Reach for the Stars

In 2013, I wrote this song with Ryan Miller for our school and we have been enjoying singing it for the last several years.  Even though we can't sing it right now in the classroom, we are learning the movements.  The message is still the same as we care for ourselves and each other, coming here to learn new things.

 

O Canada ASL

We are so excited to be learning a new way to do O Canada this year.  Because we have some singing restrictions because of Covid-19, we decided we needed to figure out how to do O Canada every morning without singing.  We are learning American Sign Language.  Thank you to the Manitoba School for the Deaf for providing us with this video of your signs.  Thank you to Mrs. Bowering for teaching us.  We have been enjoying learning it together and look forward to the day when our whole school can gather again in an assembly to sing and sign our national anthem together. 

Moana Jr. Auditions

Dear Grade 3/4/5 students and parents,

It's that time again for auditions for our upcoming 2020-2021 Divisional Musical, Disney's Moana Jr.  This year auditions will be alittle different.  Mrs. Olko, the director of the play, will be auditioning students through a video audition.  Please see the note from her below.  There are a number of things to consider and all interested students need to contact Ms. Rempel ASAP.  We will set-up an online meeting to go over things including the songs, the character you would like to memorize a part for and the movement component that includes marching in beat, step-touch and the box step.

From Mrs. Paula Olko:

Due to the current COVID 19 situation, I will be conducting all auditions on-line.

• Students who were in the program before and want to be in the ensemble do NOT need to send a video audition. These students only need to fill out the Google form linked below.
• Students who were in the program before and want to audition for a lead role must submit a video audition along with the completed Google form.
• New students to the program must also submit a video audition and a completed Google form. Please choose one acting side and one song from the Audition Materials link below.

Everyone must complete the Google form, to be considered for a role in the show.

All auditions must be submitted via the Google form by the evening of Friday May 8, 2020.

Please see here for the link to ALL the information including the songs and script: SJASD musical audition link and contact your music teacher, Ms. Rempel (julianna.rempel@sjasd.ca), to let her know you are planning to audition.  She can help you with rehearsing.

Mrs. Paula Olko
Producer / Director / Choreographer
paula.olko@sjasd.ca

Songs for Change

Been loving all the musical things going on around the world these days as many have been in isolation and firing up the creativity to help us all get through.

Here's a great musical collaboration of musicians around the world.  Take a load off!

Time for a Break

Dear Stevenson Family,

I imagine if you are anything like me, you are exhausted.  It's been a trying few weeks and spring break is now here.  I hope to take a break from school work and I hope you take this time to connect with your families.  Make memories and love well.  Sing, dance, play.  Above all, love and take care of yourself!

More to come after the break but until then, I'm signing out.

💗 Ms. Rempel

Here's a little song to dance your way into the break!

Winnipeg Music Festival

All Grade 3/4/5 choirs have been busy learning their songs for the Winnipeg Music Festival which is coming up on Monday.  Parents, please see the note that was sent home today.  We will have their performances available at parent conferences as well as we will be performing out our Stevenson Idol Talent Show on Wednesday, April 29.

Auditions... Already!?

It's that time of the year again for the Grade 3/4/5 students to begin auditioning for our Winter Concert.  This year we are going to have a Party in a Pear Tree!  Mark your calendars, Wednesday, December 11, afternoon and evening shows.

Introduction:

A Party in a Pear Tree is a musical that takes place in and beneath a pear tree during the Twelve Days of Christmas.  “Party” is both the name of the partridge bird character who is stuck up in a pear tree and the party that is happening underneath that tree as all of our favorite characters try to figure out how to get him down from there.  Very funny!

The Cast:

The cast is made up of all the characters from the famous song “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” 

Auditions:

Auditions are complete.  Congratulations to all the Grade 3/4/5 students on a great job!  More than 85 kids auditioned.  See Party In A Pear Tree link above for information, songs and all parts.  Every student has been placed in a part, whether a character, solo or Chorus 1 or 2.

Show:
The Grade 3/4/5 classes look forward to presenting this show on Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 2:15 and 7:00 pm.

Costumes:
Complete lists of costumes will be posted shortly.

Musical Auditions

Grade 3/4/5 students auditioning for the Divisional musical Frozen Jr. will need to pick one song and character part in the scripts to memorize.  Please see Ms. Rempel for the music or any other questions.

In Summer Vocal (Olaf)


In Summer No Vocal (Olaf)


Bows - Let It Go Vocal (chorus)


Bows - Let it Go No Vocal (chorus)

Let it Go Vocal (Elsa)


Let it Go No Vocal (Elsa)


First Time in Forever Vocal (Anna)


First Time in Forever No Vocal (Anna)


Reindeers are Better Than People Vocal (Kristof/Sven)


Reindeers are Better Than People No Vocal (Kristof/Sven)

101st Winnipeg Music Festival

Congratulations to our choirs on outstanding performances to the Winnipeg Music Festival yesterday.  It was a beautiful day of making music and listening to other choirs from around the city.

Choir United

Golden Voices

Singing with the Phil

Just a little taste of the day singing with the Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir on December 16.  Thank-you to Maestro Yuri Klaz, Adrienne Weibe, Cheryl McNabb, Brenda Marinelli and the Phil choir for inviting us.  It was a most memorable experience.

We Remember

Thank-you to students and staff for a very simple yet beautiful reminder at our Remembrance Day assembly this week of those who served in WWI and WWII and continue to maintain peace around the world.  Our choirs sang beautifully in remembrance of those who stand for peace, hope and love.  We shall remember.

St. James Children's Choir on the Air!

So proud of one of our outstanding elementary music teachers in our division, Mrs. Neufeld, and this wonderful high caliber divisional children's choir.  We had one student from Stevenson representing last year.  Congratulations Hannah, the choir team, their director, and Ms. Amanda Hahn-Tomchuk, their amazing accompanist!  We are so lucky to have you here.

BORROWED FROM SJASD Website News
During the week of October 15, 2018, CBC Radio One featured the activities of the St. James neighbourhood. As part of their coverage, they featured the SJASD Divisional Children's Concert Choir. Director Heather Neufeld submitted a recording from the choir's performance at the Winnipeg Music Festival in March 2018. Below is the audio clip from the program that aired Thursday, October 18, 2018. (Picture from a 2018 performance in St. James-Assiniboia)

Excellent Singers...

Remembrance Day

Our classes are now busy preparing for our upcoming assembly on November 7 for Remembrance Day.

CHOIR UNITED & GOLDEN VOICES SINGING

DONA NOBIS PACEM (Give Us Peace) Arranged by Margaret R. Tucker

Here's a bit of a different version of the song but gives voice to the three parts in canon.

IN FLANDERS FIELDS Words By Dr. John McCrae  Music By John Jacobson and Roger Emerson

KINDER / GRADE 1/2:

Busy Start

All our classes have been super busy in music as we prepared for our Sharing Assembly of our school theme song, "Reach for the Stars."

Ask your child to sing it for you and show you the actions.

KINDERS:
We've been working on music room routines.  All students can now find and remember their spot.  We like singing and dancing.  We have been exploring a number of instruments and learning how to hold and play them to make beautiful music.

GRADE 1/2:
Grade 1 and 2 classes have been practicing their singing and listening skills as well.  We can identify the families of percussion instruments: woods, skins, metals and shakers

GRADE 3/4/5:
We have been practicing, reading, writing and playing rhythms and patterns as we bucket drum.

Down By the Sea

Another Year...

Grade 5 girls singing and dancing.  I am sure gonna miss you!

This is my 9th year end at Stevenson.  It's been a really low key year and I've needed a break from all the business and events.  We've had some lovely moments this year and also learning to adjust to our split classes has been both joyful and challenging.  Split classes are always difficult in music as we often build on previous years, with certain music skills and concepts that are age appropriate.  This year there was a large gap in the span and a variety of abilities.  We want all students making music but also knowing and understanding concepts, communicating effectively and appropriately, and gaining proficiency in skills and confidence in individual and group tasks such as reading, writing, playing, performing, music listening/appreciation, and improvising.  This is an unending huge task and my students didn't disappoint as I saw many grow through failure and triumphs.

To my Grade 5s - thank you for the years of making music together.  I hope and pray that you continue to find nuggets of life and joy through music making experiences and will look back on your years of plays, choir, Orff, games, dances, solos, and drumming with fondness.  I look forward to seeing you in the future bands, choirs, and ever appreciating the vast colorful wonders of music throughout the rest of your lives.

See you at our final assembly at 10:00 a.m. in the Stevenson gym.

Have a wonderful summer and see you all in September!

Kinders exploring sounds

Making a band

Grade 5s who have passed and surpassed their Level 1 Recorder Karate tests.  Congrats!

Performing for our peers

Outdoor Music - Drumming station

Room 5 Tapping our Potential Music Monday performance

Orff Club performing pieces from our story plays

Music Monday 2018

Come and join us at Stevenson as we celebrate Music Monday 2018.  Most students are performing a song or two and we have a variety of songs lined up.  Hope to see you there!

Wizard of Oz Hit Songs

Follow the Yellowbrick Road / We're Off to See the Wizard

If I Only Had a Brain

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Munchkin Welcome Song

It Really Was No Miracle

Grade 1/2 Choir Sings!

Congratulations Grade 1/2 choir on a great job singing last night at our Music Celebration 2018 at Sturgeon Creek United Church.  They did a great job and we are very proud of your work!

Here is our evaluation of our singing.  Stars and wishes!