Watching the kids in their school performances

Our Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) has general meetings every month. And while many of our parents sign up as members of the PTA, they have no desire to give up their precious time to come to meetings. That is where school performances come into play.

For every monthly meeting, we have a different grade level performing a musical number put on by our awesome musical teacher. (Not only does she teach music class and do the monthly grade level performance, but she puts on a major play each April that has tryouts in September and rehearsals throughout the school year.)

This November, it was the fourth grade’s turn to perform. Jase came bouncing home at the beginning of October right after the fifth graders had their performance. He would have a speaking part in the fourth-grade performance. This would mean morning rehearsals before school.

Well, of course, I told him he could do it, and he set about memorizing his lines. It was just two lines about Mount Rushmore. The fourth grade would be singing eight songs. If you were part of the chorus, all your rehearsals are during school time. But at the beginning and in between each song, there are lines setting the stage for the next song. This is where Jase comes in with his two lines.

The music teacher asked him to put some umph into his performance, and he did. He was the most enthusiastic student up there, and it caused a chuckle in the audience.

I am proud of him for taking on a speaking part which is something he has done for the past three performances. For a shy child who doesn’t like to be the center of attention, it is very much stepping out of his comfort zone, but it is all done by his choice. I never encourage him to try out. Heck, I don’t even know he tried out at school for a speaking part until he is already assigned one.

In addition to the fourth-grade performance, the PTA also uses fourth graders (or whatever grade is being featured) to do an inspirational moment. Last year, Jase and his friend Noah did the inspirational moment for third grade by reading a Shel Silverstein poem. This year, he was picked again along with a different boy named Noah and their friend Sarah.

OK, I will be honest here. The PTA vice president picks the students of current board members, and since I am Treasurer for the PTA, Jase was asked – again. Last year, he was just told to invite a friend. This year the VP picked two kids and then mentioned we should add a girl to the group. I know Sarah’s mom, and Sarah knows both Noah and Jase so it made sense to include her.

Picking an inspirational moment that was appropriate for students was the hard part. But we came up with a poem about being thankful (appropriate since Thanksgiving is this month).

The three kids did an awesome job. Again, I am proud of Jase for agreeing to do it. He never hesitates to help out even though I know he is like me and doesn’t want to speak in front of a crowd.

Now Lexie who is my usual out-going child is one that has not had a speaking part in a performance yet. We will just have to see now that she has watched her brother do it a few times if she wants to follow in his footsteps and try out this January for February’s second grade performance.