Fifth Annual Read and Sing to Your Bunny Build a Bunny Bag Celebration

We would like to thank everyone who participated in our recent Fifth Annual Build a Bunny Bag event for the Atchison Read and Sing to Your Bunny Early Literacy Project.  We had eighteen students, teachers, community leaders, BOE members, and administrators assist us.

In case you weren't aware of the project, any child born at Atchison Hospital receives a wonderful bag that includes the fantastic book, "Read To Your Bunny," that is provided by a collaborative grant with Atchison DREAM Team, Atchison Kiwanis, USD 409,  ANEA, and KNEA!

The newborns also receive a hand-crafted bunny created by the Atchison Hospital Auxiliary, AAARSP, Meadowlark 4-H Club, First Christian Church and an amazing CD of recorded songs and poems performed by USD 409 students and staff.  To date, we have distributed up to 541 Bunny Bags to our newborn families.

It is our hope that this collaborative community effort will provide appropriate resources as families of newborns develop literacy skills, through reading and music, from the very beginning of their lives together. Our project also crosses all backgrounds, giving EVERY child born at Atchison Hospital a wonderful opportunity for academic success.  

Please enjoy a few photos from our event...Keep 'em hopping!

To learn more about our project and the many community partners that are involved, please visit: http://readandsingtoyourbunny.blogspot.com/

Music Creation at the University of Kansas

Atchison Music Creation recently performed the Star Spangled Banner at the University of Kansas versus the University of Texas Big 12 baseball game.  The Soprano and Tenor Recorder consort did a wonderful job in presenting the National Anthem by memory to the patrons in the audience.  Our Fourth and Fifth Grade students were AMAZING...Way to go, MUSIC CREATION :)

Video by Mr. Doug Tschauder

Atchison Wings Medical Lodge Performance

Our Atchison Wings students (second and third grade) recently performed at Atchison Medical Lodge.  They did a wonderful job during their performance and represented our school and community very well.  It was a joy for us to share our love of music and the community during this performance.

Way to go, Atchison Wings!

(All photos by Mrs. Charo Kelley)

Atchison Aviators and Atchison Wings On Tour

It's been a very busy third quarter for our Atchison Aviators, Atchison Wings and Atchison Music Creation.  We have performed at the University of Kansas, University of Missouri-Kansas City, and Atchison High School.

It is our hope that our young musicians will be inspired to even greater success at USD 409 through their experience in performing and visiting to attend higher education institutions in NE Kansas and Missouri. We have included several pictures below for you to enjoy our young musicians in performance.  Keep soaring, Aviators, Music Creation and Wings!!!

University of Kansas versus Kansas State University

(Photo by Ashley Stout)

KU Alma Mater @ University of Kansas versus Kansas State University

(Photo by Katie Martin)

University of Kansas versus Kansas State University

(Photo by Ashley Stout)

University of Kansas versus Kansas State University

(Photo by Katie Martin)

Atchison Aviators, Atchison Wings and AHS Adrenaline 

(Photo by Katie Martin)

Atchison Aviators, Atchison Wings and AHS Adrenaline 

(Photo by Katie Martin)

UMKC vs California State-Bakersfield at Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Missouri

(Photo by UMKC Athletic Staff)

UMKC vs California State-Bakersfield at Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Missouri

(Photo by UMKC Athletic Staff)

Music Creation at AHS Winter Concert

We had so much fun last night participating in the Atchison High School Winter Concert.  Music Creation played several songs for the audience and enjoyed the amazing opportunity to hear the Atchison High School Percussion Ensemble and Concert Band perform.

Thank you so much, Ms. Whyte, AHS Band director, and Mr. Rieger , AHS Band assistant director, for the invitation to participate.  It was a wonderful experience!

Please enjoy the below photo of our performance at the Atchison Middle School auditorium.  The photo was taken by Atchison Aviators and Music Creation parents, Mrs. Katie Martin and Mrs. Kelley.  Thank you!

Atchison Music Creation at AHS Winter Concert

Music Creation at Benedictine College

Wow, just wow!  We were so impressed with our Music Creation consort's performance of the National Anthem on Saturday at the Benedictine College versus Peru State College football game this past weekend.

Music Creation is a Soprano and Tenor Recorder Consort that plays advanced repertoire. It is comprised of Fourth and Fifth grade students who are also members of the Atchison Aviators, our honors chorus.

We had perfect weather and a great crowd at the game.  It was so much fun!  And, yes, the BC Ravens won the game versus Peru State College with a score of 34 to 25.  Go Ravens!

All photos were taken by Mrs. Katie Martin.

Atchison Music Creation USD 409 BOE Performance

Several of our Atchison Music Creation Recorder Consort musicians performed for the USD 409 Board of Education on October 3rd in Atchison.  

The children performed, "We Shall Overcome," "Jolly Old Saint Nicholas," "The Star-Spangled Banner," "God Bless America," "Greensleeves, " and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman."  It was our first community performance of the year.  

The Atchison Music Creation group is comprised of about twenty-four students from Fourth and Fifth grade at Atchison Elementary School.  They play on Soprano and Tenor recorders...

We were so proud of our students and their commitment to musical excellence.  The future is indeed very bright for these young musicians.  They have several upcoming community performances already scheduled including Benedictine College and the Atchison Kiwanis Halloween Parade.

Thank you, USD 409 BOE members for your invitation.  Please enjoy the below photos taken by Mrs. Martin of our performance.

Music Creation Recorder Consort News!!!

Just a quick "heads up" that the Atchison Music Creation Recorder Consort has been invited to perform the National Anthem prior to the University of Oklahoma Sooners versus the University of Kansas Jayhawks men's baseball game on Saturday, April 30th at 2 p.m. This game will be broadcast on ESPN2 and is a significant honor for our instrumental program.

While wearing their Atchison Aviators performance attire, Our students will perform the National Anthem by memory during this performance.  It will be quite the challenge for our Fourth and Fifth Grade students but they are up to the challenge.

Go Atchison Music Creation!

University of Kansas Performance

The Atchison Aviators, our fourth and fifth grade honors chorus, presented the National Anthem and University of Kansas Alma Mater on February 25th at the KU Women's Basketball game versus the Texas Tech Red Raiders.  We had an absolute blast performing and enjoying the game.  We had over 300 students, family members and patrons join us for this unique event.  Below are some photos that were taken by our Aviator family members :)

Please join us in congratulating our Atchison Aviators on an incredibly well-received performance. They represented themselves, their families, our community and school at the highest level.  The future is very bright indeed for these amazing young musicians!

Atchison High School Performance

On February 5th, the Atchison Aviators and Atchison Wings performed with the AMS and AHS Show Choirs at the AHS Women's basketball game.  Over 200 students performed the National Anthem to honor our country on this special evening.

Our Atchison Aviators and Atchison Wings represented our school at a very high level and "soared" to the challenges of the event.

Please congratulate your Atchison Aviator and/or Wing for a performance well done!  Now it's time to get ready for the Atchison Aviators performance at the University of Kansas on February 27th!!!

Go Aviators, Soar Wings!

Thank you to everyone who sent us photos :)

Missouri Western State University Performance

We had an amazing performance and experience recently at the Missouri Western State University Lady Griffons game versus Fort Hays State University.  Once we arrived, our students had the opportunity to meet with Ms. Peggy Payne, Assistant Director of Admissions and Mr. Scott Groner, Assistant Football Coach.  They shared with our students about the process of being admitted to college and how our students could begin to prepare themselves for success in the future.

Mr. Brett Esely, Associate Director of Athletics, greeted us at the MWSU Fieldhouse.  With his assistance, we began to prepare ourselves for our performance.  Afterwards, our 4th and 5th grade Honors performance ensemble of over 80 students, presented the National Anthem to over 3,200 patrons. Our students were well-received and encouraged to visit MWSU again in the future.  Oh, by the way, the Lady Griffons won the game on an amazing comeback after being down 18 points at halftime. Our Atchison Aviators were definitely trying their best to cheer on the Lady Griffons.

A special "Thank You" goes to Missouri Western State University staff for their invitation and hospitality and to Mrs. Affield, Mrs. Katie Martin and Mrs. Tschauder for the wonderful photos below.

Keep soaring, Atchison Aviators!

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