(Media release from the Rome City Schools):
One-hundred and four eager Kindergarten students lined the West Central Elementary gym, Friday, November 19, ready to show off their hard work and top-notch acting skills in the annual Thanksgiving play.
WC Principal, Dr. Daphne Johnson, said that this annual tradition is in effort to teach the kids what Thanksgiving is really about.
“It’s also a great way for us to involve our parents,” she explained, “because they love to come out and watch their kids perform.”
Johnson said that the play was inspired by a play script that a WC teacher came across a few years ago. “Our teachers modified the script to fit our students,” she explained. “They added actions and other aspects to make it
more interactive.”
Johnson said that the students have been preparing for the play since Halloween.
“They practiced every single day to get ready for this, which was difficult at first, but they worked hard and became more excited as they progressed. They love doing the motions ‘big and brave’ in the play,” she smiled.
Every single WC Kindergartener was involved in the play. “They work hard and they always do what they’re supposed to do,” Johnson added, “so this is their shining moment!”
Kristin Myers, Kindergarten team leader, knelt down among the students as the performance time approached.
“We’ve been doing this for several years and it’s always something fun to celebrate Thanksgiving,” she said, “and also to help them learn one of our standards, which is learning about long ago and today.”
Myers explained that the students didn’t get to perform the play last year due to the pandemic.
“So this is a celebration of a different kind this year; getting to bring people back into our school and involve our parents again,” she smiled.
Myers expressed that she feels extremely proud of the efforts of her students. The excitement among the students was evident and audible in the gym as 104 little actors honored the meaning behind the Thanksgiving holiday.
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