Kinnelon Students Share Love Through Music [VIDEO]

On Tuesday, the and Kindergarten students shared their joy and love of music with a special person in their life.  Some of the special visitors included grandparents, babysitters, aunts, uncles and godparents at an inter-generational sing-along. 

This intergenerational sing-along brought them together in a way that celebrated sharing love and kindness with their loved ones on Valentine’s Day. 

The students experienced the tenets of the schools' Full Value principles through the vehicle of music:

Be Here- Students participated in a focused, 25-minute sing-along program.

Be Safe- Students felt safe in the school environment, surrounded by loved ones.

Be Honest- Students were encouraged to be truthful and fair.

Care for Self and Others- Students experienced care for self by presenting themselves in a positive manner and care for others by inviting a loved one to share in the experience.

Set and Commit to Goal - Students set the goal to give their very best and worked toward achieving that goal.

Let Go and Move On – Students were reminded that “We all make mistakes, even in group musical experiences.” If it happens, they learned to let go and move on.

Music teacher Lisa Wichman planned the sing-along and organized the entire process for each school along with the assistance from the kindergarten teachers. Guitarists Dr. Richard Maizell and Pete DeMaio provided their musical talents for the sing-along. Dr. Maizell is the Director of Special Services and DeMaio is the musical husband of Bernie DeMaio, administrative assistant to Dr. Maizell and former Kiel School secretary. Ms. Witte, a retired teacher, led a PowerPoint presentation. 

"When you sing with a group of people, you learn how to immerse yourself into the community. That is one of the great feelings - to stop being 'me' for a little while and to become 'us.' I believe it builds character and, more than anything else, encourages a taste for cooperation with others," Wichman said to the students, quoting Brian Eno, British composer, artist and activist.