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Canadian Classes Use APX in Dance/Drama
Mon., Oct. 16. 2006 2:59am EDT
Here's some nice news from our neighbors to the north:
On Friday, May 12, 2006, St. Mary's Catholic School in Barrie, Ontario, Canada, celebrated a dance performance of ApologetiX songs hosted by Miss Vera Nehring's Grade 1 to Grade 6 Drama classes. The one-hour performance was sold out, as the auditorium was packed with 400 spectators.
In preparation for the ApologetiX concert, students analyzed the lyrics of the songs and discussed the Bible passages they were based upon. Many ApologetiX songs described real-life events; and so the students were encouraged to ask, "What Would Jesus Do?" in each situation.
The students of St. Mary's School were also involved in an anti-bullying unit at the same time; so the songs were integrated into anti-bullying through the means of student-written skits and scripts that gave their solutions to the problem. The skits were then combined into a one-class performance script. The students then learned the songs according to grade levels. Younger kids performed numbers like "Baa! We're Lambs", while students from Grade 4 and up even choreographed their own dances for the songs.
Miss Nehring's future plans involve a musical "Life of Jesus" based on ApologetiX songs, all the way from "Micah No. 5" to "I Have to Die First". The musical will switch from Biblical times to the present, and focus on how Jesus' teachings allow us all to live in peace with one another.
Bullying and other forms of violence are serious problems in school. Roughly a third of students report being victims, and another third perpetrators. Americans can consult their Health and Human Services Department website at stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/, and Canadians can visit the Ontario Ministry of Education atwww.edu.gov.on.ca. Miss Nehring hopes that her students' dramatic presentations will help to turn this problem around; and is grateful for ApologetiX's wonderful witness in spreading the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Vera Nehring
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