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Children Bring Song And Cheer To Seniors

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By COURTNEY CAIRNS PASTOR, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 29, 2007

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - Lessons in public speaking and community service came together over a little karaoke.

Teacher Cindy Herold brought a group of Bay Crest Elementary students to Woodbridge Nursing and Rehabilitation Center last week for song and holiday spirit. Woodbridge residents clapped and sang along with the children, who took turns singing into a microphone and leading everyone in Christmas tunes.

The students got decked out in red and green, tinsel necklaces and hats of antlers and candy canes and presented the senior citizens with gifts and cards addressed "to a very special person" before they left.

"It was a really cool experience," said 10-year-old J.R. Houston. "I hope one day I could do it again. All the people were really nice."

The experience was as much for the children performing as the audience watching them.

The third- through fifth-graders were members of Bay Crest's speech club, which includes language-impaired students who need extra help and others who come for the activities. In its second year, the 40-member club performs in winter and spring karaoke shows, talks about character on the school morning show, raises money for charity and plants gardens. The Masons Holyrood Lodge No. 257 donated $500 to help the group with its charitable events.

"We're just helping out the community," said Samantha Parmerlee, 12.

The karaoke is Herold's way of sharpening the children's reading and speaking skills while they channel their inner Hannah Montanas.

Herold, the school's speech-language pathologist, goes over the songs with the students, starting slowly and pausing frequently. She practices phonics to help them figure out the words. The children need to be strong enough readers to sing the words in time with the music, and they need confidence to tackle tough letters and sounds.

"Deck the Halls," with its rapid "fa la la" refrain, is a favorite of Herold's. A lot of her students have trouble with the "l" sound, and the "fa la la" forces them to master it.

"We practice this a lot," Herold said. "The trick to keeping up with this song is keeping the tongue moving fast."

The trip to Woodbridge let them show off their skills while teaching them about compassion and manners. A karaoke group Herold started with her church, Hyde Park United Methodist, visits Woodbridge regularly. Before she took the children with her, she prepared them for the sights, sounds and smells they might encounter.

She warned them that some of the residents might not seem to know they are there. Others are lonely and will want to hug the children. Herold talked to them about how to handle themselves and told them to stay upbeat.

"This is about joy," she said. "This is about smiling."

Samantha, a fifth-grader, said she liked seeing the residents interacting with the Bay Crest group, talking to them and singing along.

"I thought it was cool because everybody was smiling," she said.

Reporter Courtney Cairns Pastor can be reached at (813) 865-1503 or cpastor@tampatrib.com.

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