Message & Reminder for Saturday, December 20, 2025
Dear Orchestra Members and Parents,
Season’s greetings to our TCYOLI family! ❄️🎶
This Saturday marks one of our orchestra’s most popular traditions—the Annual Christmas Party! We look forward to coming together at our Tzu Chi rehearsal venue, now beautifully reimagined as a festive holiday gathering space. Our sincere gratitude goes to the orchestra parents who have helped to decorate on Saturday morning, generously giving their time and energy to transform the main hall into an exciting Christmas event. Everyone's efforts have created a warm and joyful setting where our musicians and families can celebrate the season together with gratitude and happiness.
For the parents of the Woodwinds and White Teams, originally you are coming at 3pm to set up the tables/chairs, since the plan changed, please come in the morning between 9-9:30am if you are available. Sorry for the last-minute notice.
Starting at 3:40PM through 4PM is check-in time for all orchestra members. Upon your arrival, please:
* Sign in & place shoes in Tzu Chi shoe bags and keep shoes with you
* Wear Tzu Chi sock covers
* Turn in your family's tray of food for the potluck dinner and your secret Santa gift (labeled with recipient's name) to Auntie Joanna (Helen's mom) & YanYan (Julia's mom)
* Place all instrument cases and TCYOLI bags in downstairs (basement) in 3 separate rows by Blue, White and Woodwind Teams.
* Please wear the full orchestra uniform: blue polo shirt, black dress pants, black belt, long black socks, braided hair for girls with long hair) [black dress shoes are not needed as our performance is indoors] and extra clothes if you like to change after concert!
* Bring a SANTA HAT
* Have music for the Christmas songs that we will be performing [Please practice the songs at home before coming to the party!]
* Bring your own set of environmental-friendly eating utensils and bowl [to be washed at home after use]
The schedule for the evening is as follows:
4PM - Rehearsal of Team performances and talent performances
5PM - Performance of mini-Christmas concert (songs maybe played twice), and recognition- Orchestra members' can change out of their orchestra uniform into their own clothes after this part.
5:45PM - Rearrange tables and seating for our guests and members.
6PM Enjoyment of the potluck buffet dinner
7:30PM Gifts raffle and Secret Santa gifts distribution, team and talent performances, family photos with Santa
8:45 Conclude the party and venue clean-up (Parents of Blue Team with everyone pitching in to help)
Volunteer / Contest Opportunities
Please join us for our year-end Food Distribution on Saturday, Dec 20, from 8:00 AM–12:30 PM. Members and families are welcome to volunteer to make a difference.
Oyster Bay Manor/Harbor House is a mandatory concert on Sunday Dec 21st. Location: 150 South Street, Oyster Bay, NY. Please arrive by 1:30 PM and be ready for the 2 PM performance (Groups A & B). Please wear the full orchestra uniform + TYCOLI hoodie (blue polo shirt, black dress pants, black belt, long black socks, black dress shoes, braided hair for girls with long hair). Carpooling is encouraged due to limited parking space.
Tzu Chi Logo Design Competition- We know several members are interested, Tzu Chi is seeking a TCYA logo for its 60th anniversary which reflects the key values of Compassion, Kindness, Joy, and Giving, as well as the mission of promoting humanistic culture, community service, and environmental stewardship. This logo will supplement, not replace, the official Tzu Chi Youth logo. This competition is open to all Tzu Shaos, with a deadline of Dec 31, 2025, and a $100 gift card for the winning individual or team. Please review the 2025 TCYA Logo Competition Rules page attached for submission details.
Due to the abundance of food at our party, snacks from Student on Duty are not required today.
And please don't forget that we have 2 Ronald McDonald House visits on 12/27/26 & 12/29/26. Those who have signed up, please check with the parents who are in charge and coordinate in each LINE group chat.
We'll resume the rehearsal on 1/10/2026, and the Mid-year concert is on 2/7/2026.
Sincerely,
TCYOLI Staff
