Wiscasset Elementary School kindergarten, first, second and third grade students presented the “WES Carnival of the Animals” on May 9 for the community. Students were excited to perform on the school stage for their families and friends.

Kindergarten and first grade students opened the show with several songs including “Monkeys,” “Ten Fish in the Sea,” “Elephants Have Wrinkles,” “Bought Me a Cat” and “Puppies.” Two other favorites were “The Cow Says Meow,” which featured students in animal masks making the silly sounds of the mixed up animals and “The Three Little Kittens,” where a few kindergarten students acted out the song as the rest of the children sang.

Following that were the second and third graders. Because they will be taking a field trip to see the Portland Symphony perform pieces from composer Camille Saint-Saëns’ “Carnival of the Animals,” students performed some of the pieces from the musical suite. They included “The Royal March of the Lion,” “Fossils,” “The Aviary” and “The Aquarium.” There were also a few songs about animals that were not part of the original suite. Those included, “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” which featured students playing the classroom Orff instruments; “The Dinosaur Walk,” where some dancing dinosaurs were roaming the stage, and a favorite, “Crocodile Rock.”

The finale was presented by all students singing and dancing to “The Chicken Rap” while wearing chicken hats they created in their art class.

Students worked very hard to memorize all the music and movement for this show and the audience congratulated them on their successful performance with rousing applause!

On May 23, the WES fourth and fifth grade chorus, beginner band and the WMHS chorus and band will perform their concert for the community at Wiscasset Middle High School at 6:30 p.m. Please join us!

Thank you to our Wiscasset community for continuing to support music in our schools as it remains a vital part of each and every child’s education.