West Valley School Kids Shine In Show Of Vocal, Artistic Talent
The first group of knee-high Pavarottis had just finished their gig, and were now free to roam.
Elementary-school art, drawn thick with crayon, was tacked to partitions dividing University City Shopping Center’s main corridor. The youngsters tried to find their own contribution to the exhibit.
Until, that is, they spied the baseball-sized gum ball of their heart’s desire. “Mommy! Can I have one of these?” one little girl piped, darting away from her reluctant source of finance, straight for the vending machines.
So it went last weekend at West Valley Days at the mall. Students from the West Valley schools came to U-City to perform, and show off their art on Friday and Saturday.
Ness Elementary’s first- and second-graders were done singing by 10:30 a.m. Saturday, and spectators had another half-hour to wait until the next group’s turn.
People walked around, taking in the displays. A drawing of Frankenstein’s monster read “This is a monster. His name is Hrman Monster.” You have to give the kid some slack. That’s an old show.
A family stopped at Ness’s display of frog-inspired art, titled “This is Our Pad.”
“My name’s up there!” Melody Dossey, 8, said excitedly.
Her mom, Kelli Dossey grinned. “Celebrity,” she sighed.
Pasadena Park Elementary’s choir of third- and fourth-graders were milling around the mall’s open court area. They were next.
This crew was no bunch of slackers. Their teacher, Kathy Beale, said they come to school early every Wednesday to practice. The 40 or so youngsters didn’t seem jittery. Just cautious.
“I’d say they don’t know what to expect yet,” Beale said. Matthew Wayne, 9, said he had no fear - but he was none too talkative nonetheless.
Parents gathered in a semicircle, watching their children climb the risers, organizing themselves by height. Camera shutters clicked and video recorders rolled.
Then the piano began its airy, slow tinkle. The children’s eyes followed Beale’s directing hands. “I’m alive, alert, awake, enthusiastic,” they sang.
After that number, a few kids brought out conga drums and other instruments. They started an African song, their young voices making it sound like something from a Paul Simon-meets-the-Vienna Boys Choir CD. (You never know. Could happen.)
A hush blanketed the crowd. “Wow,” someone whispered.
The next number was a big hit - a selection from Aladdin. The choir did that funky pharaoh dance, bobbing their heads and moving their arms.
When the performance ended, families mingled. Bettina Watson, 8, ran to her mom, Billie Jo, and a family friend just arrived. “You missed it! You missed it!” Bettina and another little girl called in chorus.
It was time to check out the exhibits again. The crowd looked at pictures of West Valley High’s student trip to Mexico and a science project detailing how to safely kill leafroller larvae. An exhibit of black and white photo art (pretty good) and various sketches papered another of the temporary walls.
“That’s mine, isn’t it?” asked one boy, pointing to a drawing. Must have been. “Yes! Yes!” he exclaimed, doing sort of a touchdown dance.
Apparently, such celebrations are banned only on the field. At malls, they’re A-OK.
, DataTimes