Keeping with annual tradition, Drexel R-IV honors elders with food and talent

By MALLORY MAGER AND JACOBY HOTSENPILLER, School Journalists
n November 24, 2009, Drexel School hosted their annual Thanksgiving dinner for the senior citizens of the community, followed by a performance put on by the music department. The cooks from the Drexel School prepared a wonderful meal with the assistance of the student council. Student Council members spent the day helping prepare turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, rolls, green beans and, the best part, pumpkin cake with whip cream for dessert; quite a spread. They also helped serve the meal to students as well as the senior citizens. The meal was served to the senior citizens with coffee or tea on place mats drawn and colored by some of Drexel’s talented elementary students.
To start off the concert, the sixth grade choir performed Johnny One Note, with soloist Brandon Eberra. It was an adorable song about a choir group that had one singer who just couldn’t sing any other note but one. Following them were the high school band who played Gypsy Dance, a song with good instrumentation for the group and a lively, mystic feel for the crowd. Next were the guitars, which are somewhat new to the program. The class played two songs together, Spanish Theme, on notes, and  Jambalaya. The class played chords while Tony Otto sang the traditional southern tune. After they played as a whole a few of the individuals in the class played solos; Emily Deidrich played the chords for This Land is Your Land, while Mrs. Groves played the melody on the piano. Ashton Raffety followed, playing Ode to Joy as a solo. As a final guitar solo, Annie Orton played Can you Feel the Love Tonight, while singing the words along beautifully. This is the second year of the Guitar/Music Appreciation and the class keeps growing and getting better each year.
After the guitar class some of the Drexel teachers came together and performed for the crowd, singing Cranberries, a love song telling how cranberries are the best food at Thanksgiving. Everyone enjoyed seeing their teachers come together and dance to a cute song. Next, the junior high boys took it away. They sang We’re The Men and All Shook Up and a special song they tweaked a little called Duct Tape. The boys.....
Read the complete story in the December 3rd edition.
PHOTO: The Junior High Boys Choir entertained the senior citizens with a song they tweaked called Duct Tape. The boisterous kids drew a chuckle from the crowd with their costumes made of duct tape, including a mustache!