Comstock Park — Fifth-graders now have wings, thanks to a grant from the Comstock Park Educational Foundation.
The glow-in-the-dark wings will be unfurled at the upcoming holiday concert at 6 p.m. on Dec. 7 at the Comstock Park Performing Arts Center.
The lighted wings will be used in conjunction with fifth-grade soloist Emilee Carpenter in a piece titled “A Song of Peace.”
Amanda Hite, music teacher at Pine Island and Stoney Creek elementary schools, said students created the movements to accompany the music, creating “a visual masterpiece.”
“They take great pride in their creation and gleefully spend countless hours at home and recess practicing solos and harmony in addition to learning choreography from our student choreographers,” Hite said.
Music Accompanied by Grants
When Hite got the keys to her music room over 20 years ago she found some cassette tapes, rusty jingle bells and a couple of broken xylophones, she recalled. So she went to work applying for grants. To date, she has received more than 25 grants, primarily from the foundation.
“It has become my mission to equip my room with the tools that will not only teach my students about music, but will excite them and allow them an outlet for their creativity,” she said.
Her classroom now has 10 keyboards, Boomwhackers (tuned percussion tubes), drums and xylophones. When students learned at home during building closures due to COVID, the foundation provided funds to create individual instrument bags for each student.
“Who knew that pool noodles cut with a bread knife would provide an inexpensive sand block sound?” Hite asked. “It was quite a revelation, and I still use them often.”
