On Friday, Dec. 12, the school held its annual Celebrate the Arts assembly, bringing together students, teachers and performers to recognize the wide range of the school’s arts programs. The event took place during third period, with two separate assemblies scheduled so that all students had the opportunity to attend without overcrowding the auditorium.

As students entered the auditorium, a welcome slide played on the screen, creating an excited and anticipatory atmosphere. Once everyone was seated, the ceremony began with a marching band performance. People dancing with flags on stage and musicians playing from the aisles immediately grabbed the audience’s attention, setting an energetic tone for the rest of the assembly.

The program featured a variety of performances, highlighting different areas of the arts. Students enjoyed performances by the concert band, orchestra and jazz band, each showcasing musical skill and dedication. The a cappella group also performed “Vampire,” by Olivia Rodrigo. “I loved performing ‘Vampire’ for the whole school during the arts assembly. We work very hard every day, so it’s nice to share in front of the whole school. ‘Vampire’ is one of my favorites to perform, and we are competing with it in January,” junior Nicole Dirk said.

In addition to live music, the assembly also included a welcome video and a theater video, which recognized students involved in acting, directing and stage production. These videos reminded the audience that the arts go beyond what happens on stage and included the hard work of students behind the scenes. 

Careful planning for the arts assembly was needed to make sure it went smoothly. “We started [planning] in August, so like right when school started. We had to figure out who’s gonna do what, and what the timeline should look like. I loved how it turned out and [it was] way better than last year,” photography teacher Afua Kyeremeh said.

Students enjoyed the assembly, getting to know about all the different arts provided to students by the school. “I liked watching the assembly and seeing all of the different groups perform and show their skills. I think it was a great way to get the students engaged in the arts and showcase what they have been doing all year,” junior Noa Lucas said.

The arts assembly was a huge success at showing everybody’s talents and getting students involved. “The kids did amazing, and the animation aspect of it was great. The music and the band all worked very hard, and it all came together very well,” Kyeremeh said.

Overall, the Celebrate the Arts assembly was a meaningful way to recognize the creativity and effort of students involved in the arts. By holding two assemblies during the third period, the school ensured that more students could experience and appreciate the performances. The event not only celebrated artistic talent, but also reminded students of the important role the arts play in bringing the school community together.