VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS MONTH begins April 27th and continues through May 22nd.  Wonderful examples student work fill the walls, as well as, colorful displays for the upcoming Middle School and 1st/2nd grade play.  Some events you won't want to miss:

*Kindergarten through 2nd grade will be singing several songs for the Lower School/Middle School chapel on Tuesday, May 12th.  Their enthusiasm is contagious!

*The 1st/2nd grade students will be presenting An Aesop Adventure Wednesday, May 13th at 10:00 a.m. and Thursday, May 14th at 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall.  Come and join in the fun as they share little "life lessons" in song and story. 

*Small, fresh bouquets and corsages for your "up and coming" thespians will be available for purchase at the 7:00 p.m. performance of An Aesop Adventure.  Show your appreciation for your child's hard work and fabulous performance with a fragrant little gift.

3’s/4’s

Whether we are dancing, singing about our “stinky feet” and that Aikendrum with spaghetti hair, marching and playing instruments in our “band”, or praising God, the 3 and 4 year olds are having a fun time making music.  They are filled with joy and excitement that comes bubbling out each time they set foot in the classroom.  Fast/slow, loud/soft, and high/low are some of the concepts we discuss as we explore the wonderful world of music by way of those tried and true nursery rhymes as well as fun new melodies and rhythms.  It is amazing to watch each child find his/her own little song and beat from deep within and see the joy when they let it “loose”.  Filled with energy and enthusiasm the 3’s and 4’s bring a smile to your face and heart.

Rodeo Round Up:  The Scottie Dogs, Goldfish and Dolphins did a rootin' tootin' good job on their Rodeo Round Up.  They made us all "Texas Proud"!  They got our feet a stompin' and our heels a kickin'!  Way to go cowgirls and cowboys!

Kindergarten

The students have been learning, and will continue to learn, music theory including such concepts as high/low, dynamics, line and space notes and the musical alphabet. They have been learning to read and play from a rhythm chart as well, and are doing a great job.  In addition, they love to play instruments in the “band”, and sing and dance to a variety of songs.   Full of life and excitement, the students are a joy to have in class. 

The kindergarten students did a FABULOUS job singing and adding some rhythm and beat at the opening ceremony welcoming students from our sister school in Costa Rica.  Their excitement showed and they played a very special part in the festivities!

We have been discussing the various instruments in the orchestra and the students have been doing a great job identifying the family to which each instrument belongs.  If you play one or more instruments and would be willing to come and speak to the class and let them see the instrument and hear you play, please contact me by note or email (danielsl@hses.org) and I will arrange a time for you to visit.  What a golden opportunity for the students!

1st & 2nd Grade Play

The students have been working hard at home and at school to learn the songs for their upcoming play, An Aesop Adventure, which will debut May 13th and 14th in our very own Parish Hall. They are doing a fabulous job and are sounding great.  CD's with music for the play and scripts went home before Spring Break so that each of our up and coming actors and actresses could begin preparing for his/her Oscar performance.  Please take the time to sit down with your child and help him/her memorize and become comfortable with speaking his/her part.  With the exception of the narrators, who will need to be familiar enough with their parts to be able to smoothly and easily read their lines, all parts need to be memorized.

A parent note went home in the red folder on 3/6/09 and 3/27.  Included in the 3/27 letter is information concerning part of your child's costume for the play. Each student will need to have black pants/sweatpants and black socks sent to the school, labeled with his/her name and in a bag also labeled, no later than Monday, May 4th. Watch for further information and details concerning costumes and important dates via this site and correspondence sent home in the Friday red folders.

1^st Grade

The first grade students have been exploring the world of music in various ways.  We began a study of jazz at the beginning of the year and will continue through the end of the school year.  The students have been singing and dancing along with jazz greats such as Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington, and have even dabbled in a bit of “scat” singing.  They are quite good at “feeling” that jazzy and bluesy beat.

In addition to our jazz study, the students have been learning music theory concepts such as high/low, dynamics, the musical alphabet, note movement up/down, identifying treble clef notes and counting/tapping out various rhythms/beats.  Add to the above listening to various classical pieces and using descriptive words to identify mood/feeling, learning about various cultures and their gift of music to the world, and singing songs of praise to God and you can see that we keep busy having loads of musical fun.

 2^nd Grade

The second grade students have been exploring the world of music in various ways.  We began a study of Broadway songs/musicals at the beginning of the year and will continue through the end of the school year. The students have been listening to and singing songs from a variety of Broadway musicals and discussing the relationship between Broadway plays/musicals and motion picture production of these plays/musicals.  Each month a new Broadway song is included in our music magazine, Music Express, giving the students an opportunity to become familiar with a wide variety of sounds, rhythms and “stories” in song as they sing and dance to the music they hear and the music they feel inside.

In addition to our jazz study, the students have been learning music theory concepts such as high/low, dynamics, the musical alphabet, note movement up/down, identifying treble clef notes and counting/tapping out a variety of rhythms/beats.  Add to the above listening to various classical pieces and using descriptive words to identify mood/feeling, learning about various cultures and their gift of music to the world, and singing songs of praise to God, and you can see that we keep busy having loads of musical fun.

Jr. FCA

Each Wednesday morning from 7:30-8:00 grades 1 through 4 have the opportunity to meet with me for a fun-filled Bible study in room 503.  We discuss the love of God for each of us and learn how He wants us to live and serve Him day by day.  As we study His Word and those in the Bible and in our present time who have and are serving Him, we see how we can grow in living for Him at school, at home and in every area of our lives.  It is a great opportunity to join with other students and grow in our knowledge of God as we listen to stories, play games and read scripture.