Hearing Protection: What you need to know
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Noto:
"Austin's Battle":
Architecture at its best
Marinai shows its support
PAGEs 8-9
N A S SIG O N E L L A
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January 13, 2017
Vol. 34 No. 1
The Simple Bear Necessities By MC3 Bryan tomforde NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily – The Sigonella community packed Knight’s Hall Friday, Dec. 23 to see the Missoula Children’s Theatre production of “The Jungle Book.” After only a week of rehearsals and practicing lines, the cast of 64 students from Sigonella Elementary was excited to put on a show for their families and friends. MCT is based out of Missoula, Montana and opened the doors to the MCT Center for the Performing Arts in 1988, and at current MCT brings the arts to all 50 states, 5 Canadian Provinces and 16 countries. Missoula Children’s Theatre co-director Peter Kane, who also played the role of Baloo the bear said, “It’s been a great week. These kids really put a lot of effort into learning their lines.” The Missoula Children’s Theatre hired Kane, and his wife Sara, two years ago as show directors, where they started learning their job and in no time they were off performing around the world. “We are so excited,” said Chris Lee, whose three children acted in the play. “The kids really put their hearts into it. We are very satisfied with the directors and organizers, not only because of their professionalism, but they are great with the kids. The kids adore them!” Lee’s daughter, Gabriella played the lead character, Mowgli. “I enjoy acting and one of my favorite movies is Zootopia,” she explained. Lee said his daughter often practiced her lines well into the evening and enjoyed having both of her siblings in the play.
Gabriella was confident in her role which isn’t surprising as she is no stranger to acting. She started acting in Missoula Children’s Theatre productions at sixyears-old, adding “I love [acting] and plan on continuing in the future; probably not professionally, though.” Missoula Children’s Theatre programs
currently are scheduled all over the United States and in Canada. Presentations have also included on Air Force and Navy bases and some of the plays include hits like A Christmas Story (The Musical) and Tarzan (The Stage Musical). MCT currently contracts with DoDDS, Navy CYP (Child and Youth Programs), Air
Force Youth Services and Army Child and Youth Services. The Kanes expressed their thanks to the community and to the children for making the program such a success. They added, “We love our job! It’s incredible working with military families and bases around the world."
Children from Sigonella Elementary School perform "The Jungle Book" for friends and family Dec. 23. The Missoula Children's Theatre held the production after one week of rehearsals. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Bryan Tomforde/Released)
Sigonella’s Own to Represent Overseas Military Children at Presidential Inauguration By MC3 Bryan tomforde NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily – Twenty students from Sigonella Middle School were selected to march in the 58th Presidential Inauguration parade on Jan. 20. The children will represent the nearly 50,000 Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) students who attend school overseas. The parade will take place shortly after the swearing-in
on Jan. 20. The students will march the 1.5 mile parade route from the Capitol building to the White House. “The most exciting part of this is getting to see history unfold through the eyes of these kids,” said Sigonella History teacher Shawn McCarthy who helped organize the trip. McCarthy credits a former student in his 2012 history class for inspiring him to seek opportunities to travel to an inauguration after discovering that many students knew little about our Nation’s capital. He described how a class discussion led to students’
Sigonella Middle School students selected to march in the 58th Presidential Inauguration parade pose for a photo. The children will represent the nearly 50,000 Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) students who attend school overseas. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Bryan Tomforde/Released)
interest in Washington, D.C. when someone jokingly suggested a trip to the capital. Though several students chuckled at the idea, McCarthy said, “The question was no longer why they should go, but why not?” In May 2016 he partnered with Joining Forces, a program in Washington, D.C. that assists with turning ideas like these into reality. There were small setbacks along the way but McCarthy’s determination never wavered. “The official application didn’t even have an option for FPO or AP addresses,” explained McCarthy. To overcome this setback, he registered the group under a stateside mailing address of one of his relatives in Richmond Hill, Ga. “I was shocked when we received word of an official invitation welcoming the children of Sigonella from Richmond Hill,” said McCarthy. Since learning of their selection, the students have been practicing the basics of marching from the Sigonella ROTC before they board a plane to Washington, D.C. They will be bringing an American flag from their school gym, which the students call the “JAG” (Jaguars Athletic Gym). “It’s a very important part of our campus,” said McCarthy. “We love living overseas, but above all, we love being American.” The students will display the flag in formation and carry it along the inauguration parade route. With it, the students will carry 11 other National Flags where DoD students live on military bases throughout the world. Sigonella student Dean Hopkins said, “I am excited to visit the Pentagon. I do not ever remember being a part of something as historic as this. My dad is in the Navy. I am proud of him and I love America!” While in D.C., the students and their chaperones will visit the White House, The Smithsonian Institute and other historic landmarks. They will also participate in a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, Va. “I am very proud of the students and we all worked very hard. I am glad that we are able to represent all of the students overseas who could not attend,” said Emma McCarthy.