Music Creation Performance at First Presbyterian Church

The Atchison Elementary School Recorder Consort, Music Creation, performed three instrumental pieces during the morning service at First Presbyterian Church.  We were so pleased with the overall sound of the consort and their behavior in the congregation.  They were excellent representatives of our school.

Way to go, Music Creation!!!

Photos by Katie Martin

Kiwanis Halloween Parade

Music Creation, our Advanced Recorder Consort, was invited to participate during the 17th annual Kiwanis Halloween Parade in Atchison, Kansas.  It was our first year to participate.  We had seventeen of our Music Creation students participate during the parade. Our students represented Atchison Elementary School very well.  We handed our candy to the children that were in attendance and just had a blast building community within our group.  It was so much fun :)

We can't wait until next year!!!

Photo by Mary Liggett

This Is Halloween

During our AES morning assembly on October 30th, Mrs. Lorenz's Second Grade, Mrs. Neidinger's Kindergarten, and Ms. Siskey's Third Grade class performed the song, "This Is Halloween!"
Our students did a wonderful job...

Photo by Isaac Piper

Art and Music Fourth Grade Field Trip

Mrs. Zwahl's and Mr. Weaver's Fourth Grade Art and Music classrooms recently visited the African Art exhibit at Benedictine College.  It was a wonderful exhibit with a variety of examples of native African art, including pieces from Kenya, Nigeria, and Ghana.  The students at Benedictine College were wonderful hosts and provided our students an amazing opportunity to expand their understanding of the world around them through the study of the fine arts.  Thank you, Benedictine College!

Below are some photos taken by Mrs. Zwahl of our students visiting the exhibit.  We have also included a link below to a wonderful example of Hi-Life music from Ghana, West Africa.

USD 409 Board of Education Music Creation Performance

 On October 5th, we had seventeen students from our advanced recorder consort, Music Creation, perform the USD 409 Board of Education and local patrons.  We were so proud of our student's commitment to perform and the excellence they demonstrated during their performance.

It should be an absolutely amazing year for our Music Creation.  Seriously, these kids are just AMAZING :)  As the sign says, "Our students are number one!"

I am pleased to share a few performance photographs taken by Mrs. Snowden, a proud parent of one of our consort members.

The Atchison Wings - Ready for Take Off!!!

Just a quick "note" to let everyone know that our Atchison Elementary School Second and Third Grade students will have a very special opportunity this year to join our newest chorus, the Atchison Wings.  This chorus will begin rehearsal in February under the direction of Mr. Weaver and Mrs. Dolenz.

Our chorus will be non-auditioned with a focus on vocal music and character education.  Our young choristers will be required to maintain the same stringent academic and citizenship requirements of our upper level chorus, the Atchison Aviators.

Keep your eyes open for the application forms and more information in the near future. Our Atchison Wings are ready to soar!!!

Thank YOU, AES Aviators!

What an AMAZING year at AES!

- We had several fantastic full grade music programs and performances throughout the year.

- Our Atchison Aviators traveled to several wonderful performance venues, including the University of Kansas, the Topeka Performance Arts Center, and Atchison High School.

- Our students broke several All-Time AES Recorder Karate records, including new Third, Fourth and Fifth Grade Records and we have begun a brand-new program, Vocal Karate, which is our adaption of the incredibly successful program, Recorder Karate.

- Our students had the opportunity to enjoy performances by former AES students and community performers in AHS Adrenaline, AHS Marching Band, and the Atchison Theatre.  Thank you for visiting our school and sharing your incredible talent with us!

- We also continued to develop our Music Creation instrumental ensemble, which performed earlier this quarter.

What will the future hold for our young musicians?  We can't wait to hear and see their progress over the summer...

Don't forget that several AES teachers and Benedictine College student teachers became Black Belts this year.  It was so much fun to see the joy and pride their classrooms had in seeing their teachers embrace the challenge of becoming a Black Belt.  How many new Black Belt teachers will we have next year?

Our mantra this year in the AES music department has been to NEVER GIVE UP!  We strongly believe that music helps our students develop perseverance, teamwork and establish incredibly high expectations for themselves and others.  Congratulations, AES K-5 Aviators, on a wonderful year.

AES Aviators, please take a well-deserved bow :)

Enjoy your summer!

Did you hear about the great things happening at Atchison Elementary School?

Music Creation Concert!

On March 12th, we had twenty-five members of our advanced recorder consort, Music Creation, perform for their Community Concert.  We had a wonderful performance of eleven advanced recorder pieces for the soprano and tenor recorder.  Congratulations to all of our students who performed.

Sadly, it was also Ms. Oberley's last performance with our students as she will be continuing her student teaching in the AHS and AMS vocal and instrumental music departments.  Thank you for your service to our students, Ms. Oberley.  You will be an excellent music educator!

We will continue Music Creation rehearsals at 8:05 a.m. on Friday mornings until May 1st, our last rehearsal.

                                 

100 BLACK BELTS!!!

In 2008, we had a total of five black belts in our school.  It was the first year we began this amazing sequential instrumental program but who would have thought that one day we would have ONE HUNDRED different students, in one grade, reach their BLACK BELTS?  And, yes, we still have one quarter left in the year :)

It's true...WE HAVE ONE HUNDRED BLACK BELTS IN FIFTH GRADE!  100!!! 

We are so incredibly proud of all of our A.E.S. music students and their hard work.

Click on this link for our A. E. S. Recorder Karate Third Quarter statistics, including all music classrooms in Third, Fourth and Fifth Grade!

The Fifth Grade Atchison Aviators have how many BLACK BELTS???  

First Grade Concert

We were so proud of our First Grade students tonight.  They performed so well, with energy and focus.  They sang beautifully and were so incredibly well behaved.  Our speakers and soloists were amazing.

We sang, "Old Dan Tucker," "Zebra Zydeco," "My Friends In The Sea," "Tingalayo," "Go Fish!," "Monkey Sits By The Coconut Tree," and the "Star-Spangled Banner."  It was quite a challenge but our First Grade students were up to the challenge :)  First Grade Aviators, take a bow!

We will have compact disc recordings available for the children until Spring Break.  The compact discs are only $3.00 each, with all proceeds going towards the Read and Sing to Your Bunny Early Literacy project and the AES music department.  Children can bring their money to the AES primary office.

Thank you so much for your incredible support.

University of Kansas Performance - February 14th, 2015

We were so proud of our Atchison Aviators and their recent performance at the University of Kansas. There were over 300 family members and supporters of our chorus in attendance as we sung the University of Kansas Alma Mater and the National Anthem prior to the University of Kansas Lady Jayhawks versus the University of Texas Lady Longhorns game.

Below are some of the wonderful pictures that were shared with us from Mrs. Martin, Mrs. Meudt, Mrs. Tull and Mrs. Zwahl.