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2025 Christmas Christmas Calendar English Jul Julekalender

Christmas Calendar Story – Day 07: Help Decorate for Christmas

Saturday morning arrived with the kind of cold that made every breath visible. The seventh mission was written on the class notice board from the day before: “Mission #07 – Help decorate for Christmas — at school, church, or home.” For once, there was no homework, no instructions — just a quiet invitation to give time and effort.

By ten o’clock, the school gym was filled with boxes of garlands, tinsel, and tangled lights that no one dared untie. Ms. Larsen, bundled in a thick scarf, smiled as she saw who showed up. Nearly half the class had volunteered — some dragging siblings, others holding rolls of tape and twine.

Emma climbed a chair to hang paper stars while Jonas and Erik wrestled with a stubborn string of lights that refused to cooperate. “It’s like it wants to be knotted,” Jonas muttered, making Erik laugh so hard he dropped the plug. Meanwhile, Ida arranged a table of candles and small nativity figures, checking that everything looked respectful and warm.

After two hours, the gym had transformed — glowing lights, golden stars, a small Christmas tree decorated with handmade ornaments from the younger classes. Ms. Larsen stood back, eyes shining. “You’ve turned a plain room into something beautiful,” she said. “And not because of the lights — but because of the hands that worked together.”

As the students packed up, tired but smiling, Emma whispered to Jonas, “I think the lights were never the problem — we just needed to cooperate.” He grinned. “Guess that’s the real Christmas spirit.”

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2025 Christmas Christmas Calendar English Jul Julekalender

Christmas Calendar Story – Day 06: Be Someone’s St. Nicholas

December 6th brought with it a quiet excitement. On the board, Ms. Larsen had written in neat cursive: “Mission #06 – Be someone’s St. Nicholas.” Below that, a short instruction: Secretly leave a kind note or a small treat for someone today.

No one said much that morning, but there was a sparkle in the air. During breaks, whispers filled the classroom — someone sneaking a folded note into a pencil case, another slipping a chocolate onto a classmate’s chair before hurrying away. Emma left a small candy heart on Nora’s desk with a note: “For always being kind.” Jonas wrote “You make people laugh when they need it most” and placed it in Erik’s locker.

By lunchtime, the school was alive with quiet discoveries. Students found messages tucked inside books, mittens, or taped to their water bottles. The laughter that followed wasn’t loud — it was the soft kind that comes from being seen. Even those who pretended not to care couldn’t hide their smiles.

When the final bell rang, Ms. Larsen simply said, “St. Nicholas gave in secret so others would feel valued. You’ve done the same today.” And as they left, the class realized something small but powerful — you don’t need to be noticed to make a difference.

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2025 Christmas Christmas Calendar English Jul Julekalender

Christmas Calendar Story – Day 05: Order Brings Peace

Tuesday began quietly, the kind of morning when the school hallways still smelled of winter jackets and wet mittens. On the blackboard, the new message read: “Mission #05 – Order brings peace.” Beneath it, a simple note: Clean your desk, then help someone else with theirs.

Most students shrugged at first — it didn’t sound very exciting. But when they opened their desks, it was a different story. Old papers, snack wrappers, forgotten pencils, and a few mystery items tumbled out. Emma laughed as she discovered a half-eaten granola bar from October. Jonas found a missing homework sheet and shouted, “Found it — three weeks late!”

After their own desks were spotless, the second part of the task began. Ida, who was always organized, helped Sindre sort his chaotic pile of notebooks. Lukas and Nora teamed up, making a game out of who could finish first. Soon, the classroom buzzed with energy — not competitive, but cooperative.

When Ms. Larsen inspected the rows, she nodded approvingly. “A clean space helps you think clearly,” she said. “And when you help someone else, you clear more than just a desk — you clear someone’s day.”

Before leaving, Jonas slipped a neatly folded note into his drawer: ‘Keep it this way.’ It was the first time anyone had seen his desk so tidy — and maybe, for once, it would stay that way.

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Fritidsinteresser JOY Sammen

Joy Norge – Eldre og Unge – SAMMEN

«Eldre og Unge – SAMMEN» er et nyskapende prosjekt der JOY kobler sammen jobbtilbud for ungdom med aktivisering for eldre.

Ungdommer i alderen 13 til 18 år får en betalt jobb 1,5 timer i uken og besøker eldre på sykehjem og i omsorgsboliger. Ungdommen arrangerer ulike aktiviteter for de eldre som bingo, basar, allsang, quiz, spill-kvelder og fakkeltog til jul.

Tilbakemeldingene fra ungdommene er at det er gøy, kjekt og lærerikt å være med i SAMMEN-prosjektet. Lucia 17 år sa det så fint: «Vi er virkelig heldige som får jobbe med noe så kjærlighetsgivende som dette».

JOY er stolt og ydmyk over å ha skapt et prosjekt som bringer unge og eldre sammen i felles aktivitet. Å være vitne til de magiske øyeblikkene av livsglede som oppstår i dette samspillet viser oss at dette prosjektet er viktig og riktig. JOY skal jobbe for at enda flere ungdommer og eldre får oppleve livsglede gjennom generasjonstreff.

Målet er å tilby generasjonstreff i alle bydeler i Bergen i løpet av 2027, noe som vil bety 350 ungdommer som besøker 50 sykehjem og omsorgsboliger.

Les mer om SAMMEN på Joy Norge sine hjemmesider.

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2025 Christmas Christmas Calendar English Jul Julekalender

Christmas Calendar Story – Day 04: Create Christmas Cards for the Elderly

Monday morning, the classroom smelled faintly of glue and colored pencils. On the board, in neat handwriting, was written: “Mission #04 – Create Christmas cards for the elderly.” Ms. Larsen brought out a box of paper, scissors, ribbons, and glitter — the kind that somehow gets everywhere no matter how careful you are.

The room filled with quiet focus. Even the ones who usually complained about crafts were busy drawing candles, stars, and snowy houses. Emma wrote “You are not forgotten” in big, looping letters. Jonas drew a clumsy but cheerful snowman and added a note: “Wishing you warmth, laughter, and company this Christmas.”

After an hour, a colorful pile of cards grew on the teacher’s desk — each one different, imperfect, and full of life. Ms. Larsen gathered them and said softly, “We’ll deliver these to the nursing home this weekend. Some of the residents don’t have many visitors. Your words will matter.”

For a moment, the class went quiet. It wasn’t the kind of silence that comes from boredom, but the kind that comes from realizing something important — that even a small piece of paper, if made with care, can reach someone’s heart.

When the bell rang, the students left behind a trail of glitter across the floor — a fitting reminder that kindness, once spread, is hard to sweep away.