Music was in the air at Cockeysville Middle School during a recent series of holiday concerts.Favorites like the "Carol of the Bells," "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch," and "Let It Go" delighted the audiences and showcased the students' hard-work over the past several months.As in years past, "The Night Before Christmas," featuring guest narrators from area elementary schools:Josh Dore, of Warren Elementary, Luke Murnane, of Jacksonville Elementary, Ashley Son, of Padonia Elementary and Emma Whatley, of Mays Chapel Elementary, closed out the band concert.
While the Cockeysville Middle music program regularly gives award-winning performances, many of the students have also received individual honors. Malachi Gaines, George Harney, Ben Kimmel, Jonathan Kim, Nicholas Lyons, Sarah Nelson, Jack Reilly, Sarah Shen, Victor Shi, Jack Shimanek, Connor Stewart, Karen Xi and Emily Zhu were named to the Baltimore All-County Middle School Honor Band.Claire Lamoureux represented the school as a member of the All County Chorus.Finally, David Chen was not only a member of the Baltimore County Junior Orchestra but also took part in the All State Junior String Orchestra. He was the only student from the county to be named to this elite orchestra. Congratulations to all!
Congratulations, too, to the Dulaney High School Marching Band as they head to England to perform in London's New Year's Day Parade!
During this busy holiday season, many of our young people here in Cockeysville spent a recent Saturday morning preparing the Eastside Family Emergency Shelter for Christmas.As a part of the event, residents were treated to a Christmas Shop, a visit from Santa and a communal meal. In partnership with the Community Assistance Network, volunteers like Jack and Matt Dudas, Ben Elder, Evan Kawabata, Nick Lange, Cole McGee, Dennis and Nathan Mason, Patrick Donelan and Nick Sheldon, organized the food, the Christmas Shop items and prepared the shelter for the festivities.Another aspect of the day was the Adopt-A-Bed program where new bed linens were donated to spruce up the dormitories. Members of two area Girl Scout troops took part and not only donated the bed sets but came out to make beds as well.Job well done to Megan Maher, Caroline and Michaela McComas, Morgan Peck and Julianna Rak, of Troop 3332, and to Trinity Collier, Kate Donelan, Gretchen Kresslein, Julia and Kate Whatley and McKenzie Weller of Troop 1684.The Eastside Family Shelter, located in Rosedale, houses up to 150 homeless women and children and provides not only shelter but three meals a day, children's programs and job and financial counseling.They provide so many worthwhile services and volunteer opportunities are available throughout the year.If you would like more information or would be interested in volunteering, please contact April Stevens, volunteer coordinator for the Community Assistance Network at astevens@canconnects.org.
Wishing you all much good health and happiness in the new year! Please be sure to share your good news with me in 2015.