations were heard all around.

"You did a super job. I am so proud," Megan Cleary said as she left the theater with her twin sons, first graders Owen and Brenden.