Jacksonville Elementary at the Britt!

Flash back to May 2019. Our family was still fairly new to the rogue valley and the Jacksonville community. People had been friendly and we were discovering the good things about our new home. It is a lot of work moving and integrating a family successfully to a new location. I remember feeling socially tired. The elementary school musical that year was Mary Poppins. The 4th graders, including Caity, were in the chorus in bowler hats, dressed up as bankers. Caity had been earnestly practicing all the songs and choreography and I can still picture her marching and singing “Precision and order…” with resolute exactness. She was so excited to be selected to “go fly a kite” and she really got into character miming wind. Anyway, a lot of build up leading to the musical. I remember walking up to the rehearsal in a field trip with Johnny and seeing the Brit Amphitheater decked out for the play and feeling floored. It was an incredible production. That evening it seemed all of Jacksonville gathered to celebrate its children and support this amazing program headed by Wendy Stanik. The weather was perfect, and the excitement was darling as parents talked about their kids’ parts. I remember sitting in the theater and looking at the swaying trees and thinking, “OK, this is my home now. I’m so grateful to be here.” It was a meaningful moment and ever since the Jacksonville Elementary Musical is one of my favorite traditions every year. I love that after a school year of volunteering and working within the school community, I get to see all my volunteer friends and families of my kids’ classmates. It is magical. 

Last year, Johnny played Mr. Salt in Willy Wonka. He was darling in his mustache and suit. 

This year, the musical was “Finding Nemo”. As a fourth grader, William got to be in the chorus as a turtle. It was delightful watching him do all the choreography and smile so big and look over at me at the parts he found funny. Again, the weather was perfect and it was so much fun seeing all the Jacksonville families that we’ve grown close to over the years. Katelyn, Spencer and James were also able to come! It was such a fun night, and I’m so grateful for the sacrifices made to pull it off.