I am Julie Johnson, one of Fernan’s music teachers, and I would like to welcome you to our new school year!  We are happy that Liz Larson is teaching our 2nd grade classes and one morning kindergarten class this year. All students at Fernan receive instruction in music every week.  Kindergarten and Life Skills students have music for thirty minutes while students in grades 1-5 receive forty-five minutes of music weekly. 

All students can expect to enjoy a variety of activities in Music including:  singing a variety of songs, listening to many styles of music, playing musical learning games, and creating music through singing, playing instruments, and movement.  We also play a variety of instruments including drums, many classroom instruments, and xylophones.  3rd -5th graders play the recorder.  The focus of the music program is to instill a love and appreciation of music through understanding and experiencing its many elements.

All 4th and 5th grade students have the opportunity to participate in Fernan’s Special Chorus, “The 21st Street Singers”.  This enthusiastic group of about seventy students meets weekly to practice at 8:00 a.m. Wednesday mornings in the music room.  We will be singing at various community events in addition to Fernan music programs and assemblies. 

Every grade level will present a special music program this year.  All of these performances will take place during the school day and students in grades 1-5 will also have 7:00 p.m. performances in the evening.  Dates for programs have been set:

                3rd Grade-Veteran’s Day-
                5th Grade-Explorers Christmas-
                1st Grade-American Symbols-
                2nd Grade-Weather-
               4th Grade-Lewis and Clark-
                Kindergarten-End of the Year Celebration

Fernan students, it’s never too early to start thinking about the Talent Show!   Our all-school Talent Show traditionally takes place the last week of school.