Anticipating Break

This is such a busy time of year as it is.  This year with  some of the changes to my position, changes in what we have traditionally done and my own students growing older, it has been busier than usual.    Last night I attended the Middle School Band concert.  This was the third concert in two and a half weeks for me.  Never-the-less, it was exciting and great to be out listening and performing with your students.  Due to changes such as adding a Winter Concert, time became a little tight and some experiences were a little short.

The Washington 4th grade students were caroling this morning at Logan Apartments in Fairfield.  They are always excited to have us come.  I wish I could have reached some of the other facilities in Fairfield that enjoy our students, but time really came up short.  My plan is to visit some more of them in the spring and perform some of the music we will be preparing for the 3rd and 4th grade Spring Concert.  For those students who did go to Logan Apartments, they were very well received.  They brought along student-made Christmas cards to pass out to the residents.  We also passed out song booklets and they joined in on all of our songs we were singing.

Something that happened today that made me very proud, I also want to pass on to you as parents and guardians of these students.  I was stopped on my way out of the door by several people who have very very gracious comments about how our students behaved while we were there singing.  When I got on the bus, I made sure to tell your students how proud I was of their singing, but even more so, comments like that and how they represent themselves and our school learning community are more important.  I was very proud of them and you should be too.  I was not at all surprised about how they handled themselves, they always do that well, but I was very proud that others noticed.

Tomorrow is the big Carol-sing tradition at Washington and Libertyville Elementaries.  This is a very heartwarming experience.  I first experienced this last year, and it is something that many people look forward to every year.

Please remember when we return from break, that the 5th grade ensemble will have a concert on the night of the second day back in class.  They will be performing at the Middle School with the Middle School Vocal Ensembles.

GYZ is taking a short break for now, but will pick up again after the break.  We will be preparing some Pop type music and will be working towards the Dinner Show.  This will be another new experience for me.

I hope that all of you have a great break, and I look forward to seeing your students when we return in 2011.

-Mr. G