Ord Elementary Program “Lightens Up”
Kate Wolf photo
PARENTS BEN LANSMAN (left) and Dexter Goodner (right) get pulled out of the audience to fill roles in the first grade “Candy Shop” skit.
On Thurs., May 3, a large and appreciative crowd attended the Ord Elementary kindergarten-fourth grade music program held at the vintage gym. It was a distinct departure from previous programs….a kind of vaudeville entertainment with a variety of jokes, skits, music and song under the watchful eyes of Elementary Music Director Jesse Rosberg, Karen Wieskamp and Lacey Pollard. The program appeared to be entirely put on by the kids themselves and they did a fine job. They also provided the decorations for the sets used in the performance.
Nathan Woodward and Brinley Snyder emcee’d the entire program, entitled “Lighten Up”, with all the professional presence of seasoned hosts. That was a lot of memorizing! Evie Peterson and Payton Melnick served as “card girls” in between performances just like the old days of vaudeville shows.
Humorous short skits were performed by the first through fourth grade classes featuring: Grey Goodner, LillyAnn Kurt, Prestyn Rogers, Kendrick Burd, Nora Lansman, Austen Newquist, Norah Rutterbories, Jaycee Klimek, Poppy Shafer, Keeley Cargill, Jacksyn Johnson, Piper Zangger and Jackson Hollibaugh respectively. Parents Ben Lansman and Dexter Goodner were hilariously pulled into the act by the first graders for their “Candy Shop” skit, much to the delight of the entire audience.
In between the short acts, class “Jokers” and other solo speakers entertained the crowd as well including: Brogan Dunbar, Taybree Bruha, Raena Lansman, Westin Thiel, Taton Waltman, Paige Gates, Emery Shurter, Haelyn Thompson, Ellie Breitkreutz, Tylee Cox, Carter Wheeler, Azlyn Cox, Paisley Griffiths, Gemma Lansman, Nasya Waterman, Grayson Scudder and Evelyn Weber.
During the fourth grade performance, a movie compilation of songs was performed from “Encanto”, “Star Wars”, and “Frozen” with Hunter Whited dressed up as Elsa who came forward to toss a blizzard of “snow” on the audience.
Rosberg thanked the teachers, custodial staff, his assistants and the students who “gave up lunches and recesses to make this show go on.” The way these young students managed and performed throughout the program is a testament to the hard work of their teachers who have instilled in them a level of maturity and responsibility far beyond their years.
Kate Wolf photo
In the Grand Finale of the Kindergarten through fourth grade Ord Elementary Spring Program, all of the students participated in the song “This Show Is Over.”
