ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - Franklin Elementary’s multipurpose auditorium was packed the morning of June 27 as parents, community members and school staff gathered to watch the summer school choir concert.

Students put on a shining performance, one that Vice-Principal Jessica Katz-Amey said they practiced for daily, so much so that she often heard the songs echoing through the hallways throughout the four-week summer program.

The concert drew district leaders from the Elk Grove Unified Board of Education such as members Susan Davis, Jennifer Ballerini, Delia Baulwin and Amreek Singh, as well as Superintendent Chris Hoffman.

Music educator Matt Morse, a choir director with the school district for 37 years, led the performance. Morse has previously organized annual holiday concerts at other local elementary schools and said he has always made it a priority to give students opportunities to sing.

 

The second-graders were the only students who performed with their own class and started off a cappella with “The Preamble” from the U.S. Constitution on June 27 They also sang, “Count on Me” and “Thank You for the Music.” 

This marked the first time in recent years that a choir class and concert were included at Franklin Elementary’s summer school program, something Katz-Amey, who serves as the summer school program director, advocated for.

Katz-Amey said that students learned more than just music this summer. In addition to choir, they participated in experiments, built scientific models, read stories and explored new math concepts. She emphasized that music helps prime the brain for learning.

“We purposely incorporated this choir experience to get kids ready to absorb all kinds of new information and to be ready for the next grade,” Katz-Amey said. “Our students very purposefully practiced cooperation, empathy for others, physical skills and learning as well.”

Summer school students from kindergarten through sixth grade participated in the concert.

Fifth- and sixth-graders opened the show with “Hall of Fame,” “What a Wonderful World” and a reworded song from the movie “The Greatest Showman” titled “This is the Greatest School.”

Third- and fourth-graders followed with “We Are the World,” “Favorite Things” and “This Land Is Your Land.”

 

Franklin Elementary kindergarten and first-graders in the summer school program performing on June 27 at the Summer School Choir Concert.

 

The concert’s overall theme centered on “A World of Adventures.” All the songs shared a message of positivity, care and acceptance. Morse adapted lyrics in some of the more well-known pieces to fit the theme and include educational references.

The second-graders were the only students who performed with their own class and started off a cappella with “The Preamble” from the U.S. Constitution. They also sang “Count on Me” and “Thank You for the Music.”

Lastly, the kindergarten and first-graders closed the show with “The Other Day,” a song that Morse composed that is a fun song centered around animals. It was followed by the popular song, “Tomorrow,” from the movie “Annie,” that sported a positive message about love.

The last song they performed included a surprise for attendees when all grade levels in the summer school program joined together to sing “The Kindness Song.” With the kindergarten and first-graders already facing everyone on the stage, all other students sitting crisscross on the auditorium floor turned around from looking at the stage to sing toward the audience.

 

The theme of Franklin’s Summer School Choir Concert on June 27 was “A World of Adventures.” All the songs shared a message of positivity, care and acceptance.

Parents and staff in the audience sang along, having memorized the lyrics after hearing them at home and at school.

Parent Gagan Singh noted that the surprise at the end was “truly wonderful” and that the event was something that both parents and students thoroughly enjoyed.

“Mr. Morse and the team did an amazing job organizing and preparing the kids for the choir performance,” Singh said. “Our kids were so excited for the choir that they even practiced alongside Mr. Morse’s YouTube videos.”

Morse said that the school district has been placing a greater focus on visual and performing arts, which helped lead to the approval of the summer choir class at Katz-Amey’s request. Morse said he “feels fortunate” to be part of this initiative.

“Luckily, I didn’t retire too soon and, you know, I’m at the end of my career but this sure gave me a boost in the arm to stay a little longer,” said Morse. “There’s something very heartwarming about young people singing … you can just see the kids who are usually shy, they’re up there singing their heart out. It’s just a huge growing experience for them.”

The concert marked a full-circle moment for Morse, who plans to finish his teaching career at Franklin Elementary, which is the same school he attended as a child. Morse noted he now teaches the grandchildren of former classmates.

The last song performed by Franklin Elementary students included a surprise for attendees at the end when all grade levels in the summer school program joined together to sing “The Kindness Song.”

Katz-Amey said she got the idea to include choir in the summer program after seeing Morse direct students at a school district meeting performance. She explained that music is another form of communication that helps students with recognizing patterns and gives them a better understanding of the subjects they learn in school.

“I love seeing when kids get into choir and they just sort of, it sounds cliché, but they really find their voice,” Katz-Amey said. “That’s my favorite part, that it tapped into learning can be fun.”

For students, families and educators alike, the concert was more than just a show. It was a celebration of learning, creativity and togetherness. The concert was the last day of the program for the students, who ended their summer school experience on a high note.