Veterans Day 2024

  

Teachers,

  • Thank you so much for your help with our annual Veterans Day program! I know it means so much to our community’s servicemen and women, and it’s also a really great opportunity for our students to perform together and create something special as a school.
  • To make this event more successful and sustainable I’ve been working on some tweaks, and I welcome any suggestions or feedback as we try new things. Send me an email, give me a call, or stop by anytime, I’d love to hear your ideas and input!
  • Below is a list of performance expectations I’m hoping you’d be willing to discuss with your kids. I’m counting on you to help me navigate individual concerns so that I can lead the group as a whole. Thank you!
  • Finally, as you scroll down you’ll find lyric videos for all our program songs. I of course will run them with your students over their next four classes, and several of the other related arts teachers will run through them as well. Would you also keep track of your class’ progress, and give them additional repetition if needed? Each song is only a little more than two minutes long, and the videos would make great brain breaks. This would be a huge help to us and is the model I hope to use with all music programs going forward.
  • Again, thanks for your help, and please let me know if you have any questions!

-Will

Students,

  • Remember that our performance goal is to celebrate our community’s veterans while having fun making music together. As long as you are engaged, focused, and working towards that goal, you are sure to have a wonderful time. However, any students who are doing the opposite will no longer be able to participate and will have to be removed from the group by their teacher.
  • Our program will be held on Monday, November 11th during school. Because of space we can only invite families with veteran guests to attend. If your family can’t come, Mr. Doublestein will send out a video a video of the performance to all our Boone Meadow families.
  • Students should wear red, white, or blue clothing to celebrate our country during this program. The more patriotic the better 🙂
  • Don’t forget that your performance starts as soon as you enter the gym, and it only ends after you’ve left. Make sure that you stay on your best behavior as you represent our school well in front of our guests.
  • There should be no talking between or during songs, and especially when a song finishes. Try to break the bad habit of commenting as soon as a song ends.
  • Performances are exciting, and it’s normal for your bodies to want to wiggle when you’re excited. However, due to our limited space it’s very important that you stay in your spot for the entire program. You may feel squished, but that’s a sacrifice I’m sure you can handle, especially when you compare it to the sacrifices our veterans have made for all of us. Keeping calm and positive will go a long way in making this an enjoyable experience for everyone.
  • When singing, try not to stare at the lyrics on the screen. In fact, unless you need to read the words it’s always better to watch the director instead. You should also make sure you’re always listening to one another and to the background track so that your singing stays together with the steady beat.
  • Keep in mind you always want to sing with your singing voice. Don’t use a talking voice, or a whisper voice, or a yelling voice, or a funny voice, or a screeching voice. A performance like this is about the group, and we want everyone’s voices to blend together as one.
  • Finally, have fun! This is an experience that only comes once a year, and it’s important that you enjoy moments like these. Remember that you don’t have to be perfect, and this isn’t a competition. It’s ok to make mistakes as long as you’re trying your best 🙂 Work together to do something good, and let your preparation shine. I’m looking forward to it!
  • Do you have any ideas on how we can step up these songs and bring them to the next level? Maybe by adding motions? Or props? If you or your class wants to share your vision I’d love to help make it a reality, just let me know!
  • Do you have any other ideas for this year’s program? Anything we need to rethink or reimagine? Tom, Jarrod and I would love to hear your input!
  • Would you like to help run tech at the program? Here’s what we need:
    • 1 person to run the video camera
    • 1 person to adjust the sound system
    • 1 person to start/stop lyric videos for students on the back computer
    • 1 person to advance PowerPoint slides for parents on the front computer

Songs By Grade Level

Program Order (Draft)

Spoken ElementPoint PersonSongsGradeEstimated LengthEstimated Time
WelcomeMr. Gatlin
Mr. DoublesteinAllegiance RapK-42:16
Element 1
Mr. DoublesteinStar-Spangled Banner3-41:56
Element 2
Mr. DoublesteinYou’re A Grand Old Flag1-21:25
Mr. DoublesteinThankful For The USAK1:37
Mr. DoublesteinFifty Nifty United States3-42:17
Element 3
Mr. DoublesteinVeterans MarchK-22:40
Mr. DoublesteinWe Will Not Forget3-42:11
Element 4
Mr. DoublesteinOh I Love AmericaK-42:06
ClosingMr. Hundley
Teachers, please contact Mr. Doublestein, Mr. Hundley or Mr. Gatlin if you have any ideas for spoken elements at this year’s program.

Allegiance Rap (grades K-4)

Watch out for the grade level split in the middle (“liberty and justice”) and the echoes (led by 3rd and 4th grade) at the end. Hands on your heart.

The Star Spangled Banner (grades 3-4)

Don’t forget to take silent breaths any time you need to during the final long word (“brave”). Hands on your heart.

You’re A Grand Old Flag (grades 1-2)

Thankful For The USA (kindergarten)

Clapping during this song would be too loud, and we want to hear your beautiful singing. Sorry kindergartners!

Fifty Nifty United States (Grades 3-4)

Veterans March (Grades K-2)

No actual marching on this one. It would be too loud in the gym… Sorry kids!

We Will Not Forget (Grades 3-4)

Oh I Love America (Grades K-4)

Don’t get lost on this one. It’s an easy song, but it’s also easy to get off track with the music. Make sure you’re listening.

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