“Welcome to Special Persons Day. Someone you love is here. Sit back and enjoy this concert. Let us make you feel loved.”
With these words, delivered by beaming second graders on the stage, Katonah Elementary School’s Special Persons Day celebration began.
The students showered their guests with songs of affection, including “Skidamarink,” “You Are My Sunshine,” “My Favorite Things” and “I’d Do Anything.” Many of the songs included hand motions, plus students spoke between songs, which made the experience extra sweet. As music teacher Brian Cuzzi directed the students and accompanied them on guitar, his joy in their growth was evident.
After the concert, guests accompanied their second graders to their classrooms for a writing celebration.
Teachers Kim Buckley, Julie Burns, Melissa Conwell, Jessica McDonough and Jennifer Rutigliano have been working with the students on crafting opinion letters in writing workshop. Each student read a letter of love to one of their special people.
Grandparents, babysitters, cousins, moms, dads and more sat back and enjoyed hearing essays filled with kind thoughts, happy memories, and loving words, as well as clear opinion statements with evidence to support their feelings.
You are like a world cup of hot chocolate.
You are as playful as a puppy playing fetch.
Your brain is as smart as a computer.