Mostly, it’s business as usual around the district during the last week of classes before Winter Break, but there is room to squeeze in some signs of the season. We’re making the rounds to sample some DMPS holiday traditions.
On Tuesday at Central Campus, a band made up of faculty members entertained students during the lunch blocks. Staff Infection has been getting to school early for the past couple of weeks to brush up on a seven-song set of holiday standards. The group’s sixth annual winter “tour” will continue, and end, on Thursday when they set up down the hall from today’s location in the student commons.
Clint Gadbury’s regular job is teaching civil engineering and architecture but this year he brought his trombone out of mothballs to sit in with SI.
“I haven’t played this thing in 23 years,” he confided before blowing his horn on Let it Snow. The pressure really ratcheted up when his son Cale and his kindergarten/1st grade classmates from next door at the Downtown School showed up to listen in.
Another newcomer to the group this year is Central Campus SRO Marco Finley. The only known cure for Staff Infection is said to be more cowbell, so that’s what Officer Finley provided, along with a touch of tambourine.
Elsewhere around DMPS . . .
- Numerous school bands, choirs and orchestras are holding their winter concerts.
- Some high schools ensembles – such as the Lincoln Choir and Roosevelt’s Bridges 2 Harmony gospel choir – are performing for state government employees during noon time concerts in the rotunda of the Ola Babcock Miller building.
- Hiatt Middle School hosted a holiday extravaganza for its student and families.
- Scavo High School held a community night for families including free turkeys for holiday meals.
- Several schools held theme days to celebrate the end of the calendar year.
- Lincoln staged a Holiday Cabaret to raise funds for Blank Children’s Hospital.
- The DMPS transportation staff delivered gifts to families in need.
And much more . . .
