For the second year in a row, McKinley School students knocked out their crowd with a variety of performances.
Their variety show included singing, dance ensembles, a rock band, and even some joke telling.
Fifth grader Sara Ryan cracked up the audience with her food-related jokes.
“Did you guys hear about the joke about the peanut butter?” Ryan said. “Oh well; too bad. I’m not telling you. You might spread it.”
Eighth grader Evelyn Gonzalez sang “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus, while fifth graders Sedney Martinez and Francy Hernandez performed a dance to the another song by the same artist, “Hoedown Throwdown.” The rest of the student body jumped up to dance along.
Hernandez said that she was nervous before her performance, but that once the audience started to participate, she lost her butterflies.
Marc Vincent Piero Gonzalez and sixth grade teacher Sean Medina played guitar and Anthony Guevara accompanied on drums to Green Day’s “Brain Stew.” Each of the students then performed his own solo act.
“It’s a beginning for them,” said Principal Joanne Colello-Harrington. “It encourages them to develop a talent that may have been discovered at this variety show that they can pursue in their future endeavors.”
Students put forth talent
Music teacher Michael Modero hosted the show, adding symbols to jokes and making sure the students’ musical selections played.
Modero, along with teachers, Teri Steller-Hammond, who is also the modeling club moderator, and Tracy Locricchio, who is the student council and modeling club moderator, organized the event. The held an audition a couple of months ago and told students to come prepared with their acts.
Even Brandon and Damon Velasquez, who are in first and second grades respectively, came up with their own joke routine centered on puppies.
“Why are Dalmatian puppies so bad at playing hide and seek?” asked Brandon. “Because they are always spotted.”
Some of the students worked for the entire year on their routines, getting ready for auditions.
“It brings out the talent in kids that you don’t necessarily see everyday.” – Teri Steller-Hammond
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“They really came up with what they were interested in doing” said Modero.
A show to remember
Colello-Harrington said that the show was a reward for all of their hard work and dedication throughout the school year. She was grateful that Superintendent Robert Dandorph supported their show.
Fifth graders Ciara Vazquez, Maria Hernandez, and Amanda Maisonet performed the “Cha Cha Slide,” and got some of the faculty to join them on the stage.
Steller-Hammond was happy to see the confidence the students discovered.
“It brings out the talent in kids that you don’t necessarily see every day,” said Steller-Hammond.
Gonzalez said that he had only been playing guitar for a couple of months now and that he had been teaching himself at home.
“It’s good to get involved,” said Gonzalez.
Tricia Tirella may be reached at TriciaT@hudsonreporter.com.