Cassville Talent Show proceeds benefit Relay For Life

“Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas … perhaps … means a little bit more!”

Dr. Seuss’s Grinch learned a lesson about Christmas, and, at Cassville Elementary, students learned that giving doesn’t have to mean presents wrapped under a tree.

Cassville Elementary students gave of their time and their talents to do their part as the school worked to raise funds for Relay for Life during the Christmas season. On Dec. 16, they hosted what they hope is the first of many annual Student Talent Shows.

“We are so proud of our students at Cassville,” Cassville Elementary School principal Juli Johnson said. “The students showed courage and enthusiasm, while demonstrating their talent for a good cause.”

The show let students highlight their talents as they entertained the audience with a variety of singing, dancing, comedy, karate, poetry, and displays of artwork as Jason Ward served as emcee for the event.

Students were joined by special guest Kurt Dronebarger, director of White County schools, who, as he used to do when serving as principal at Northfield Elementary, wrote and performed a song that brought laughter from the crowd as he sang about the perils of working in the school system during the holidays.

“The turnout of supporters and families was exciting and encouraging for our students,” Johnson said about the parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and neighbors who packed the school’s cafeteria to watch the show, buying tickets priced at $2 or $3 each.

The ticket sales, along with concessions sold by the PTO at intermission, meant the students raised $400 to donate to Relay for Life to help in the fight against cancer and the search for a cure.

“We would like to give a special thank you to Kendra Simmons and Nikki Kerr for organizing this event,” Johnson said as she further explained that it was the school’s teachers who dreamed, planned, and made the event the success it was. “We are already excited thinking about next year.”