Post by blackcrowheart on Nov 29, 2005 22:43:55 GMT -5
Students turn tables, singing Native American song to local resident
Dorothy McKnight - dmcknight@dailypress.net
www.dailypress.net/news/story/1128202005_new01-n1128.asp
PHOTO:Duane Kinnart looks around at the third-grade youngsters at the Jones School in Gladstone last week as they sing a Native American song for him in the Ojibwa language. The special tribute to Kinnart took place at a Thanksgiving program at the school to thank him for the many years he has helped third-grade teacher Kathryn Groleau and Indian Education Coordinator Jessie Seronko present a program on the Native American culture.
GLADSTONE - Duane Kinnart sat at the large Native American drum set up in the center of the Gladstone Middle School cafeteria. He was prepared to provide the Jones third-graders with a final song to close out their annual Thanksgiving program Tuesday afternoon.
Joining him in the chairs around the drum were fellow singers and drummers Brad Nedeau and Doug Hewitt. Kinnart nodded to his fellow singers to begin.
Instead, the youngsters, who had been seated around the cafeteria dressed in Pilgrim and Native American garb, got up from their seats and crowded around the singers.
"They've prepared a surprise for you," said Jessie Seronko, Indian education coordinator for the school district. To Kinnart's amazement, the youngsters began singing a Native American song - not in English, but in Ojibwa.
Following lead singer third grader Justin Miron, the youngsters chanted verse after verse as Kinnart - beating the rhythm almost mechanically, stared around at the smiling children as they sang their surprise tribute to him. Time and time again, he fought to control the tears that flooded his eyes as he sang along.
Dorothy McKnight - dmcknight@dailypress.net
www.dailypress.net/news/story/1128202005_new01-n1128.asp
PHOTO:Duane Kinnart looks around at the third-grade youngsters at the Jones School in Gladstone last week as they sing a Native American song for him in the Ojibwa language. The special tribute to Kinnart took place at a Thanksgiving program at the school to thank him for the many years he has helped third-grade teacher Kathryn Groleau and Indian Education Coordinator Jessie Seronko present a program on the Native American culture.
GLADSTONE - Duane Kinnart sat at the large Native American drum set up in the center of the Gladstone Middle School cafeteria. He was prepared to provide the Jones third-graders with a final song to close out their annual Thanksgiving program Tuesday afternoon.
Joining him in the chairs around the drum were fellow singers and drummers Brad Nedeau and Doug Hewitt. Kinnart nodded to his fellow singers to begin.
Instead, the youngsters, who had been seated around the cafeteria dressed in Pilgrim and Native American garb, got up from their seats and crowded around the singers.
"They've prepared a surprise for you," said Jessie Seronko, Indian education coordinator for the school district. To Kinnart's amazement, the youngsters began singing a Native American song - not in English, but in Ojibwa.
Following lead singer third grader Justin Miron, the youngsters chanted verse after verse as Kinnart - beating the rhythm almost mechanically, stared around at the smiling children as they sang their surprise tribute to him. Time and time again, he fought to control the tears that flooded his eyes as he sang along.