The annual Grandparents Day at Malad Elementary school is one of the most anticipated events of the year, and it lived up to its hype once again.  The day allowed parents and grandparents to have a look at the projects students have been up to this year, see some of the impressive student talent on display, and enjoy a cafeteria lunch together.  Many schools across the country have recently started hosting a Grandparents Day, though in Malad it has been a welcome tradition for many years.

Classroom Projects

Each grade at MES had its own particular set of projects to present for Grandparents Day, including journal writing, studying landforms, building models of the solar system, creating displays about Idaho “artifacts”, and acting as historical characters in a virtual museum.

The “Living History” or “Wax museum” project involved students researching famous (and sometimes less famous) historical figures, and explaining them to the audience when approached.  Students created costumes to physically resemble the figures, and many created “buttons” to initiate the presentation.  Subjects for the museum included Amelia Earhart, Stan Lee, Nikola Tesla, Paul Revere, and many others.    

Talent Show

One of the perennial highlights of the day is the talent show, featuring some of Malad’s bravest and most accomplished students.  As always, this year’s show featured a combination of conventional displays of musical and dance acumen, as well as some surprises.

Madelynn Gonzalez and McCall Clark both did an excellent job with vocal solos, which can be incredibly intimidating in front of a large audience.  

Megan Moss, Eva Coleman, Alyssa Seamons, Ruby Coleman and Jenna Blaisdell all presented solo performances on the piano.  June and Hailey Talbot performed a piano duet.  Paisley Moyer performed a violin solo.

The talent show also included dance solos by Cassidy Schrenk, as well as Gage Steed, who performed a rendition of the famous Napoleon Dynamite dance.  The group of Sadie Hooste, Katy Carter, and Aleah Seamons performed a dance that they had choreographed.  

Emmet and Sawyer Richards also choreographed their own gymnastics routine, which included some impressive tumbling and acrobatics.

Jace Call charmed the audience with his magic routine.

Payton Johnson demonstrated high-level dog handling skills.  

The talent show wouldn’t have been possible without the support of a number of other individuals.  The Talent Show try-out judges were Carol Howe and Nicole Daniels.  The script, music program, and musical direction were handled by Christine Smith.  The “Lighthouse Team,” who provided the interstitial transitions between acts, and helped set up for the various necessary elements included Easton Taufer, Sadie Hooste, Katy Carter, Kall VanBebber, Katie Palmer, Dixon Reel. Zoe Bodily, Jaxon Shandrew and Dane Williams.  The team was coordinated by Nicole Daniels.  The stage itself was managed by Temperance Garrett and Adilyn Bailey. The lights were managed by Susan Clark and Megan Clark.

Devin Morrison is in charge of building maintenance.  Technical assistance was provided by Jillian Williams.  Rose Butler served as the Director’s Assistant.  Zoe Bodily, Litzy Flores, and Hadlee White served as Ushers.