Hello,
As the Christmas programs are right around the corner, I would like to share with you an update on the opportunities available to your child.¬† The programs will take place on the evening of Tuesday, December 20th in the Middle School Gymnasium.¬† Kindergarten and 1st grade will perform at 5:45, 2nd and 3rd grades at 6:45, and 4th and 5th grades at 7:30. ¬†As before, the DVD will be recorded by Monjaro Studios and available for purchase. ¬†Please send this¬†¬†DVD form¬†along with the attached payment to myself or your child’s classroom teacher.
4th and 5th grades will also have the opportunity to sing as part of the Geneseo Christmas Walk the previous Saturday, December 10th at 4:30 p.m. at the First Congregational Church.
The 4thand 5th grades’ Christmas Program this year will be A Charlie Brown Christmas. 
2nd and 3rd grades will perform the mini-musical Elflandia.  Included will be numerous speaking lines as well as other non-speaking roles.  2nd and 3rd grade students have the opportunity to submit to me “Elfie Selfies,” which we will plan to project during our program.
Kindergarten and 1st grade will perform a variety of Holiday selections, both old and new.
1st-5th grade students will also have the opportunity sing in several solo/small groups, and participate in an extra instrumental ensemble with others from their grade level.   More details will be coming in the next few weeks.
All grades-K-5 may submit Christmas Program covers to Mr. Eckwall or Mrs. Kegebein.  The winner for each grade will have his or her design printed on the cover of the Christmas Programs on December 20th.  Please remember that the cover will be printed in black and white.
Attention performing musicians-If your child plays piano or another instrument and has a piece prepared for Christmas, we would love to have him or her play for us in between concerts either during the Christmas Walk on December 11th or the Christmas Programs on December 20th.
 All grades-Rehearsals for all speaking/nonspeaking roles and instrumental ensembles will take place during morning and lunch recess times.  A schedule of all Christmas Program rehearsals will be posted each week outside the music room and here on my district blog-rehearsal-schedule-christmas-2016. Students are be expected to attend all rehearsals for their group in preparation for the performance at the Christmas Programs on December 20th.     If you are a lunch worker, please arrange for a substitute in advance of all rehearsals.
Please contact me if you have questions at meckwall@geneseoschools.org. Thank you for your continued support!
Sincerely,
Mike Eckwall
Remaining Northside Fine Arts Dates 2015-16
Northside Christmas Programs- Tuesday, December 20, 2016, Middle School  Gym
(Grades K-1 5:45 p.m.), (Grades 2-3 6:45 p.m.), (Grades 4-5 7:30 p.m.)
Quad City Symphony Day-(4th grade) –Tuesday, February 21, 2017, 11:00 a.m. concert
Music in Our Schools Concert (4th and 5th grades)– Tuesday, March 7, 2017, 7:00 p.m., HS Gym
Northside Fine Arts Day– Friday, April 7, 2017
All-Unit Concert (4th and 5th grade)- Monday, May 1, 2017, 7:00 p.m., HS Gym
5th grade Recorder Concert Monday, May 8, 2017
Practice– 1:00 p.m., location TBA
Concert-  7:00 p.m., HS Gym
Northside Spring Programs– Wednesday, May 17th, 2017, Northside Gym (Grades 4-5 9:00 a.m.), (Grades 2-3 10:15 a.m.), (Grades K-1 2:00 p.m.)