The LaVoy Lyrics Chorus returned to school three and one half weeks ago and began rehearsing two weeks ago. To kick-off the fall semester chorus provided a community service to the seniors at Westshore Senior Center on September 5th in celebration of Grandparents Day. The chorus helped select and prepared songs in which the senior citizens could sing along. In addition the chorus sang a selection they are rehearsing for our school Veterans Day program on November 10. For this concert choristers were pleased that, Mr. “B,” a new faculty member at our school, participated in the field trip by accompanying the sing-along concert on his guitar.
Funding from the Dosomething.Org Plum Grant made this day very special for approximately fifty-five senior citizens and for our 13-voice chorus. We were able to use the money in many ways. The chorus purchased flowers for the Westshore Senior Center. The leaders club for girls at our school, which includes several chorus members, cut the stems and arranged the flowers in a vase the day before. The art club, under the direction of Holly Loy, our art teacher, created a two-part greeting card and fabric picture frames with magnets, which the choristers presented to the senior citizens as they wished them a happy Grandparents Day. With the grant money the chorus also provided refreshments consisting of an assortment of berries, grapes and melon for the senior citizens.
The choristers walked and were pushed on wheel-chaired to and from the Westshore Senior Center. We were going to have a picnic in the Loretta Ingraham Park on the way back to school, but the weather looked like rain. Instead, the chorus enjoyed a picnic in the music room back at school and were treated with bag lunches, fresh melon and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies as they listened to their favorite music. The next day Ms. Adair shared photos from the sing-along concert with our school and with Westshore Senior Center. We are grateful to the Dosomething.org Plum grant for providing a wonderful opportunity for students with moderate to severe disabilities to connect with senior citizens through their music. Furthermore, both groups of individuals will remember this occasion where they were made to feel worthy and appreciated.