April 2019
April 2019 - Page 1
A Special Supplement to
Celebrating
• Visual Arts • Culinary Arts • Band • Choir • Drama Cover and special section designed by Gregory Myers
April 2019 - Page 2
Investment in art at South Newton is paying off BY GREGORY MYERS nceeditor@centurylink.net
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hen cuts are made to public education, especially in small rural schools, usually the fine arts programs are the first on the chopping block. However, at the South Newton School Corporation, the visual arts have thrived. “When I first came to South Newton in the 1993-94 school year, I was the only art teacher K through 12,” said high school teacher Lori Murphy. “It was during a time where cuts were being made all over the state and country. However, since then, because of the administration, school board and the community, the fine arts programs began to grow again and now we have a full fine arts program.” Now the school has three art teachers, Murphy and Jenn Weaver at the middle school and high school, and Jessica Zamora at the elementary. In 2008, the high school and middle school created the Art Club, and several years later the elementary followed with its own Art Club. “Not only has the administration supported the art programs, but they have also supported adding new programs to the schools,” added Weaver. “We have art programs here at South Newton that most other small schools don’t have.” South Newton has several popular ceramic and sculpture courses and has its own kiln. “Recently the school paid to have the kiln redone, and that was an expensive project,” added Murphy. “That could have been a time to drop the school’s participation in clay, but the administration and school board see the value in a ceramics program.” During Weaver’s first year at South Newton, the school added a fiber arts curriculum where students get to be creative using materials that most people use for crafts. “The school seems to go above and beyond the requirements for art at the middle school,” added Murphy. Along with the many diverse art courses South Newton provides, there are also a number of dedicated independent study students that Murphy and Weaver teach. The investment in the arts has paid dividends, as year after year, South Newton students do well at art shows and contests. This year was no different. South Newton students fared extremely
well at the Prairie Arts Council Regional HS Art Show earlier this school year, including the taking home of the Best of Show Award by freshman Jaelin Marks for a coil pot that she made in ceramics. “I was very surprised that I had won an award,” said Marks. “It was a long process for it to turn out the way it did, and it even broke at one point, which was very stressful. When I learned that I had won, I couldn’t have been happier. I realized that all of the hard work paid off and that people out there thought it was the best project. My art teachers have greatly impacted me as an artist in such a little amount of time. They pushed me to work through inconveniences so I could create the project to the best of my ability. It was such an honor to win best of show.” Award of Excellence winners included Angelina Small, Jaelin Marks, Lea Conrad, Sam Warren, and Zoe Tsaparikos. Award of Excellence, honorable mention went to Ashanti Snodgrass, Autumn Lattimer, and Nevaeh Ohlund. For the middle school students at the Prairie Arts Council Regional Show, Lizzie Glassburn received Best of School for South Newton out of 16 school participants. South Newton Elementary also saw good participation at the show as around 40 students took part. More recently, several students placed well at the first ever Purdue Bug Bowl Art Contest. Highlighting the show was South Newton’s Angelina Small, who won Best of Show for K-12. “My artwork represented a large accomplishment of Purdue, being that it was the 150th anniversary of the university, so I tried to capture the moon landing combined with bugs,” said Small. “I choose grasshoppers because of the theme ‘Giant Leaps.’ I was super excited and surprised that I won. I didn’t expect to beat the larger schools.” Small also credited her art teachers for her success and added motivation. “My art teachers have been a huge help in allowing me to expand my artistic talents,” said Small. “By always pushing me to do my best, I know that I can always count on them. When I think I’m done Miss Weaver always asks ‘is there anything you can do to make it better?’ which forces me to add more details or overall enhance my best efforts.” At the same Bug Bowl Art Contest, South Newton middle school students Tristen Barricks and Ella Small took first and second place respectively. The South Newton Art Department will cap off the school year with its annual Art Show, which for the first time will be held
(PHOTO BY LORI MURPHY)
South Newton senior Malyah Embery is shown throwing clay with her feet. on a Sunday. The South Newton Spring Concert and Art Show will take place May 19 from 3 to 5 p.m. The show is sponsored by Tri-Kappa, who also sponsor the Phyllis McKee Excellence in Art Award, which goes to the best overall art student at South Newton. This year, for the first time, the best
of show award is being named the Larry Reeves Memorial Best of Show Award, after a former local art teacher and artist. “None of what we have accomplished would be possible without the support of the school, and the community,” added Murphy. “We are also benefitted greatly by the Prairie Arts Council.”
(PHOTO PROVIDED)
(PHOTO PROVIDED)
South Newton freshman Jaelin Marks won Best of Show at the Prairie Arts Council South Newton’s Angelina Small won Best of Show recently at the first ever Purdue Bug Bowl Art Contest. Regional HS Art Show earlier this school year.
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April 2019 - Page 3
RCHS’ production of “Fiddler on the Roof” featured a fairly large cast for a spring musical which honored 40 years of history.
RCHS celebrates 40 years with ‘Fiddler’ By NICK FIALA
reporter@rensselaerrepublican.com
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his week marked a special anniversary for the Rensselaer Central Drama Department. High Schoolers and some middle schoolers gave a heartfelt performance of the 1964 musical “Fiddler on the Roof” to commemorate the 40th anniversary of their auditorium and stage. The stage was built in 1979 and was first used for a performance of the very same musical. This year, it was put on from April 11 — April 14. Performance prep On the evening of one of the musical’s dress rehearsals, director Bernard Sell, who is also an RCHS English teacher, answered questions about the production while tidying things up in the orchestra pit, before the curtain parted for the first time. In addition to directing, Sell was personally responsible for the piano accompaniment. “It’s the 40th anniversary of the auditorium, and this goes back to the first musical that was done here,” Sell said. Taking place in pre-revolutionary Russia in the early 20th century, the musical tells the tale of a Jewish peasant named Tevye, as he contends with marrying off his daughters, as a growing anti-Semitic sentiment threatens the safety and livelihood of his village. Despite the fame of the show, and its importance to the history of the RCHS stage, Sell said there were few technical challenges while preparing the 2019 version. There were also more male participants this time around, which is normally something of an issue when it comes to the spring musicals. “It’s actually a fairly easy show to put together,” Sell said, “(and) it has been. We were blessed with a lot of males this time, which usually doesn’t happen, but...it fell into place.” RCHS Choral Director Stephanie Davisson, who led the musical arrangements, agreed. Most of the action takes place not through elaborate set design or stage tricks, but through the actors’ exaggerated expressions. “This has not been a difficult show, but it’s a very dramatic show,” she said. In addition to Davisson and Sell, Alexis Brouwer served as the student director. Debra Spangler, an English teacher for Rensselaer Central Middle School, also assisted the production as a guide for the middle school students who were involved. “We were able to invite seven middle school students to join us,” Davisson said, while sitting in front of the stage after the lights went down. Honoring a legacy On Saturday, April 13, the school marked the anniversary by honoring three theatre directors from the school’s past and present with commemorative plaques. Those directors were Sell, Bill Oates and Walt Schaltenbrand. “Thank you for the great memories,” Davisson said to those gathered in the auditorium that night. “The show must go on.”
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Elijah Gatineau and Alexis Brouwer in a scene from the iconic musical “Fiddler on the Roof.”
April 2019 - Page 4
(HJ PHOTO/JAMES WOLF JR.)
At the March 11 Tri-County School Board meeting, the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management students show off the food they made for the School Board. From left to right are Bailee LaCosse, Ashlynn Pride, Olivia Miller, Mollie Mosier (the teacher), Jasmine Southard, Taylor Doty, Calista Kyburz.
Tri-County culinary classes are really cooking now BY JAMES D. WOLF JR. news@thehj.com
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he students of the Tri-County culinary classes sat at tables in the Wolcott Theatre Café on April 16, discussing the menu for a first-of-itskind event. The Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management II: Culinary Arts students will be preparing an eighth grade graduation dinner, a way of recognizing that the students are progressing from one level of their education. It’s the next step in an outreach of work experience for the culinary students and was a request from the TriCounty administration. Because the Tri-County JuniorSenior High school is in the same building, there isn’t a sense of transition, said culinary arts teacher Mollie Mosier. “So we’re serving the whole eight grade on May 16,” she said. That means planning for about 60 students, and they were looking over a poll of the students and recipes at the Café. Laurie Anderson, the Café owner, is donating the use of the restaurant’s backroom for the event. The main course of chicken Cordon Bleu was selected first, and the students were looking over the other popular dishes from the poll. The pasta and corn would make it look too pale, Anderson suggested to the students. They decided on red potatoes, green beans, rolls that sounded similar those
at Texas Roadhouse and a simple salad similar to what Olive Garden serves. Senior Kaden Price said he likes Caesar salad, but other students thought that most eight graders wouldn’t like it. But he also likes very few things like cucumbers in his salad, and he thinks the eighth graders will be similar, to which most of the other students agreed. Mosier said that they want the experience to be finer dining with cloth napkins and tablecloths and an offcampus occurrence. Many of the students don’t get further away than Lafayette, so this would be a new experience, she said. The serving is also a new experience for the culinary students, but that’s been the theme this year. In addition to making a lunch for those who took the district tour, on Nov. 1, Mosier had the students start the Cav-é, the Cavalier Café for teachers’ lunches. On March 11, the students also made a light meal for the administration and
school board before their meeting. Sweets were served after the meeting. As with any art, there comes a time where practice gives way to performing for an audience. “It’s work-based learning,” Mosier said. The students are getting to learn how a commercial kitchen works and how to work in a larger space. Anderson said she was glad to be part of it when Mosier asked her. “I would love to have some people to mentor because that’s how I got started,” Anderson said. She began in restaurants at 18 and had her own corporation by 22, which she credits great mentors for making possible. “I’m really looking forward to watching these kids do this,” she said. The students have various reasons for taking the culinary classes. Price wants to own his own restaurant, but “I just want to be the owner, not the chef,” he said.
The classes have taught him time management and the importance of following instructions on a recipe, he said. Seniors and best friends Calista Kyburz and Olivia Emond want to open a bakery, possibly in Lafayette. Emond said she learned not to overbuy when preparing for a meal. Senior Olivia Miller said the class has taught her to be organized, and senior Ashlyn Pride said is taught her how much goes into a business in general. It’s also service to the schools, Mosier said. She hopes that the more public profile of her home sciences classes will also shed light on the program and keep it on the school board’s radar when they have the next referendum. She’d like to offer more culinary classes, solidify the pathway for eight graders interested in the classes, have food service certifications for the students and achieve dual credit classes with Ivy Tech, she said.
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April 2019 - Page 5
Kankakee Valley Band performs at Disney BY CHERI SHELHART kvpreporter@gmail.com
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he Kankakee Valley High School bands performed at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, over their spring break with 128 band members and 25 chaperones. The trip took six days and the group was able to stay on the Disney property, explore the different “worlds” of the famous park and record their versions of popular Disney movie songs as well as. The marching band and the orchestra both performed in different venues. The marching band became a part of the daily Main Street Disney parade from Frontier Land to Main Street, distance of less than a mile. This was on their third day where they also spent a day enjoying the rides and sights of the Magic Kingdom. On the first day of the trip, the orchestra performed at Disney Springs, which is outside of the parks, but owned by Disney with a venue for outdoor concerts. Band Director Nick Boersma said the students had to carry their instruments to the concert venue from the bus, parked nearly a mile away. Two of the kids who are orchestra percussionists fell behind due to the heavy instruments they carried and went to the wrong stage, but they were eventually found and brought to the correct stage in time for the performance. Boersma said this year’s trip included some illnesses. “We tried to do the best we could for them with their parents a thousand miles away.” He said on the next trip, planned in four years, they will have a certified nurse traveling with them. The bus ride took 24 hours to arrive at the Disney parks, and 22 hours to drive back to Indiana. On the second day at Disney, both the band and the orchestra students went off-property for an instrumental workshop with Disney recording artists, where they learned how to prepare to record for a movie. Boersma explained the Disney musicians like to get as much done as quickly as they can. Some of the musicians are also street performers in the Disney parks. By the time the kids recorded their music, it was after 9 p.m. after a long day exploring the Disney Animal Kingdom. The songs, a Mary Poppins song, the theme song from “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and the “Imperial March” from Star Wars were recorded. They also performed music from the movie, “Aladdin,” which was put to scenes from the movie. Then the rest of the music plays while pictures of the band students show on the video. Due to copyright on the Disney images and songs, the video could not be duplicated or shared on the Internet. Before the band and orchestra students left for the trip, they performed in ISSMA (Indiana State Song and Music Association) competitions with 40 of the students going to state. Boersma said all three of the school’s jazz bands brought back a gold rating, the highest award at ISSMA. “That speaks volumes,” he said of the students’ performances because they had had snow days and e-learning days so they weren’t at school practicing for the contests. On Friday and Saturday, April 5 and 6, KV High School hosted organizational ISSMA concert contests with the Advanced Band receiving a gold, the Intermediate Band a silver and the Orchestra (string) receiving a gold rating. There were 32 schools with events on both days. The bands and orchestras were judged on performance and sight reading and sight singing for the choirs. The band students were given 15 minutes to learn music they had never seen nor played before for the sight reading competition. They had to listen, learn and comprehend the music and then perform it before the judges. The Advanced Band received a silver rating for their performance and a gold rating for their sight reading at the organizational contests. Boersma said all instrumental groups at KV received a gold for sight reading and silver for performing. The
The KVHS Orchestra performs at the Disney Downtown venue, where outdoor concerts are held during their spring break in March.
The KVHS Marching Band marches through the Disney Magic Kingdom from Frontier Land to Main Street USA in Orlando during the school’s spring break. Marching Band received gold and distinguished medals in sight and music. As the school year comes to a close, the marching band students will get a one month break before returning to the school to start practicing for the next school year. They will be marching through the first part of June and the end of July until school starts again. In October, the marching band concludes with the football season followed by ISSMA performances. The only parade the marching band participates in is the annual Touch of Dutch Parade in DeMotte in August. “We have two to three practices tuning up for it,” Boersma said. “It’s part of our recruitment and our community’s view of us” he continued, because not many of them come to concerts at the school. The orchestra has 70 kids this year and they play side
by side with the choir in a winter performance at the high school. There are also band performances at basketball games. “They do an amazing job at basketball games,” he said. “The coaches realize how much they (the band kids) bring to a game.” The marching band plays at every home game during football, unless it’s pouring down rain. They play the National Anthem before the game and the school’s fight song as the team makes its entrance onto the field. “We’re fortunate to have good coaches to work with,” Boersma said. “We are blessed and fortunate to have coaches that are easier to work with.”
More KV Band photos can be found on Page 11.
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April 2019 - Page 6
North Newton music program makes history By GREGORY MYERS nceeditor@centurylink.net
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he 2018-2019 school year has been a banner year for the North Newton Music Program and there are only a few performances left— the Spring Concert May 21 at 7 p.m., the Morocco Parade May 26, and the Thayer Memorial Day Service May 27. The year was kicked off in style as the Spartan Alliance marching band took the field for the first time in more than a decade. “We dusted off the old uniforms and they looked wonderful,” said North Newton Music Director Craig Redlin. “They marched eight drill charts to one song.” Another first for the program was that a few students participated in the Indiana All-District and All-Region bands. Austin Belt and Maura Zelivetz performed with the 9-12 All-District band and Sarah Mathis performed with the 7-9 All Region band. “They did an outstanding job, and they all said the experience was amazing,” said Redlin. The Winter Concert followed next and featured all of the bands and choirs from the Jr-Sr High School. “The ensembles performed harder literature than ever before all while prepping for the Spring contests,” added Redlin. Despite the terrible winter weather, North Newton Solo and Ensemble jumped right into performances and had five solos and one ensemble go to District. Austin Belt, Brandon Kingdollar and the ensemble of Austin Belt, Madison Nilsen, Hannah Cooper, Brendan Whitt, and Gavin Secviar all took group one pieces and all received a tough silver rating. Miranda Mauck, Sarah Mathis and Ryan Williams all received an outstanding gold rating. The next weekend, the Spartan Singers took over with 14 solos and 3 ensembles. Two junior high students, Karen Morgan and Dayna Parsons, went and performed and both received gold ratings. The rest of the acts were group 1. The following earned a very tough silver rating (all were .5-1 point away from gold): Sara Will, Kane Jones, Maddie Binge and Grace Alexander, Poor Man Lazrus ensemble, and At the River men’s ensemble earned a Bronze. The following earned a gold rating and advanced to state contest in Indy: Emilia Hodorowski, Tristan Micula, Ryan Williams, Cayden Coria, Shannon Kucaj, Reagan Midkiff and Cameryn Michaels. The ensemble of Shannon Kucaj, Sara Will, Maddie Binge, Cameryn Michaels, Grace Alexander, and Madison Nilsen earned a gold rating and was the first ensemble from North Newton to make it to state in over a decade. ISSMA State contest results: Ensemble- Gold. Emilia, Cayden, Shannon and Reagan all received golds. Cameryn Michaels received a very hard judged, tough, silver. Tristan and Ryan both received gold ratings with distinction- highest honor! The weather began to improve just in time for ensemble contests. For the first time in at least 10 years, a jazz choir was formed. They went to ISSMA Vocal Jazz contest in Portage and received a unanimous gold rating. The junior high band went to the ISSMA J.M.E festival on March 8 and received a unanimous gold rating too. The high school band and high school choir just got back from ISSMA festivals on April 5 and 6 and both received gold ratings as well. Finally, the North Newton Choir Department has met all the requirements and should be receiving the “ISSMA All-Music Award” for Choral Music. This is the first and only group that has ever received this award from North Newton. “The expectations are rising and that will be the standard from here on out,” said Redlin. “I could not be more proud of my students and all of their hard work and dedication. Things are looking up for the music
The North Newton High School choir earned a Gold Rating in group III at the 2019 ISSMA Instrumental Festival at KVHS on April 5.
The North Newton High School band also earned a Gold Rating in group III at the 2019 ISSMA Instrumental Festival at KVHS on April 5. program. I look forward to the end of the year and the memories I’ll make with the seniors that are leaving me. They have been the rock of the program and I wish them nothing but the absolute best. Band: Danielle Spisak, Martina Kocoski, Kelly Szany, Maura Zelivetz, Alex McKernan, Sierra Kuiper, Dakota Chancy, Kloe Demopoulos, Marissa Schoon, Austin Belt, Shannon Kucaj, Cayden Coria and Colin Dekerf. Choir: Sara Will, Shannon Kucaj, Emilia Hodorowski, April Molden, Page DeLaney, Arlinda Parker, Felicity Vaught, Patrisha Craft, Kane Jones, Cayden Coria, Reese Telford, Darren Stasi, and Alex Goetz.
“I would also like to thank the North Newton administration and staff for always supporting me and the music program,” added Redlin. “Thank you to Mrs. Karen Williams, for being my amazing accompanist. Thank you to the students for your hard work and dedication. Thank you to the band boosters for literally everything you do for me and the program. We wouldn’t be anything without you ladies. Lastly, I would like to dedicate this entire school year and all the success to Destin Haas. He was the biggest supporter I had and while he is not with us physically, I know he was with me at every performance. #bekindlikeHaas #gtg”
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April 2019 - Page 7
(REPUBLICAN PHOTO/NICK FIALA)
Gracie Snow looks at figurines from this year’s art show while her father, Alan Snow, looks on.
Spread Your Wings
Rensselaer Primary School hosts 5th annual Art Show BY NICK FIALA
reporter@rensselaerrepublican.com
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or Rensselaer Primary School, 2019 marked the fifth year it has held an art show put on by, and for, all of its students. This year’s event, held on Thursday, was special for a multitude of reasons. After the first four years to get started and grow, the show saw a spike in attendance this time, as relatives crowded the school building’s gymnasium to admire the students’ artwork and purchase framed drawings. That growth is in keeping with this year’s unique them, as well. “This year, our art show theme is ‘Spread Your Wings,’ said Elementary Art Teacher Jamie Fields, “so everything is kind of wings-based.” Those projects, which the students and their families could take home, included illustrations of butterflies, fairies or dragonflies, as well as figurines made out of clay or yarn. “They’ve all made something out of clay,” Fields said of the students’ work. The main attraction for the evening, though, was the vast collection of framed drawings done by the students, which their parents could purchase to take home as well. “The kids get to come and they can purchase their artwork in a frame,” Fields said. “And we’ve got silent auction projects for the children that the parents can bid on.” (REPUBLICAN PHOTO/NICK FIALA) By the end of the night, nearly half Genah Robertson poses with the wings made by every Rensselaer Primary School of those frames were gone, and the student for this year’s art show. highest grossing auction item had just sold for $100.
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“There were originally 375 frames out,” Fields said while packing up at the end of that evening. “I would say we probably had well over 150 kids go home with their artwork.” For anyone wondering, that final item was design meant to look like butterflies pollinating flowers. And the high price it sold for can be attributed to the high number of people who came to see the artwork that evening. “This was a little higher than usual,” Fields said of the attendance. “We’ve been doing it for several years, so people know what to expect, kind of. And so they make a point to invite grandma and grandpa, you know.” The show is not only a way for local families to show how proud they are of their young children. It’s also a way to help support the future of area students’ artistic opportunities. “Most of our funding for the full year comes from the frame sales and the auction profits,” Fields said. “I usually make about $1,500 on this night, and $1,500 on that night, so about $3,000.” Perhaps the best part is that all of the students participated in most of the widely-duplicated projects. Whether it was for the collection of figurines or a large display hanging in the hallway outside the gym — one meant to depict a broad, tall set of colorful wings — everyone helped to make up part of one big masterpiece. “They’re class-collaborative projects,” Fields said. “So all the kids made them together in class, and then those are left on the panels.”
We are proud to recognize all the high school performing artists! Rensselaer 1993
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April 2019 - Page 8
KV Choirs prepare for spring concert BY CHERI SHELHART kvpreporter@gmail.com
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he choirs at Kankakee Valley High School are preparing for their spring concert coming up on May 16 during Fine Arts Week at the school. The school has three choirs, the Choralaires, which is a girls’ chorus, intermediate women’s choir and the mixed concert choir, which includes males and females. There is also an extracurricular choir made up of 15 students who sing traditional jazz and big band music. The jazz choir practices three times a week after school and an occasional Saturday. Students have to audition to become a part of the group. They recently held a jazz concert, “Jazz Cabaret Night,” in the high school cafeteria, and their repertoire included some contemporary music as well as the usual jazz and big band songs. There were performances by quartets, duets and The KV High School all-male quartet performs at an ISSMA District Solo and solos, and Choir Director Lisa Falletto said Ensemble contest. the night was well attended. In March, the choirs performed in ISSMA contests with the jazz group receiving a silver medal in performance and a gold medal in sight reading, where students are given music they aren’t familiar with, and have a certain amount of time to learn the song then perform it before judges. The Choralaires also earned a silver in performance and a gold in sight reading as did the mixed choir. There were also a number of solo and ensemble performances that won students gold including Morgan Adams and Lily Wright, who both received seven gold medals for their solo performances at competition. Twelve of the students went to state competition for solo and four ensemble groups. The high school choirs perform with the school’s orchestra each fall and perform just the choirs for a Christmas concert. They sing the National Anthem at girls’ basketball games and other sporting events as well. Soon, they will be performing at the spring concert with the high school bands. After each of the choirs and bands perform, they all get together and perform as one to end the concert, which brings the audience to their feet for a standing ovation each year. In the fall, the choirs participated in a program at Valparaiso University, where they learned songs written by a living composer, Dutch composer Johan DeMeij. He has written two symphonies based on the stories by JRR Tolkein, “Lord of the Rings” series, which includes a large choral part. Along with the Valparaiso Symphony Orchestra, the choirs performed the songs in the university’s large chapel. “We prepare kids for college,” Falletto said of the choir, “especially those going for music.” She said the students are prepared to audition for college scholarships. The high school choir students have become interested in barbershop groups with a women’s barbershop quartet and a men’s. The boys will be going to Purdue to learn and perform with the Purdue University Men’s Glee Club on April 26. The boys have been going to this program for the last four years. They will rehearse with the director of the Glee Club during the day, then will perform with the men’s chorus in Elliott Hall at 6:30 p.m. This year, the choir was invited to participate in Wheatfield Elementary School’s Reading Fair, where the theme was “The Greatest Showman.” The choir students performed songs from the movie. “That’s not their usual style of music,” Falletto said, “and it was a lot of fun.” She said they usually sing folk songs, jazz, contemporary gospel, classical, spirituals and 20th century art music. Occasionally, the choirs will sing pop music, but that isn’t what they concentrate on at the high school.
The Kankakee Valley High School White Kats earned a gold rating from ISSMA.
More KV Choir photos can be found on Page 11.
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April 2019 - Page 10
Covenant Christian puts on incredible performance of the Music Man By HARLEY TOMLINSON
When Covenant Christian’s students pull off memorable performances like they did last week with the Music Man, it makes it that much more satisfying to Lois DeVries, who directs and coordinates the school’s plays and musicals each year. “I think I like it best when kids who normally don’t think of doing these type of musicals experience a lot of success,” DeVries said. “The talent varies from lead to lead and year to year, but every year the performances are still really good.” This year’s cast list for the Music Man, which featured Zach Thomas (Harold Hill) and Elyse Eenigenburg (Marian Paroo) as leads, included 43 high school students and 13 DeMotte Christian junior high students. Shows are performed in the CCHS gym. For two weeks, the theater group has possession of the gym after weeks of rehearsing. Sets are built well in advance and they are moved into place less than an hour before a night’s performance. It is quite an undertaking for DeVries, who was assisted for this musical by DMC’s choir teacher, Madra Funderburg. “She helps every other year, so we were able to do a bigger show,” DeVries said. “When I do a show by myself, I try to pick something that isn’t quite as strenuous.” This year, Covenant’s students performed two shows. In the fall,
(PHOTOS PROVIDED)
On the footbridge are Covenant Christian students Zac Thomas as Harold Hill and Elyse Eenigenburg as Marian Paroo in the production of “The Music Man” at CCHS last week. they performed It’s a Wonderful Life, with the Music Man serving as the spring show. It usually falls on DeVries to come up with
a show list each year. “Students make suggestions,” she said, “but I try to come up with something that is appropriate for our group and
puts the right kids in the cast.” DeVries, who also doubles as the school’s band director, has been with Covenant Christian since
it’s second year of existence. The high school was opened in 1999 and DeVries has been there for nearly all of the student productions.
“When I started there I wanted it so that I could do musicals every year,” she said. “It’s something I think the students really enjoy doing.”
Zaneeta and Tommy: Emma Hamstra, Jonah Ingram.
The Pick-a-Little Ladies played by Caitlin Plitt, Abby Stegenga, Mykena Martin, Hope Zylstra
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April 2019 - Page 11
In Focus: More photos of the KV band and choir
The KVHS band seniors gather for a group photo.
A group of students caroling at Tysen’s grocery store during the holiday season.
The KVHS Marching Band leaders hold their gold trophy from ISSMA competition.
A quintet performed at State Solo and Ensemble.
The Kankakee Valley Black Kats Jazz band earned a gold rating at ISSMA.
The Valley Jazz Singers perform at Jazz ISSMA and bring home a gold.
The Advanced Chorus’ men gather after the December Holiday Concert at KVHS.
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April 2019 - Page 12
In Focus: DeMotte Elementary, Wheatfield Elementary Art Shows
POST-NEWS PHOTOS/CHERI SHELHART
DeMotte Elementary students made these string ornaments and added their own DeMotte Elementary kids painted colorful houses and were on display during the personal touch. Art Show at the school on April 5.
LEFT: DeMotte Elementary student Lily Grugel, 1st grade, made this interesting DeMotte Elementary student Leighton Frew drew his version of a homework bunny picture. RIGHT: DeMotte Elementary student Jonathan Buczek drew this “hidro” that does all of his homework. self portrait.
Wheatfield Elementary School hosts its art show on April 10, with walls of student’s Wheatfield Elementary student Ava Clements made this water color of trees for the art work throughout on display the school. art show.
Wheatfield Elementary student Madisyn Bailey made this picture of a red bird for the school’s art show.
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