Sweet Treats

We have such SWEET Lunch Ladies at PDS. This was dessert for the day!

Music Symbol Art

This is a photo of my new artwork. This was a Christmas gift from a family member. The students are having fun identifying the music symbols.

Up and Down the Scale

The 4k students recently learned to play ascending and descending 5 note scales on the tone bells. Just ask them, and they will sing for you "From the rising of the sun, 'Til the time that it goes down, I will praise Your name. I will praise Your name. "

Friday Afternoons with First Grade

First Grade come to music class on Friday afternoons. Just imagine the energy in the air!!! So much excitement over weekend plans, sleep-overs, grandparent visits, and such. Sometimes it is difficult to contain all our excitement. Luckily, we have an outlet for our energy right now. We are preparing for our hoe-down, and the first graders will do their first "square" dance.



All join hands, circle left.





Bow to your partner.





Girls all curtsy, boys please bow.



Bow to your corner.



Cicrle to the left.



Sometimes we get a little silly. That's ok. It's Friday afternoon.



We always manage to pull it back together before we leave.

Lining up and ready for the hall.



Going Home! The weekend is just beginning!



OOPS!. These last two pictures were not supposed to be last.
I lost them.



For some reason, bowing and curtsying can be SO funny. (giggle, giggle)
The boys and girls got so tickled over this move.

As you can see, the hoe-down is going to be fun for everyone. Keep October 23 reserved for this special PDS event.





Indoor Recess!!!

What do you get when rainy-day-indoor-recess meets giggly, silly (and fashion-concious)fifth graders?

Who says you have to go outside to have fun at recess?

*Those things on their heads are their lunch boxes.

The Scarf Dance

                      This post will focus on the fun "movement and music" activity  that several classes got to do this week. We have great, new, colorful scarves to use in our dances. The students' faces were as bright as the colors of the scarves! These activities encourage listening, following directions, moving to the beat of the music, and moving in musically appropriate ways.

The "dance" was performed to the instrumental piece "The Syncopated Clock" by Leroy Anderson. You'll see in the photos below that the students marched in a circle, and then "waved" the scarves in various ways. The different motions correlated to the different sections of the song. Students had to listen, and change their motions when the music changed.

We had a special guest in the music room. Mrs. Burd listened and followed directions well, too. 

After the scarf dance, we fold the scarves to the music "Forgotten Dream" by Leroy Anderson. (He's becoming one of my favorite composers. I predict you will hear more about him in the future)



The New School Year in Music and Chapel

Welcome back to the PDS Music and Chapel Blog!!! This is where you can stay up-to-date on all things related to music classes and chapel.

During the first two weeks at school, I like to teach the students and teachers a few new songs for our chapel services.  The students usually come back to school sharing songs with me that they learned at vacation bible school and camp. I take those songs and share them with the other kids, and then we ALL get to benefit.

Presbyterian Day School joins with First Presbyterian Church in welcoming Rev. Michael McLaughlin and his family to Cleveland. We have been enjoying his messages in chapel. He brings new life and enthusiasm to the messages. He is very sincere about teaching the students (and adults) how to use God's word as a "lamp unto (our) feet, and a light unto (our) paths." God has blessed our school and church very much with the McLaughlin family.

If you would like to hear a great bible message, sing some fun and worshipful new songs, and hear children recite scripture, please join us on Friday mornings from 8:30-9:ish. You will be blessed---to be a blessing.

Happy to be the  music teacher,

Sandi Jackson