There was excitement in the air at Nerstrand Elementary School on Thursday, December 15th for the annual Winter Program put on by the K-5th grade students, under the direction of music specialist, Melodi VanRoekel. Two performances were given on Thursday, one at 12:45 and again at 6:45 p.m. The fifth grade band started off playing several selections. Then the 24 kindergarten students entertained the standing room only crowds with four songs, accompanied by fifth grade student, Kasandra Keller on the piano. The highlight of the performance was the musical production of “In Search of Peace”, a musical written by the students with the help of Melodi. The inspiration for the musical was the Children’s International Peace Garden, located on the school grounds at Nerstrand Elementary School. Visits were made to: The North Pole; Asia; Australia; Southern Africa; America; Europe and Mexico, all countries represented in the school’s courtyard gardens. All 156 students in grades K-5 were involved in the production, with the fifth graders taking center stage with the speaking parts. Orff instruments, drums, a violin solo by second grader, Helena Mitchell and many solo singing parts were all a part of the performances!
