Multi-Cultural Day 2011

Each year at the conclusion of the Holiday Musical, the second-graders at Chets Creek spend a day digging deeper into the actual celebrations that were discussed while preparing for their musical.  The Resource Team runs various centers throughout the day, each one covering one of the holiday traditions.

Yesterday, I spent the day in Israel teaching about Hanukkah.  Yes...the Arab in Israel, speaking Hebrew and sharing the story of the Maccabees and their miraculous victory in battle over King Antiochus and his Syrian army over 2000 years ago.  The people of Judah were outnumbered 100 to 1.  (Not a great ratio, unless your god is the God of Israel.)  Long story short, God worked several miracles on their behalf, one of which was multiplying the oil in their lamps when they returned home from the war.  They had enough oil for one night, but God miraculously re-filled the oil for the next eight days.  Hence, the "Festival of Lights" celebration we know as Hanukkah was born.

Take a peek into my center and see what transpired....



"Eight Days of Hanukkah" was playing while they entered the room.  They couldn't see my laptop screen, but could hear the story of the Maccabees re-told through the song.  Senator Orrin Hatch (Utah) wrote the song and had it recorded.

The story of Hanukkah

Dreidels

Playing the dreidel game

We concluded our time together with a

story entitled, "Light the Lights"

The other centers included the celebration of Kwanzaa, Parranda and the Christian Christmas story.

Until next time...

Once on a Housetop 2011

'Tis the Season for Holiday Musicals and Performances!!

Tonight at 6:00 p.m., we conclude our holiday programming with "Once on a Housetop" performed by the classes of Mrs. Walag, Mrs. VanAlstyne, Mrs. Morgan, Mrs. Tsengas and Miss Evanko.  They have worked very hard to provide you with a performance that is sure to delight!

This multi-cultural holiday musical written by Roger Emerson and John Jacobson takes place on several different housetops.  Various holiday traditions are being celebrated and viewed through the eyes of a group of chimney-sweeps who are up on the rooftops cleaning chimneys.  While they are taking care of business, they discover that not everyone celebrates the holidays in the same manner and it is an eye-popping experience for each of them.

"Once on a Housetop" 2011 on PhotoPeach


 
 
Last Thursday, the same musical was presented by the classes of Mrs. Metzger, Mrs. Morris, Miss Thomson and Mrs. McLeod. This Thursday, the entire grade level will celebrate "Multi-Cultural Day" as a culminating event for this unit of study.

I would like to express my sincere appreciation for all of the hard work that went into this production.  You guys never cease to amaze me!!

Mr. Brooks, it was absolutely fantastic having you back in the house!!  Thank you, Ms. Bailey for allowing him to come!!

Until next time...

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

I'm sure there was music performed somewhere along the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade route in New York City today, but I thought it quite fitting that my sister took a picture of Spiderman and e-mailed it to me from the bleachers.  How thematic of her!!

Happy Thanksgiving, Superheroes!!

Until next time...

McKenzie's Run 2011

Let's see....this year, I've done the Wolfson Children's Hospital 5-miler, the Winter Beach Run (4-miler), I was a Running Buddy in the "Girls on the Run 5K" last spring, I ran to support the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra in April, I did the GREEN (Eco-Friendly Builders) Run in June at the request of my cousin, the F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Cancer Care run over Labor Day weekend, the Komen Race for the Cure in October and this past weekend, McKenzie's Run 2011.  As I was flipping through my calendar to chronicle the above, I realized that I had invested time, money and energy to support a cause at least ten times this year.  That's almost once a month! I had no idea!!

The McKenzie Noelle Wilson Foundation raises money to help children succeed in life, whether it is the orphanage they built in Africa or the McKenzie Academic Resource Center (MARC) at Portside in Jacksonville, Florida.  It is such a blessing to take part in something that ultimately blesses others. 

Chets Creek had a team of walkers and runners who participated in the event on Saturday.  My sister and I were proud to be a part of it.  If you would like to contribute to the ongoing work of this young lady's foundation, visit http://www.caregivegrow.org/.  Her life was cut short, but her family turned tragedy into triumph and their efforts are making a difference.

Paulette and Dee Dee

Everbank Field

November 19, 2011

Until next time...

WVU Armed Forces Salute 2011

The West Virginia University's Marching Band out-did themselves with their tribute to Veterans past and present.  Check out their half-time show honoring each branch of the Armed Forces.  If you can figure out what the formation is for the US Coast Guard, please leave me a comment at the end of the post.  It looks like an upside down ship to me.  I assume they were playing to the other side of the stands.



This is what I saw as I watched the program:

Army (a moving tank)
Coast Guard (an upside down ship)
Marines (an eagle)
Air Force (a fighter jet)
Navy (a submarine)
USA (Great Seal of the United States with flag)

What a great show!! I cannot begin to comprehend how many hours of rehearsal went into that program.  It was phenomenal!!

Until next time...

Syncopation Lesson

Teaching the concept of syncopation is not an easy task.  One must start with the basics of steady beat and progress through the process with the students.  If you can help them understand that syncopation is nothing more than shifting the beat from the strong beat to a weak beat, they'll get it.  They may feel it in their bodies long before their brain figures out what's going on with the beat.

Today, I used a rhythmic piece by Bob DeFrece called, "Mouth Sound Piece."  I taught it by rote (on the syllable "choo") and we determined that lines 1, 2 and 4 were exactly the same.  Line 3 was complimentary, but was unlike the other three lines.  After labeling the syncopated portion with the syllables "syn-co-pa," I asked the students to work in groups to try to lay out the rhythmic pattern of the piece.  They never saw it written down.  They had to use their memory, auditory skills and rhythmic reading abilities to accomplish the task.

 

working in groups

tah, tah, ti-ti tah, syn-co-pa-tah (rest)

tah, tah, ti-ti tah, syn-co-pa-tah (rest)

syn-co-pa, syn-co-pa, syn-co-pa tah tah

tah, tah, ti-ti tah, syn-co-pa-tah (rest)

 

So proud of their finished product!!

Until next time...

Duct Tape Diva

This post has absolutely nothing to do with music and everything to do with my principal who will go to great lengths to get her students to read.  Last year, during our 25 Million Word Campaign, Mrs. Phillips agreed to be duct-taped to the wall while reading books.  She was unable to fulfill her obligation due to her being "in the family way."  Today, she made good on her promise.

For two hours, Mrs. Phillips was duct-taped to the wall in the lobby.  Scores of children paraded by her while she read books.  It was quite the sight.  Matter of fact, I've never seen anything like it.  I admire this woman greatly.  Her two hours on the wall had to be squeezed in between three different awards ceremonies celebrating our honor students and outstanding citizens from the first quarter.  I'm still not sure when she ate lunch (or if she even got to eat lunch today). 

She is such a good sport - all in the name of literacy.  I tried to capture her in photos, but they just don't do her justice.  I didn't realize duct tape came in so many different colors.  Our PE coach strapped her in with several strands of University of Florida-colored duct tape.  The problem is that she's a Clemson fan and I'm afraid our Coach is going to pay dearly for that decision.  Ah well....

Mrs. Phillips - The Duct Tape Diva

How will she ever top this one?

Until next time...