Santa Rosa and Pima Butte students raise their voices in song

Rancho El Dorado rang with song Tuesday night when both Santa Rosa and Pima Butte Elementary Schools presented their winter, holiday choral programs.

At Santa Rosa three classes each of fourth and fifth graders combined their voices on “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree,” “Deck the Halls,” “Holly Jolly Christmas” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” They provided written lyrics for the audience, who packed the school’s multi-purpose room, to sing along on the latter three numbers.

Fourth graders sang “Jingle Bells,” while the fifth graders offered “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Mele Kalikimaka” (a Hawaiian tune) and the “Snowman Song.”

Principal Rick Abel introduced the “smiling Scorpions,” who were directed by music instructor Joanne Matibag.

In February, and again in the spring, Santa Rosa’s grades K-3 will be showcased.

“We are having music twice a week this year, and it has really made a big difference,” noted Abel. The fourth and fifth graders’ concert was proof of the expanded program’s success.

At the northern end of Rancho El Dorado, Dennis Michalski was directing his second holiday concert in a week. On Dec. 11 grades 3-5 took the stage (see related story).

This Tuesday it was grades K-2 in the spotlight, presenting choral renditions of favorites like “Must be Santa” (kindergarteners in Santa hats), “Living in a Desert Wonderland” (first graders with paper cactus spines on their heads) and “Rudolph, the Red-nosed Reindeer” (second graders wearing antlers).

Pima Butte Elementary has four kindergarten, four first grade and three second grade classes.

Photos by Joyce Hollis