FWCD 50th Anniversary - History of the Kindergarten Rodeo

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The History of the Kindergarten Rodeo By Dan Bloch H’06 When I moved to Fort Worth from Chicago in 1969 to begin teaching fifth grade at Fort Worth Country Day, I brought four essential things with me: a love of good books, a love of sports (mainly Chicago teams other than the White Sox), a great passion for working with young people and a banjo. Today, 45 years later, I am still an avid book collector; I've added the Horned Frogs and the Dallas Mavs to my favorite teams; I continue to love working with young people (though now that includes not only students but virtually all of my colleagues except Chuck Maddux!); and I now have four banjos. It was the banjo that got me involved with FWCD’s Kindergarten Rodeo, which is now one of my most favorite experiences at FWCD. Melinda Miller saw me playing for my class one day, and asked if I would accompany the “It was the banjo that got me involved kindergarten for “Deep in the Heart of with FWCD’s Kindergarten Rodeo, which Texas” for that first rodeo in 1969 I was glad to do it. I squeezed in beside the is now one of my most favorite parents in the little, kindergarten room, experiences at FWCD.” which now comprises the Advancement Office and strummed along while the students sang. Because the room was so small, the rest of the Lower School could not attend—it was just a kindergarten parent event. Following my first rodeo, I asked Melinda if I might play along while the students performed, and that next year I began what has been an ongoing role with this now beloved kindergarten tradition. Some of the rodeo events are unchanged from those early days. The bucking broncos and steer wrestling were the main events, each lasting much longer than they do today. Calf scramble was an early addition. Bull riding had to wait for the invention of those big rubber balls with handles. The number of events expanded when the number of kindergarten classes

Melinda Miller


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