As reported by the Journalism Club
Thirty-two students from the 76 Pick Up Sticks Opera Company again performed music from the “Bound For Gardiner’s Island” student opera on February 11 in a recording session. The performers and chorus reprised their songs with other members of the company joining in for the large numbers. Some of the highlighted singers were Sophie Tucci, Emily Kennedy, Gabby Miller, Jamie Morgan, Melanie Chuya, Keira Atwell, Dylan Camacho, Alyssa Brabant, Emma Terry, Daniel Jimenez, Jameson Grant, Sienna Hirschman, Kayla Lester, Juan Moscoso, Jocelyn Prieto, Gabriela Bravo and Josh Vargas. The original musicians from the show returned, led by arranger Kyril Bromley on the piano with John Gibbons on guitar and Geoffrey O’Connor on the bass. Angelina Modica directed the music, as well as accompanied the students on the flute. The company sang “Days in Bonac” as well as 18 other “Bound for Gardiner’s Island” songs. The CD was recorded and produced by Crossroads Music with opera coordinator Sue Ellen O’Connor.
Coach Ana Jacobs reflected on the recently completed volleyball season. She is hoping to initiate an ongoing program so that the serious players can play longer than the season to improve their chances of being competitive in high school. Ending with a winning season, Coach Jacobs notes, “Their love for the sport fuels me ... one day I had a headache coming back from the game, and they said, ‘Coach, you haven’t given us your speech ...’ That made it all worth it knowing they actually listen and enjoy the pep and wrap-up talks.”
Meghan Cereola is a new member of the physical education team this year and the first woman in the department in several years. With Coach McKee and Coach Foster, she had split the fifth through eighth grade classes into three units of European handball, lifelong fitness (both new to the district) and basketball. The students rotate through the units. Coach Cereola has started off the lifetime fitness with Vinyasa flow yoga, which focuses on breath-synchronized movements. She explains, “I like to focus on muscle strength and endurance while pushing the students’ mental focus.” She is integrating dance/Zumba and fitness stations in the unit. She recently completed a kindergarten to eighth grade yoga certification. She notes, “The students are learning they don’t have to be star athletes, but they must have a positive outlook.”
To celebrate Presidents Week, the students met in Spirit Meet to enjoy patriotic themes. The junior high chorus of 43 students (a record high) regaled the elementary students with the national anthem and several other patriotic favorites, led by Angelina Modica. The chorus students have been reading and interpreting music. Ms. Modica notes that it’s challenging work but this training will prepare them for the high school programs. She is initiating a music reading program starting in second grade that will benefit the students by the time they are old enough to participate in the school opera and beyond.
While the Board of Education formally recognized Chris Sarlo’s contributions as interim principal for the recovering Eric Casale, the entire staff rallied to wish Mr. Casale well at a morning breakfast before school on Friday. The student filmers have been interviewing him about his favorite hobbies. Mr. Casale sent a greeting to the staff and will return February 23.
on Feb 12, 2015