It was the school year 2014-15 when Katie decided she
was not returning as Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) teacher. She owned
additional responsibility of coordination of the annual talent show.
I was paraeducator and a reliable substitute for Katie that year. So it was
only natural for me to accept the responsibility for the Neuwoehner High School
talent show when she announced her plans to leave teaching for a while and focus
on her growing family.
The TALENT show became mine. I did not expect to own
it forever, but something keeps bringing me back. (This is my fourth year as talent coordinator.) The show generally happens as the Spring break
approaches. A theme is offered as teachers and staff are encouraged to work
with students to prepare appropriate performances. What happens next is a kind
of magic. Several weeks of chaos lead to showtime that features more than 25
acts which may be song, dance, magic, reading a poem or playing an instrument.
Students elect to perform as solo, duo or groups. Some teachers decide to
present their classroom as an act. It all comes together as a show that typically
runs 90 minutes.
The remarkable thing is how these students rise to the
occasion. All have learning disabilities in one form or another but they face
fears and ignore obstacles. The result is an entertaining production that
showcases both courage and talent. Three years ago our theme played off of
reality TV - Neuwoehner Talent Search.
Last year we leveraged literature with Fantastic
Talents. Our most recent production took its cue from the school year that
began with a Solar Eclipse – A Space in
Time.
Some memorable highlights:
A young man with Down Syndrome dons a leather jacket
and wig complete with sideburns to sing and enthusiastically dances like the Elvis
(thank you very much). A teenage girl performed a rap song she wrote in honor
of one of her former teachers. A classroom takes the stage in five wheelchairs
with staffers on hand to help roll out a banner that celebrates the Age of Aquarius with peace signs and
smiles. A boy with impaired hearing explains (with assistance of an interpreter)
as he escapes from a straight-jacket, chains and locks on stage like Harry
Houdini. Behind the scenes, students volunteer to serve as ushers, distribute
programs, and work the lights. PowerPoint images featuring student art serve as
title slides between performances. Music fills the room as the show comes to a
close and students and guests in the audience anticipate Spring Break. It is at
that moment you cannot help but see this community sharing the joy of all the
little things that are so very big.
Stay tuned. The Show must go on. In Spring of 2019 the
theme - The World Awaits.
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