Steen Dance

 10-June-2022

  On Thursday-9-June the Steen School had their Spring Concert for the Students.  They heard from the Third Grade Percussion Ensemble, the Fourth and Fifth Grade Bands, and the Fifth Grade Choir. This was followed by a number of Dance programs.  The first was Ms. Mary Grace Kennedy.  She performed a series of Irish Step dances for the Audience.  Afterwards Ms. Kennedy took the time to answer a few questions from the Students. She told them that she is a Middle School Student. When asked, she said she started dancing at five years old. Ms. Kennedy then said she normally practices several hours a day six days a week.

 The next group was the Bogota Middle School Dance Club led by Ms. Laura DeLaGarza. Before the curtain opened Ms. DeLaGarza showed a few techniques to learn new dances. One was to  use repetitions to show what should be done.  She would show a number of steps or moves & have the Students repeat them. Then Ms. DeLaGarza picked a couple of Volunteers    to join her.  The Student created their own moves and their Classmates would copy what they had done. Their show highlighted several forms of dance, including Jazz, Latin Fusion and Modern/Contemporary.  They also showed Ensemble, Duet, and Solo performances.

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Fine Arts Awards

 9-June-2022

   On Wednesday-8-June the Bogota High School Fine Arts Department held their awards ceremony to honour the Student-Artist for 2022. Awards were presented For the Choir, Drama, Twirling , and Band.  First to present was Choir Director Ms. Andrea Lynch. She recognized the member of the Choir that performed in both the Winter and Spring Concerts. Ms. Lynch also awarded the  members of the A Capella Choir  group " The Purple Notes" their own certificate and pins. 

 Next the  Drama Department Director  Ms. Wendy Hughes gave out the "Bucies" awards to the cast of the Spring Musical "Spongebob SquarePants" Ms. Hughes also inducted 10 new members to the Bogota Chapter # 6085 of the International Thespian Society.

 Then Ms. Leslie Baker announce some of the title won by the Twirling and Flag Squad had won. These included first place for Twirling Completion at Rahway NJ. Also that  Ms. Kahli Roberts was a New Jersey Twirling Association Champion.

  The final presenter was band Director Mr. Barry McCann. He first spoke that 22 years ago he held a small party, in the High School Cafeteria to thank the members of the band in his first year as  their Director. This was grown to included all of the Fine Arts Departments group. In addition it is a central part of the High School "Awards Night Week" Mr.McCann first gave certificates to the 20 Eighth Grade members of the band. This was followed by each of the High School Classes that have Students plying in either the Marching Buccaneer Band or the Concert Band.  He next presented the members of the Jazz Band their own pins.  And then, for the first time a special pin to the three band members who were part of the pit orchestra  the Spring Musical. It was also announced that Ms. Simra Fatima will be the Drum Major for the Marching Band next year. She was presented her whistle by current Drum Major Ms. Kaylin Torres

   Next members of the Bogota Band Parents Organization presented  Ms. Andrea Lynch,  Ms. Wendy Hughes, and Ms. Leslie Baker bouquet of flowers for their work with the Students over the past year. They then gave Mr. McCann an number of presents not only for this year, but for his past 22 years of working with, teaching, listening to, guiding, and just being a friend to all the present and past members of the Bogota bands. But before the night could end Ms. Torres had other ideas. First the Junior band members took the time to thank Mr. McCann for all his help. Since they will not have a chance next year they gave him a present of Cuff-Links in the shape of a saxophones. Then Ms. Torres announced that the band members had even more gifts for him. Knowing his obsession with Strawberry Twizzlers they reached out the the company, which sent specialized merchandise, a five pound box of Twizzlers, and a personalized letter  recognizing his years as a High School teacher.  And still more... she, along with Coach Pat Rochford played a video  they had made with current, past Students and other congratulating Mr. McCann on his retirement.  After a standing ovation towards him, Mr.McCann took a number of photos with his Students to end the evening. 

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Bixby Concert

 9-June-2022

   On Thursday-8-June Bixby School held their Spring Concert for their Students.  This featured instrumental performances by the Third Grade percussion ensemble, the Fourth and Fifth Grade bands. They were conducted by Mr. Mike Webb. Before some of the songs Mr.Webb explained  what his job as the Conductor is and how the musicians respond to his movements. He also asked the Student to listen to the tunes to see if they could hear other melodies with the song that was being performed. 

 Then the Fifth Grade Choir  performed under the direction of Ms. Ariana Dellosa. She talked about how while some of the words in the lyrics may sound different they are still part of the song and should be listened to as part of the whole.  During their performance  a few Students were able to have a solo part. Ms. Dellosa said that these song may sound familiar but asked the audience that not sing along too loudly  because the version being performed my be different than the one the Students are use to. 

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