Families and community friends of Waimea Middle Public Conversion Charter School students are invited to Kahilu Theatre’s 5th Annual K(Arts) Grand Finale performance at 5:30 p.m., Wed., Dec. 14, 2011 by nearly 100 of the school’s 6th-8th grade students who have been enrolled in this free after-school performing arts program.
Students have participated in classes for the past 11 weeks, learning ‘ukulele, hip hop and Tahitian dancing and backstage production, and this performance will be their opportunity to share what they’ve learned with families, faculty and friends.
Doors to Kahilu Theatre will open at 5 p.m. and the program is free and family friendly.
K(Arts) is a partnership initiated by Kahilu Theatre with Waimea Middle School in 2007 to provide a free extended learning time featuring performing arts for students. Also helping to underwrite K(Arts) are The John M. Ross Foundation, which is providing healthy snacks for students, and the Kukio Community Fund of the Hawai’i Community Foundation, which supports safe, high quality after-school programming for North Hawai’i youth during what is considered high risk hours when many children are home alone due to family work schedules.
K(Arts) provides talented instructors and assistants, plus healthy snacks and busing for the complete 12-week program, plus the grand finale performance on the grand stage at Kahilu Theatre.
Instructors this year include Kristin Lake and assistant Cara McCann with backstage production; Sala Vanderheyden and assistant Lynn Raquel with Tahitian dance; Michal Carrillo with assistant Chris Plunkett with Hip Hop dancing, and Jon Alcoran with assistant Brad Bordessa with ‘ukulele.
Coordinating the program are Lisa Shattuck for Kahilu Theatre and Bernie Marsh for Waimea Middle School.
This year’s performance will pay tribute to a number of community friends who donated ‘ukulele to Waimea Middle School, including Kohala’s highly regarded guitar maker and musician, David Gomes, who personally purchased 12 ‘ukulele to support this popular student program. Also honored will be Waimea resident Leonard Librizi, who dedicated personal time to repairing and “tuning up” all of the school’s well-used and newly donated ‘ukulele.
“The K(Arts) Grand Finale at Kahilu is a highlight of the year for students! They have come in on their own time during recess to practice and on the day of the performance, are literally bursting at the seams with excitement and pride as they encourage each other. Everyone knows that Kahilu provides many astounding performances throughout the year, but K(Arts) will make you smile – some of us even get teary-eyed. It has such a positive impact on young lives. It’s what a quality education is all about and our community’s children deserve this,” said John R. Colson, WMS CEEO/Principal.
“K(Arts) is a very generous gift from Kahilu Theatre Foundation and community partners. It wouldn’t happen without these partners because of drastically reduced public charter school funding and federal mandates that have forced us to strip music and art from the school day. While we do see students making academic progress in math and reading, it’s heartbreaking to have to give up on the arts. Mahalo, Kahilu Theatre and partners, and that includes the instructors and assistants,” said Colson.
The entire community is invited to the performance. For information, call Patti Cook (937-2833) or Waimea Middle School (887-6090 Ext. 222).
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