LaPlace – The wintry air was only part of the reason the crowd felt chills on Sunday night at St. Joan of Arc Catholic School. The students and staff, with help from a camel, a donkey and other animals, put on a moving re-enactment of the Nativity story as part of a “Happy Birthday, Jesus!” celebration.

Fourth-grade teacher and SJA alumna Kelly Cupit Hubbell, who was married in November, portrayed Mary, and her husband, Todd Hubbell, was Joseph. Leah Schaeffer, the 5-month-old granddaughter of SJA preschool teacher Sandy Schaeffer, played Baby Jesus.

SJA students from kindergarten through eighth grade participated as angels, shepherds and prophets, while the SJA Viking Band provided musical accompaniment, and first- and second-graders sang carols.

The Nativity has been a tradition at SJA, but the live animals were a new touch in conjunction with the school’s 50th anniversary celebration. Parents stepped up to donate money to help pay for the animals – a camel, a donkey, a calf and goats – to make an appearance from an Alabama farm specializing in Living Nativities.

The event was one of many holiday events at the school, which also hosted a preschool evening of carols and a holiday band concert.