Post by blackcrowheart on Oct 3, 2007 13:21:57 GMT -5
Students meet up for pow wow
By: Tristram DeRoma, Bard Editor
The inside of the gym at Second Hill Lane School was alive with the sounds and sights of Native American culture last week as all the kids in the school participated in their own end-of-the-year pow-wow.
Though the event was actually a celebration of what all the kids from kindergarten to sixth-grade learned about Native American culture throughout the school year, to the kids it was a reward for a job well done.
During the event they were able to proudly show off the paper battle shields and plastic bucket drums they made and decorated in teacher Jennifer Leniart's art classes, and each class got to listen to its soundtracks of sound effects it put together in teacher Colleen Cooney's music class. The soundtracks were used to highlight clips of the Disney movie "Pocahontas," which were shown throughout the assembly.
During the assembly, the students used their drums and recorders to play ancient Native American songs and highlight parts of Native American stories told by Cooney.
Also on hand was Mohegan Tribe Member Shane Long, who struck an impressive figure dressed in his full dance regalia, which included a type of hat outfitted with rattlesnake skin and deer antlers. Long kept the kids' in rapt attention as he told stories about his people, what the different parts of "uniform" mean and demonstrated some of the traditional dances of his tribe. He also made the kids laugh when he brought Superintendent of Schools Irene Cornish, Principal James Noga and their teachers up for dances.
He also taught the kids a little about philosophy in that "the Earth is our mother, and we all come from the same mother," he told the kids
"I was glad to participate," said Long, who said he makes a living as a tribal representative for the Mohegan tribe. "While I hope they enjoyed the dancing and songs, I hope someday what I'm teaching children will grow into a new respect for Indian affairs and culture in general," he said.
Fifth grade student Lucca Frieri came in with his own drum that day, a drum his grandfather gave him from South America, he said, adding he really liked beating on the drum and making music in general.
"You should always have music in your life, it's what keeps you alive," he said.
Cornish said she was genuinely impressed with the event.
"I really thought it was incredible, a real collaborative effort," she said. "It encompassed so much of what the kids learn in school, geography, vocabulary, history, literature, music it all came together."
Cooney was glad that everyone enjoyed the show and participating in it, especially the kids.
"If they take away anything from this, I want it to be their memory of music," she said. "How many students remember their music class?"
By: Tristram DeRoma, Bard Editor
The inside of the gym at Second Hill Lane School was alive with the sounds and sights of Native American culture last week as all the kids in the school participated in their own end-of-the-year pow-wow.
Though the event was actually a celebration of what all the kids from kindergarten to sixth-grade learned about Native American culture throughout the school year, to the kids it was a reward for a job well done.
During the event they were able to proudly show off the paper battle shields and plastic bucket drums they made and decorated in teacher Jennifer Leniart's art classes, and each class got to listen to its soundtracks of sound effects it put together in teacher Colleen Cooney's music class. The soundtracks were used to highlight clips of the Disney movie "Pocahontas," which were shown throughout the assembly.
During the assembly, the students used their drums and recorders to play ancient Native American songs and highlight parts of Native American stories told by Cooney.
Also on hand was Mohegan Tribe Member Shane Long, who struck an impressive figure dressed in his full dance regalia, which included a type of hat outfitted with rattlesnake skin and deer antlers. Long kept the kids' in rapt attention as he told stories about his people, what the different parts of "uniform" mean and demonstrated some of the traditional dances of his tribe. He also made the kids laugh when he brought Superintendent of Schools Irene Cornish, Principal James Noga and their teachers up for dances.
He also taught the kids a little about philosophy in that "the Earth is our mother, and we all come from the same mother," he told the kids
"I was glad to participate," said Long, who said he makes a living as a tribal representative for the Mohegan tribe. "While I hope they enjoyed the dancing and songs, I hope someday what I'm teaching children will grow into a new respect for Indian affairs and culture in general," he said.
Fifth grade student Lucca Frieri came in with his own drum that day, a drum his grandfather gave him from South America, he said, adding he really liked beating on the drum and making music in general.
"You should always have music in your life, it's what keeps you alive," he said.
Cornish said she was genuinely impressed with the event.
"I really thought it was incredible, a real collaborative effort," she said. "It encompassed so much of what the kids learn in school, geography, vocabulary, history, literature, music it all came together."
Cooney was glad that everyone enjoyed the show and participating in it, especially the kids.
"If they take away anything from this, I want it to be their memory of music," she said. "How many students remember their music class?"