Field Trip to the State Capitol

On Monday October 3rd, I got to take a field trip to the Utah State Capitol.  Did you know the State Capitol is having its Centennial Celebration this year.  More specifically this month and even more specifically this week!  So cool!  Lucky me I got to spend time in this beautiful building listening to students from all over Utah perform. 

All around the Capital Rotunda there are these beautiful statues that signify what standards are important to the state of Utah.  At the bottom of this statue it says "Arts and Education".  I appreciated this today as the Centennial Celebration was filled with Choirs, Orchestras and other ensembles.  Arts are an important aspect of a well-rounded education.  I am grateful to be a part of arts education in Utah and I am grateful for so many schools and teachers who support arts education.

Bright and early at 9am South Clearfield Elementary arrived ready to sing.  LeAnna Hamblin is the new Music and Art teacher at South Clearfield.  She has only been working with these kids since September (that's 1 month).  What I love most about what LeAnna has done, is that she has made herself part of the school community by collaborating with classroom teachers. She has also provided a safe and successful opportunity for the students of South Clearfield to be creative.  

 

Today, the 5th graders at South Clearfield came prepared to sing songs celebrating Utah.  They were the very first performers of the day.  The students at South Clearfield sang 3 songs.  Here is my favorite: 



A couple of hours later Kimberly Graff and the Lincoln Elementary Ukulele Choir performed on the steps of the Rotunda.  Last year Kimberly wrote a grant and received $500 from the Davis Education Foundation to purchase Ukulele's for her classroom.  Well, she didn't just buy the ukuleles, she taught students how to play them in her class and began a Ukulele ensemble.  What a cool thing!  I happened to be sitting next to a parent who has 2 students at Lincoln Elementary, one of which was playing in the Ukulele Ensemble.  This parent works at a charter school.  I asked her if she had thought about taking her kids to the school where she works.  She said she had thought about it but decided not to because of all the wonderful programs Lincoln Elementary has going, including the Ukulele choir.  What a great compliment to Kimberly Graff for the work she does to reach students and support them in their learning. 



Lincoln Elementary also performed 3 songs.  I loved this little medley they prepared.   




Overall, today was such a fun day!  I loved being at the State Capitol and hearing so many children share their love of music and art with the visitors, parents and tourists from around the world.