In keeping with the holiday season’s events, there was singing, dancing, drumming and more from students and parents of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Head Start/Early Head Start, the Performing Arts Program and the Charter High
School.
The 2014 Musical Winter Wonder Land was held Dec. 12 at the SIUE Head Start’s Discovery Center for Little Scholars in East St. Louis.
“We thought the holidays would be a great time to present the talents of both our students and parents,” said Yvonne Jeffries, Head Start community worker, social services. “The 2014 Musical Winter
Wonder Land event provided SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start children the opportunity to learn and develop gross and fine motor skills through melodic song, rhythm and dance.”
Collaborating with Jeffries was Earl Leonard Wilkes of the SIUE Performing Arts Department and music instructor for the Charter High School (CHS).
“Our students and parents are talented and worked hard to provide an entertaining musical concert,” Wilkes said. “Also participating were guest artists from the community. Everyone did a great job!”
Special guests on the Winter Wonder Land program included Wilkes; and CHS music class students, Lake Crowell on piano; Greg Sallie on piano, bass guitar and drums; Esau Toombs on drums and bass guitar; Darrion Loveless on drums and piano; and Ta’Leah Rayshawn Johnson, on vocals.
SIUE East St. Louis Center: With a focus on empowering people and strengthening communities, the SIUE East St. Louis Center is dedicated to improving the lives of families and individuals—from pre-school through adult—in the Metro East region. The Center offers programs that gives the community renewed hope and an opportunity to reach educational, career and life goals. It does so by providing comprehensive programs, services and training in the areas of education, health, social services and the arts.
Photos:
Za’Riyah Hinton, 4, twirling in her red dress, performs “Christmas Time is Here” with Head Start/Early Head Start children, ages 3-5.
Playing along with the tune: “Happy Song” is five-year-old Phillip Hook Jr.
LaShunda Moore, Head Start parent, sings “All I Want for Christmas.”
Performing “Drummer Boy” is Stephanie Howard, 3, with her drumming sticks raised.
Also serenading the audience with “Drummer Boy” is (from left to right) Jase Oden and Malia Garner, both 2 years old.
Performing “There’s No Christmas Without You” are TaLeah Johnson (right) Charter High School student in Earl Leonard Wilkes’ music class, and Head Start aunt Valerie Mumphard.