Hilltop students portray famous Americans
As a finale to the show, the students unfolded and held up red, white and blue strips to form a giant paper American flag.
Lauren Slanker, portraying Annie Oakley, recited her speech for the audience during Hilltop Elementary School’s 24th annual Famous Americans program. Each student took a turn at the microphone to deliver the speech they had written about their famous American.
Stephanie Brown (left) portrayed retiring second-grade teacher Nanette Midgley and Fiona Lally (right) portrayed retiring gym teacher Dolores Saunders during the Famous Americans program.
Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Third-grade students at Hilltop Elementary line dup for the Parade of Flags to start the 24th annual Famous Americans program June 3.
By ABBY SLANKER
Audience members could feel the presence of historical greatness at Hilltop Elementary School as the third-grade students presented the 24th annual Famous Americans program June 3.
At the beginning of May, each student chose a famous American to portray during the show. During the month, students researched their choice, wrote a speech about him or her, created a costume to wear during the program and completed a classroom project on their famous American.
Some examples of famous Americans chosen included Henry Ford, Shirley Temple, Neil Armstrong, Walt Disney, Elvis Presley, Molly Brown, General Patton, Mary Lou Retton, Barbara Bush, Wilma Rudolph and Annie Oakley.
The Parade of Flags started the show. As a carrier and a guard escorted the flag down the aisle, a narrator gave the history of each flag. Flags presented included St. George’s Cross, King’s Colors, British Red Ensign, Bunker Hill, Rhode Island Regiment, Fort Moultrie, Continental, Gadsden, Grand Union, Betsy Ross, Bennington, Star Spangled Banner, Perry’s Flag, Alamo 1824, Stars and Bars, Confederate Battle, “48 Star” and Old Glory.
The students were divided into classes and each student took their turn and walked up to the microphone and gave the speech they had written, identifying their famous American. They spoke in the way they thought the famous American would be speaking.
After each class had finished, the students joined together to sing. They were led by music teacher Tom Scurich and accompanied by Veronica S. Gregory. Songs included “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor,” “Beautiful Ohio,” “Fifty, Nifty United States,” “Armed Forces Salute,” “God Bless America” and “America the Beautiful.”
During the Armed Forces Salute, Scurich asked members and veterans of the armed forces to stand.
The third-graders also paid tribute to two retiring Hilltop teachers. Gym teacher Dolores Saunders was portrayed by Fiona Lally and second-grade teacher Nanette Midgley was portrayed by Stephanie Brown.
During their last song, as a finale to the show, the students unfolded and held up red, white and blue strips to form a giant paper American flag.
This year’s program was dedicated to the memory of Joanne Beranek, the founder of third-grade Famous Americans show.