December open houses: A chance to experience arts specialty classes and activity times with your chi

This holiday season we are eager to share what we do in our performing arts classes with parents in our preschools and primary chorus programs.

These events are not "performances" but rather participatory classes, in which parents are free to observe or to participate themselves. Their purpose is to show parents how our creative teachers work with their children in the performing arts, as well as to give parents some informal time doing classroom activities with their children. ECC teachers will be sharing dance classes led by Teacher Denise Fladager and drama classes led by Hope Raymond. In addition, k-2 classes (Owls and Eagles) will share songs they have learned in chorus classes led by our new teacher, Nicole Chin.

When Peregrine School first opened, we held a holiday show. Students got dressed up to sing and dance for an audience of parents, and many left the stage crying. We realized that for young children, it would be much more positive to participate in a regular class that can also illustrate to parents how we teach the arts. Then, in the spring, ECC students put on an informal play which shows the results of their work all year. By then, they are ready for performance, and the weather enables us to hold a show outside.

We hope that parents will attend the holiday open houses, although we know this can be difficult during the school day. It is a great opportunity to share a special day with your child, and to get an insider's view of how we teach performing arts at Peregrine School.