Cabool R-IV schools offer plenty to do this holiday season
With the holiday season fast approaching, Cabool students and educators are wrapping up the quarter and preparing for the conclusion of a busy year. While school may be out soon, don’t let the winter blues get you down this season – there are still plenty of exciting ways to stay involved with the Cabool R-IV School District over this Christmas break and well into next semester.
To keep you feeling festive, the Cabool athletic department is hard at work planning one of the biggest sporting events in the area: the Cabool Holiday Tournament. As in the past, the event will be hosting 16 area schools’ basketball teams at the Cabool high school gymnasium. This event is proof that you don’t have to drive all the way to Springfield to see great basketball. You won’t want to miss the friendly rivalry, school spirit, and community engagement at these games. Take a break from the hectic demands of the holidays to come cheer the Bulldogs on with the whole family as they take on some of the toughest teams in Texas County. The tournament lasts December 26th through December 30th.
Cabool High School recently showcased some fantastic student talent in the production of Beauty and the Beast. The performance was funded through a 21st Century Community Grant, which offers Cabool all students the chance to participate in “safe, academically enriched, and fun environments.” The show, debuting on November 4th, was an immediate success according to many community members. Cabool resident Debbie Lemon reflects just how much audience members were entertained, as she states that the production “rivaled Broadway.” With so many accolades, we can hardly wait to see what the CHS dramatic department will produce next.
If you missed Beauty and the Best, you are in luck. This upcoming year, Cabool Middle School will be offering you a second chance to see a quality, entertaining play. Come by with family or friends to relax and enjoy an exciting production – opening night will be March 3rd.
The 21st Century Community Grant provides activities for all students’ interests or needs, in addition to plays. Funding for tutoring, academic classes, and recreational activities such as Beauty and the Beast began in 2007, and will continue through 2012.There are many fun after-school programs students of all ages can participate in, including fitness and crafts, web-page design, or video editing. Your student can continue learning about the topics he or she loves over the holiday break (with exceptions in the case of inclement weather). Are you unable to pick up your student because of work? Not a problem – the Learning Center’s program provides free transportation at various spots around the school district. The elementary after-school program is hosted at the Cabool First Baptist Church Family Life Center and at the Cabool Elementary School. Middle-school and high school programs are housed at the Cabool school campuses.
The Cabool School District is always working with the community to make Cabool’s schools are the best in the area through improvements and more opportunities for all students in a range of areas. A proposal for the creation of a girls’ softball program (begun by local parents) has recently been presented to the Board of Education. The Board will be voting on this suggested league in their December meeting. If implemented, the program will begin at the start of the next school year.
The STARS Foundation, developed by Rebecca Peterson, continues to build its numbers and offer more and more students of all ages with the gift of music or other artistic abilities. From its humble beginnings in October 2011, the program has grown to 119 students (around 6% of Cabool’s entire population!) and is only just beginning.
The students of the STARS Foundation are staying busy this winter season, showing off their hard work and incredible progress in many upcoming public performances. If you have not had the chance to hear these talented individuals yet, you will have plenty of opportunities to hear them in town over the holiday season.
There was a concert to commemorate the brand new STARS Foundation sign on December 2nd and 4th at the Cranberry Merchant. The sign, designed and produced to designate the organization’s location in the store, included a ribbon-cutting ceremony and, of course, a musical performance. You will have other opportunities to support this group’s commitment to create lifelong musicians while enjoying great music.
On December 4th, the students and the community choir performed Handel’s Messiah at the Church of the Brethren. This event gave audiences a chance to sit back and take in the harmonious tones as the students shared their feelings of the season through musical expression. The concert, a momentous, powerful piece perfect for the whole family, was perfect preparation for the approaching holidays.
Members of the STARS Foundation will also be making music together on a float in the Christmas Parade. Celebrate and relax with friends and family as you watch the parade go by on busy Main Street this winter. Ensuring there is never a dull moment, Peterson’s students are also requested to play for many private Christmas parties throughout the area.
Students recently provided entertainment for a community member’s lunch and silent auction. On November 12th, these dedicated musicians offered the audience magnificent music for over four hours. The silent auction and the soup -and -salad lunch raised over $1,000, all of which went back to the STARS Foundation. The live entertainment is not just enjoyable to those playing; it touches many of those who hear it as well. According to Peterson, when one young man attending the lunch was asked how he was enjoying the food, he answered, “I’m just enjoying my entertainment!” Come enjoy your entertainment at any of the STARS performances and brighten your spirits any time of the year.
Of the services the STARS Foundation provides–live entertainment, community service, a sense of camaraderie, and the gift of musical abilities–each demonstrate what makes Cabool a truly unique, interwoven community. In addition to providing community entertainment, STARS gives back to Cabool through student community service. All students may do 2 hours of community service per month in exchange for their weekly lessons and instrument-rental fees. This simple contribution program not only benefits the students’ desire to learn and evolve as musicians, but also improves areas in the community.
Remember, attending performances is not the only way you can support STARS. Share your passion for music with other performers or begin developing a newfound artistic interest by beginning lessons at any time. With world-class instruction found right in the heart of Cabool, there is no need to travel to a big city to learn a valuable musical ability. Much is happening in the STARS Foundation, and you can be a part of it by contacting Rebecca Peterson.
