This year the Batesville High School Drama Club performed Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of
Music. Ms. Mann created choreography for five dance numbers. The first number was “Sixteen Going on
Seventeen.” Mary Kate Ketcham (Liesl) and Isaac Trossman (Rolf) learned this number. “Do-Re-Mi” was a
crowd-favorite. There were five high school students who learned this number, and four younger students from
BMS, BIS, and BPS. All of these students but Jen Dodge (Maria) learned “So Long, Farewell.” This was
performed near the very end of Act I. Many of the movements from this piece were used in Act II when the
family performed at the concert. The fourth piece was the “Landler.” This complicated number was learned by
Levi Essick (Kurt), Jen Dodge (Maria), and Brayden McClellan (Captain von Trapp). Finally, the waltz was
taught to the full company for the von Trapp party. This is the only full company number in the show.
Choreography rehearsals were held after school. Several of these rehearsals were on Fridays. This
experience provides the students the opportunity to learn from a professional. It adds depth to the musical
experience. For those students who are not involved in dance of some sort, it might be there first and only
opportunity to learn dance steps/movements.
Part of the Psychology Curriculum is a unit called Stress, Lifestyle and Health. During these lectures, Yoga and Meditation is discussed as a way to relieve stress. Because of your generous funding, we were able to have Lisa Tuveson of Sacred Pause Yoga come in to discuss the benefits of Yoga and Meditation to the Psychology classes and teach some of the Yoga poses that students could use everyday. This was a fantastic supplement to our classroom lectures.
Sarah Pulskamp, owner of GypsySoul Essential Oils and Gifts, met with all OA students during their religion class on Tuesday, April 26 to make 10-bead bracelets to represent one decade of the Rosary. They used wooden beads made from olive wood from Bethlehem. Sarah also taught students different knots to help secure their beads. Students can carry their creation or wear them as a bracelet.
