Holiday Music Tours Include Stop in Education Center

Dec. 20, 2011 ~ 'Tis the season for young singers to perform holiday songs across the district. The Education Center is a favorite place for musical groups to entertain.

Performances featured Bentwood Elementary's BlueJay Singers, Clearwater Creek Elementary's Celebration Choir, Fairview Elementary's Special Chorus, Pleasant Ridge Elementary's Patriots Pride Choir, Rolling Ridge Elementary's Special Chorus, Ravenwood Elementary's Treble Make-N Tigers, the Tomahawk Elementary Choir, and Woodland Elementary's Singing Wolfpack.

Clearwater Creek's singers enjoyed performing for a new audience. "They enjoy seeing the faces of staff looking at them from the balcony or peeking out from doorways," music teacher Candace Bell said.

Emily Joan Knox, vocal music teacher at Fairview, said her group has performed in the Education Center for 13 years. This year was extra special because of who would hear them perform.

"The students were especially excited when I told them that Brent Yeager, our former principal, would be at the Education Center to listen to them," she said. Yeager is now director of general administration/elementary programs.

"The kids were very excited and nervous about singing for such important people like our district administrators," said Michelle Eickhoff, music teacher at Pleasant Ridge.

Elementary principals from across the district were meeting in the Education Center on the day Denice Trawicki's Singing Wolfpack from Woodland visited. The idea of singing for other principals as well as their principal's "boss" caused a lot of ooo's and aaah's among her students, she said.

Bentwood's music teacher, Corbin Trimble, appreciated the opportunity to "give back to the district for supporting and funding the arts," he said. "The choir loves singing for our administrators."

"All of the smiles from our Olathe leaders were very motivational for the students," Ravenwood music teacher Libby Whittle said. "Our students really love sharing the gift of music through song and dance."

	Rolling Ridge Elementary singers, dressed in bright white shirts and red bow-ties, were among eight musical groups to perform for Education Center staff. Skyler Mercer looked up and realized several district staff were watching the singers from a second-floor landing.
	Alicia Acosta, Jessica Rodriguez and Perla Zarate were among the Rolling Ridge Special Chorus.
	Brady Mendoza and Connor Volavongsa of the Ravenwood’s Treble Make’N Tigers put some attitude in the final pose of the group’s last song “Santa Is the Man." The group wrapped up its holiday tour with a visit to Crown Center.   Photos by Ann Kohn