Day Four, Week Two

It has been an amazing week with this group of students!

Today, the arts-X-pressers got to wake up a whole 15 minutes later than days before! The students were so excited that they got just that little bit of more sleep. They all got ready for the day, including getting prepared for the Parent Presentation and Talent Show. Once the students were ready, they came with their counselors down to the Arts Mart to say good morning to the administration team. From there, they headed on over to Pippin to eat breakfast. The students all filled their stomachs, and from there they headed on over to Creative Expression. This was one of the last times for the students to meet in their groups and prepare for their presentation in the evening. It was also a wonderful time for them all to reflect on the week. This group has grown artistically together, taken risks and created some amazing bonds to one another.

From Creative Expression, the arts-X-pressers went onto their last Arts Workshop. They all worked on their last preparations for the Parent Presentation. They were all so excited to have the opportunity to share their work through the week with you all.

Then it was another lunch at Mesa with Symphony musicians, followed by two Spotlight workshops. The Pacific Symphony musicians joined us to lead the Instrumental Spotlight Workshop. The students got to know the musicians and their instruments a little bit better and then made music with the musicians. They were very creative in the music as some of them clapped it, some of them vocalized it, some stomped it out! The collaboration between the musicians and the arts-X-pressers was fantastic!

Following our instrumental workshop, it was time for all the students to boogie on down at the Dance Spotlight Workshop led by Kristine C. It was amazing to see all that talent out on the dance floor. You should all be very proud. All that dancing made everyone work up an appetite, which was then satisfied by a trip to Mesa Commons for dinner. At dinner, all the students sat in their Arts Workshop groups and finalized any preparations before the Parent Performance. Everyone bussed their trays, changed shirts, snapped a few group photos and then it was time for the....PARENT PRESENTATION!

The Parent Presentation was such an amazing event. The students were able to share with each other all the hard work that they had put into their Creative Expression and Arts Workshops all week. Every class presented what they had been doing in their own unique ways. Each group managed to weave our theme of Transition into all of their activities. It was great to see so much thought go into these presentations. You could really tell that there were indeed many Magic Moments experienced over the past few days. It was wonderful to see the support of so many family and friends in the audience. After the performance the families got 3 minutes to visit with their children...boy that went fast! Then the kids sang the arts-X-press song to close the evening.

Then it was off to the Nixon Theater for our Talent show. Each child got 1 minute to perform any act of their choice just the company of their peers. It was a fun and intimate way to wrap up a week of creativity and bonding. The counselors even added in their own skit - "Pageant of the Counselors!" From there it was off to the party! Everyone danced and had a few treats to celebrate the close of this wonderful program.

By the time the party was over everyone was ready for bed. They went off to the dorms to take their last 3 minute shower! Tomorrow morning will come fast, and soon it will be time to head back home.