The Sweet Sound Of Caring

  Last  spring,  Newark  Middle  School  instrumental  music  teacher  Rebekah  Valerio  asked  her  seventh  grade  band  members  to  think  about  how  they  could  combine  their  musical  talents  with  some  type  of  community  service.   The  students  came  up  with  several  good  suggestions,  but  one  really  stood  out.   One  of  the  band  members  suggested  the  band  could  play  with  individuals  with  disabilities.   Valerio  happily  reminded  the  band  that  students  from  the  Newark  Education  Center  _  one  of  Wayne-­‐Finger  Lakes  BOCES  Iive  special  education  sites  _  receive  instruction  in  various  classrooms  it  leases  from  the  school  district  in  the  Middle  School  building.   She  then  obtained  permission  from  NEC  Principal  Elise  Comella  to  have  the  students  attend  a  seventh  grade  band  rehearsal  at  the  end  of  the  school  year.

 The  seventh  grade  band  students  eagerly  showed  the  NEC  students  how  to  use  various  auxiliary  percussion  instruments  like  shakers,  maracas,  rhythm  sticks  and  jingle  bells.  And  together,  the  students  made  music  during  the  band  rehearsal.   Valerio  said  both  the  band  members  and  the  NEC  students  loved  the  experience.   And  in  their  excitement,  one  of  her  students  suggested  they  do  an  actual  concert  together  at  some  point.   The  suggestion  was  presented  in  October  to  NMS  Principal  Teresa  Prinzi  by    the  now  eighth  grade  band  members  who  also  asked  the  schedule  for  the  Holiday  Concert  December  22nd  be  changed  from  the  end  of  the  day  to  earlier  in  the  school  day  to  accommodate  the  NEC  students’  schedule.   Prinzi  gladly  made  the  adjustment.   So  _    the  eighth  grade  band  and  the  NEC  students,  playing  auxiliary  percussion  instruments,  happily  performed  two  selections  together  from  the  “Polar  Express  Medley,”  under  the  direction  of  Valerio,  during  the  Dec.  22nd  concert.   It  was  wonderful  and  a  good  time  was  had  by  all.   “It  was  great  _  amazing,”  Valerio  said  later.   “I  am  really  proud  of  the  fact  that  the  eighth  grade  band  students  took  the  initiative  to  make  this  wonderful  opportunity  for  themselves  and  the  NEC  students      happen,”Prinzi  said.  “I  was  more  than  happy  to  rearrange  the  schedule  so  all  of  our  students  could  beneFit  from  this  experience.  They  put  on  a  great  performance.  I  am  so  proud  of  our  students  and  the  PRIDE  that  they  are  showing  in  our  Middle  School  Community!”   Comella  said  the  NEC  students  “enjoyed  themselves  and  had  a  great  time  performing  for  the  whole  school.”

“This  concert  just  made  my  holiday  brighter,”  she  continued.  “The  eighth  grade  band  students  truly  showed  what  being  part  of  community  is  all  about.”

Also,  as  part  of  the  Holiday  Concert:   The  NMS  Jazz  band  _  made  up  of  students  from  6-­‐8  grades  and  the  Sixth  and  Seventh  Grade  Bands  performed  selections.  All  were  directed  by  Valerio.

The  Sixth,  Seventh  and  Eight  Grade  Choruses  also  individually  performed  holiday  music  selections.  All  were  under  the  direction  of  NMS  vocal  music  teacher  Brooke  Hartpence.