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Special guests attend KISS concert
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .The first-graders of Stadium Drive Elementary performed a selection of songs for the special people in their life on March 21. In renditions of “Polly Wolly Doodle” and “Down by the Bay,” the students showed off their voices and sharp dance moves.
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First-grader MacKenzie Dietz (center) showed off her moves for her special guests on March 21.
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The student’s special people were welcomed into the first-grade classrooms so their Stadium Drive student could show off art projects that thanked their special people. Thinh Le (right) received a very special thank you from his daughter, Lyna.
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Jadin Welch (center) welcomed two special people on March 21- his paternal grandmother Terri Welch (left) and his maternal grandmother Vicki Conkle.
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William Armour (left) said his mom, Angela, was special because “she takes care of me and I like it when we play together.”
By SARAH FOOR
The halls of Stadium Drive Elementary were much busier than normal March 21 when the school welcomed some very special guests.
That Monday was Stadium Drive’s Kids Invite Someone Special (KISS) day for the school’s first-graders. The students invited amazing parents, grandparents, family members, or mentors, and celebrated them with a short concert and a party in each first-grade classroom.
The students of teachers Jill Jones, Heidi Peachock, Casey Putko, and Missy Struharik performed a selection of six songs for their special people, including versions of “This Little Light of Mine” and “You Are My Sunshine.”
Music teacher Wendy Crist worked with the first-graders for seven weeks to prepare for their performance.
“We took our time because we wanted it to be perfect for our guests. The students worked very hard to remember the songs we arranged and dances we choreographed,” Crist said after the performance. “I think today was a success because the kids had our special people to perform for. It gave them a goal and something to work for, and it made for a great show.”
After the KISS concert, the special guests were welcomed into the students’ first-grade classrooms for an informal party with cookies and drinks. The students had a chance to show their guests a letter that explained why they’re important and unique.
William Armour wrote in his letter that his mom, Angela, is special because “she takes care of me, and I like when we play together.”
“He is a complete ray of sunshine — he is happy every day, without fail. He is the sweetest boy a mom could ask for,” Angela Armour said of her son.
The event, which started at 1 p.m., included a special treat. The honored guests were free to sign out their student early, allowing the first-graders to celebrate their special person for the remainder of their day.