CGS Elementary Christmas Program was delightful
<span>The holiday spirit continued to flow at the Chester Grade School Elementary Christmas Program on December 10.</span>
<span>Students in 1</span><span>st</span><span> through 4</span><span>th</span><span> grades were in the spotlight at the annual event held at Chester High School's Colbert Gymnasium.</span>
<span>The concert began at 6:30 p.m. and lasted approximately 35 minutes as Sue Colonel, Chester Grade School general music teacher, had everything well-organized and ready to perform once the concert began.</span>
<span>Colonel had plenty of logistical help from teachers and classroom aides from all of the grades. First grade teachers were Rachel Marshall, Priscilla Martinez and Joyce Wingerter.</span>
<span>Second grade teachers were Alisa Herrell, Kasi Jany and Amanda Middendorf, with third grade teachers Melissa Duncan, Kyle Koeneman and Rebecca Vieregge assisting.</span>
<span>Fourth grade teachers Stephanie Jany, Mandy Kueker and Sarah Surman also helped out.</span>
<span>Paraprofessionals included Denise Andrews, Cherie Diercks and Tammy Grah, with special education teachers Rachel Francis, Lynne Gonzalez and Adrienne Fernow. </span>
<span>All above-mentioned support staff helped to monitor the students, get them in their proper groups, led them to the stage area and got them on the choral risers in their proper positions.</span>
<span>They also monitored behavior throughout the performances and got the students back in their proper groups on the gym floor so parents could locate and pick them up after the show.</span>
<span>The program officially began with a poem recited by the entire group of students. The poem ended with every student blowing a big kiss to the audience. </span>
<span>The musical portion of the evening featured 11 songs directed by Colonel and accompanied on piano by Vicky Beers.</span>
<span>Each grade level was featured by themselves for a song and all the grade levels were featured four times as a large group.</span>
<span>Then the first and second graders sang together for two songs and the third and fourth graders performed together for two songs.</span>
<span>First graders were the first to perform</span><span>alone as they wowed the audience with their rendition of, "S-A-N-T-A." Second graders joined the first graders for the next number titled, "All I want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth."</span>
<span>Third grade then sang alone to the tune of "Santa Clause is Coming to Town." Fourth grade then joined forces with the third graders and sang "Frosty the Snowman." </span>
<span>The entire group united to perform, a funny version of popular summer ball park tune, "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" titled "Take Me Out to the Snow Storm."</span>
<span>Second grade then took the stage for their solo performance. The second graders sang "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus."</span>
<span>That performance was followed by another solo performance, this time by the fourth grade singers, who sang "Over the Freeway and to the Mall."</span>
<span>First and second grade joined together for the next number titled "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer." Grades three and four then took center stage together to sing yet another very familiar, funny song titled, "Nuttin' for Christmas."</span>
<span>The show ended with back-to-back performances by the entire group. The first tune was titled "Blitzen Boogie" and the group closed the show with "We Wish You a Merry Christmas."</span>