SPANISH FORT, Ala.—Spanish Fort Middle School’s annual “Holiday With the Arts” netted $2,000 for the school’s fine arts programs, including the recently unveiled theater department.

Even though the amount raised was only one-fifth of the total collected in 2009, SFMS Principal Craig Ross said faculty and staff chose to downsize the scope of the event to make it more intimate and manageable.

“It was really more like a Christmas concert this year, but everybody really seemed to enjoy it, and it was packed. Tons of people came,” Ross said.

At the same time, the 2010 event doubled $1,000 raised during the inaugural 2008 event.

Proceeds from ticket sales will be split between the SFMS band, choir and fine arts programs.

Ross said the theater department debuted in 2010, and only recently staged its first production, Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.”

“It was a huge success, and we’re thrilled to be able to expand these programs for our students when there’s obviously so much interest,” Ross said, noting particular emphasis was placed on the troupe’s performance for Rockwell and Spanish Fort Elementary schools.

“As the middle school, I just feel like it’s my job to build that bridge with the elementary students, and make them part of this place long before they ever come here as students. I don’t want it to just be that big, scary place on the Hill,” he said.