Another memorable chapter of the Grandparents and Special Friends Day tradition has been etched in the Beasley books! Our youngest students were thrilled to share their love for music and engage in interactive classroom activities with their special guests. This unique event offered a glimpse into the vibrant life of a Beasley Lower School student.
In the classroom, students and their guests explored reading and writing samples, played educational games, and delighted in sharing details about their typical school day. In addition to these hands-on events, this year’s gathering featured a delightful musical journey to the Beasley Studio. Students demonstrated their musical talents, dancing skills, and presentation prowess with their guests. From lively performances to interactive music lessons, there was plenty to entertain and engage both young and old alike.
Under the guidance of Lower School Music Teacher Dr. Katy Nichols, Beasley students presented three unique programs based on the book What is A River by Monika Viaciene. Junior and Senior Kindergarten students sang about the Mississippi River and shared a funny fish tale about catching the biggest fish. They played instruments, moved with scarves, and had a swimmingly good time. They ended their program with the traditional song Peace Like A River.
First and Second graders began their program with a foot-stomping hit, Meet Me At the Fishing Hole. They celebrated the joys of fishing, catching crawdads, and watching fish swim in the local rivers of St. Louis, the Mississippi, the Missouri, and the Meramec. First-grade students danced to Down the River, and second-grade students arranged their own Orff Instrument piece, Fish Are Swimming.
Our oldest Beasley students went on a voyage of discovery and sang the classic The Water is Wide. They held beautiful two-part harmonies on all their pieces and sang a lovely rendition of Fly Away Home. To close on a rocking note, third graders arranged a fish-themed Orff piece, and fourth graders arranged a Latin hit, Wakilah. Nichols shared, “The rivers came to life with the colorful fish created in art class to accompany several songs. It was a good time at the fishing hole and a wonderful way to spend the afternoon with our grandparents and special friends.”
Head of Lower School Amy Scheer said, “This lovely afternoon event is such a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our students’ growth and provide cross-generational connections with their friends and loved ones. The performances and sharing in the classrooms were very much appreciated by all, and I loved seeing the joy on the students’ faces as they interacted with their special guests.”
Thank you to all Beasley students and faculty for graciously welcoming their guests to experience a day in the life of a Lower Schooler!