Students presented their annual musical, Summer Camp, at the Niverville Elementary School from April 25–26. Grade Four students took the acting roles while Grade Three students comprised the choir.
“I was very pleased with all of the performances,” says Debbie Stewart, the school’s music teacher. “It was inclusive, the songs were catchy, and the summer camp storyline was relatable to their age.”
The story chronicled a group of campers who started out annoyed at their parents. By the end of their week at camp, however, they came to enjoy the great outdoors, make new friends, and learn invaluable life skills.
“Since most of my time was dedicated to rehearsing the music, while the homeroom teachers directed the acting piece, it was a treat to work with the full cast in the days leading up to the performances,” Stewart says. “There were four different casts, and each group had its own part that would make me smile every time. With one cast, it was the knot-tying camper. In another cast, it was the camp director, bear, or the soloists. Although they all had the same songs and script, each cast was unique!”
Stewart adds that there are many benefits to exposing students to drama at a young age. “I think it is a very valuable experience for young people to perform for others, instead of being the ones entertained. The process encourages creative thinking, perseverance, and teamwork.”
