For anyone currently working in the building, it’s just always been there.

Kristi Smith, the school counselor, might have as good a guess as anyone else.

“1912 maybe.” she said.

Second grade teacher Tricia Dohrn doesn’t know either.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Frankie Mendez, a second-grade student at Duncombe Elementary School wore his holiday best Wednesday morning for the daily Christmas song singing.

“It has to be over 50 years.” she said.

The annual caroling has been a part of her life for, well, awhile.

“I don’t want to say how many years.” she joked. “I went here, my kids went here and now I teach here. It’s always been here for me. There’s nothing that’s a tradition that I like more.”

Thinking about the morning’s singing has brightened more than one gray, gloomy day for her.

“I think,” she said. “We get to carol today, it will all be good.”

-Messener photo by Hans Madsen
Students, staff and visitors gather in the gym Wednesday morning at Duncombe Elementary School for the traditional morning Christmas music sing along. The tradition followed the students and staff to their temporary years at Fair Oaks and now are being continued in the new Duncombe building.

The voices of children, teachers and visitors has had a different sound in each of the three buildings Duncombe has held classes in.

In the original Duncombe building, vacated because of structural issues just before the start of the 2015-16 school year, the singing took place in a foyer by the west stairwell.

During Duncombe’s years in the old Fair Oaks building, the tradition followed the staff and students into their temporary home and they sang in the gym.

This year, now in their new building, the tradition continues, also singing in the gym.

“I miss the sound of the stairwell with all of us crammed together.” Dohrn said. “That’s OK though, as long as the tradition continues.”

During Wednesday’s caroling, risers had been set up on the stage for a student music performance later in the day. A few students sat there, some along the edge of the stage, most in chairs on the floor.

Principal Pat Reding took in the view from the risers as he sat down and sang with a small group of students on the risers. There was a smile on his face and twinkle in his eye as he looked out over the students, staff and visitors.

“That’s a picture I won’t ever forget.” he said. “If I live to be a hundred and forget my birthday I’ll remember this.”

Reding said there’s about 435 students and 52 staff members. With the visitors on hand, the number singing Wednesday was at least 500.

As those voices sang, filling the gym with joyful music, Smith looked back on the sound of only a few days before. Practice has improved the sound.

“Monday was a little weak.” she said.

Friday morning’s performance is expected to be perfect.