Just before spring break, our OLHMS students took their talents to Palos Middle School to compete against every school in the SWIC Conference for Declamation. Ms. Kennedy led and coached the Declamation Team of six OLHMS students ranging from 6-8th grade. Students worked day in and day out to perfect their performances through after school practices and hosting performances in the library for OLHMS students to watch and support the Declamation Team.
Students, along with their act, competed in the SWIC Conference Tournament are as followed:
Danna Serna- Prose performance of “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak
Malak Daifallah- Verse performance of “I Believe in Anarchy from Emma Goldman: Love, Anarchy, and Other Affairs” by Jessica Litwak
Miles Mares and Angie Torres- Humorous Duet performance of “The Plane Truth” by Ellen Degeneres
Zion Ratliff- Oratorical performance of “To Raise Brave Girls, Encourage Adventure” by Caroline Paul
Emma Mulcahy- Dramatic Interpretation performance of “This is My Audition Monologue” by Sara Zarr
When Malik was asked what declamation means to her, she said, “I love how declamation has brought my teammates and I together. We encourage and support one another all the time, and my overall confidence has gone up. I love declamation so much!”
Overall, our OLHMS students had a fantastic and successful season with 3rd place in prose, 3rd place in verse, and 3rd place in humorous duet.
We are so proud of our OLHMS students and thankful to Ms. Kennedy for her dedication to our OLHMS Declamation team!
In a heartening event at OLHMS, students were treated to an extraordinary blend of music and motivation as rising country singer and motivational speaker, Harper Grace, graced the school with her presence. Known for her powerful voice, uplifting lyrics, and compelling story of perseverance, Harper captivated the audience with her performance and words of wisdom.
Harper's visit was not just about entertainment; it was about instilling values of perseverance, giving one's best, and believing in oneself – qualities that are crucial for success both in the music industry and in life. As a former contestant on American Idol and a rising star in the country music scene, Harper understands the importance of resilience and determination in pursuing one's dreams.
The event kicked off with Harper sharing her personal journey, emphasizing the challenges she faced and the obstacles she overcame to achieve her goals. Her message resonated deeply with the students, many of whom could relate to the struggles of chasing their own aspirations. Harper's authenticity and sincerity shone through as she spoke about the highs and lows of her career, reinforcing the idea that setbacks are merely stepping stones to success. These motivational messages came just in time as students prepared to take the IAR test.
Following her inspiring talk, Harper took to the stage to perform two of her original songs, "Sparkle" and "Oh Say Can You See", captivating the audience with her soulful voice and heartfelt lyrics. The melodies filled the gymnasium, creating an atmosphere of unity and hope. Students swayed to the rhythm, their spirits lifted by the uplifting tunes.
A Special Moment
Harper spoke with the band and chorus students in a private Q & A after the all-school assembly.
Hugs from Harper
Harper posted on her personal Instagram that she wishes she could spend even more time with our scholars at OLHMS.
OLHMS was ecstatic to host the 11th annual Variety Show event on Thursday, April 11th! Variety Show is entertainment that consists of different acts, which typically include musical performances, comedy acts, and much more. At OLHMS, our Variety show is a show created by kids intended for kids. Every year, the proceeds from the Variety Show go to a children's foundation chosen by OLHMS students. In the past, OLHMS students have decided to donate proceeds to the Ronald McDonald House, Illinois Burn Camp for Children, Feed My Starving Children, Live Like Abby, and several other children organizations. Similar to last year, our OLHMS students decided to donate proceeds to Cradles for Crayons, an organization that helps children from birth through age 12, living in homeless or low-income situations, with the essential items they need to thrive.
For our 11th annual Variety Show, tryouts were held and students were judged by a panel of OLHMS teachers and staff members. This year, we have a mixture of all grade-level students performing musical solos, a cultural dance, a comedy routine, and much more. Mr. Weber and his son, Charlie, had a special and heartfelt performance together where they played an original called “Scattered.” There was a surprise performance that our audience members went wild for- our OLHMS Staff put on a great show of “Take Me Home, Country Road,” but with an OLHMS twist.
Before Mateo M., a 6th grade student, went up to perform “Tears in Heaven” by Eric Clapton, he captured the audience’s attention with a thoughtful message. Mateo said, “Before I begin, I just want to thank all the OLHMS Staff members who helped make this Variety Show possible. I was going to ask a question, but I’m pretty sure 99% of you guys have been enjoying all the incredible talent we have in our school, right?!” The audience went wild! After all the cheering, Mateo performed “Tears in Heaven” so beautifully to a point where audience members were crying.
After Variety Show was done, Lucas, an 8th grade student, was asked what the Variety Show meant to him, he said “Variety Show means everything to me! It’s an opportunity for my peers and I to display our talents and to showcase our school.”
Our program and tickets featured Ethan H. And Isara A.’s beautiful artwork. Thank you to our sponsors, Ms. Kennedy, and Ms. Edwards; our Audition Judges, Ms. Hughes, Mrs. Julien, Ms. O’Connor, and Ms. Shields; our Production Technical Crew, Joseph C., Jordan W., and Ezekiel F.; our Stage Crew, Emily M., Haley K., Hannah N., and Connor N.; and our Art Direction, Mrs. Harrington and Ms. Petraitis for their hard work and dedication to make our 11th annual Variety Show a success!
