Press Release

Release Date: February 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Susie Pickering

Oak Lane Day School

137 Stenton Ave, Blue Bell, PA 19422

Phone: 610-825-1055

Fax: 610-825-9288

Email: spickering@oaklanedayschool.org

Oak Lane's 4th-6th Graders Perform at Preschools in Philadelphia

A great, new, musical tradition is flourishing at Oak Lane Day School. Starting three years ago, the children of the 4th through 6th grades, accompanied by music teacher Marlis Kraft-Zemel and grade level teachers Sherry Shaeffer, Sharon Fichthorn, and Martha Platt, began performing a repertoire of instrumental music, dance, and song for the appreciative audience of preschool children at various Philadelphia schools. With each year, the tour has grown to provide a fine opportunity to test the Oak Lane students' musical skills as well as their mettle as performers, and once again they rose to the challenge admirably.

The Preschool of the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill, Big Backyard Nursery School and PreSchool PLUS in Mt. Airy and Community Partnership School in North Philadelphia received the traveling minstrels with open arms, eager for an experience as enjoyable as the last. The program was based largely on Oak Lane's Winter Concert, which revolved around a school-wide special study of Bread: its history and importance to human existence. The preschoolers' pleasure in the show was evident, and the Oak Lane students received some very kind words from two of the schools. Margot Cohn, Director of the Preschool of the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill remarked, "As always, I was impressed by the children's concentration and pleasure they exhibit while performing. Your presentations always integrate several themes and opportunities for learning."

At the Community Partnership School, the performers provided those students with a view of the world, of which they perhaps are not accustomed. CPS Project Coordinator Charley Muir wrote, "I sometimes worry because many CPS students have not had broad views of the world, especially the worlds of music and art. The Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic are not so much the problem as are the numerous experiences that are not a part of their lives. Seeing other kids doing a program like yours helps set the bar for them to imagine and aspire." High praise, indeed.

It seems that inspiration comes in many forms during these concerts. What strikes the Oak Lane teachers who accompany the students is how the children inspire each other: to perform their best, to work together efficiently while setting up and breaking down the sets for each show, and to take care of each other. With each performance opportunity, their sense of responsibility and pride in a job well done grow in leaps and bounds, resulting in children with strong identities both as individuals and members of an ensemble.

Oak Lane Day School Information

An independent elementary school, founded in 1916 and located in Blue Bell, Oak Lane Day School serves a diverse population of boys and girls. Oak Lane honors each child's unique individuality while fostering intellectual, creative, academic, and personal growth within a diverse community of active, engaged learners. Small class sizes and an atmosphere that encourages children to develop their academic and social skills are priorities at Oak Lane, where learning is a meaningful and joyous pursuit. Oak Lane's country-like property of 30 acres along Butler Pike and Stenton Avenue boasts a stream, pond, woods, meadows, and specimen trees as well as athletic fields and playgrounds.

Oak Lane Day School is accredited by the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS), and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and the Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools (ADVIS).