Fieldstone Students Step Onstage for Arts and Academics Night

Fieldstone Elementary was hopping last night between the book fair, conferences and boys basketball in the gym, but the live presentations for the Arts and Academics Awards really set the night apart from the normal school happenings.

Thirteen brave elementary students got on stage to share their singing, dancing or instrumental talents as their contribution to this year’s Arts and Academic Awards.

All three elementary schools take part in the Arts and Academic Awards, where students do everything from baking, science experiments, crafting and storytelling to share their talents and craftsmanship. Tonight was a big night at Fieldstone for showing off all that hard work, with the projects on display for conference-goers to admire and the live presentations taking place in the cafeteria.

“What I love about it is that every child can choose to do a project in their talent area and, really and truly, they shine,” Jeanette Aanerud, Fieldstone’s principal, said of the annual arts and academics program.

The live acts covered a large spectrum of genres: From traditional piano pieces and Disney theme songs to Christian music singers and dancers bopping to the latest hit radio beats.

The show even featured a young ukulele player, Madison Straight, who plucked out “Twinkle, twinkle little star” twice, just for the fun of it. The night ended with fourth grader Bailey Hoffman bringing the house down with the Star Spangled Banner.

“There’s some students who may not sing out really loud in class and you notice how talented they are here,” Krystal Mattice, one of Fieldstone’s music teachers, said of the performance. “It’s great to see them shine one on one.”

Because the group had so much fun preparing for their live performance, they all accepted Aanerud’s invitation to perform in front of their entire school tomorrow, which Aanerud said they haven’t done before but wanted to give the students a chance to shine in front of their peers as well.

“I truly will be happy for the next six months after tonight,” Aanerud said. “The kids are so excited and they feel so good about it.”