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Community: Character plays role at McKinley Elementary

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Students in three classes at McKinley Elementary School gave their parents and siblings a lesson in building positive traits with an after-school musical performance titled “Character Matters.”

About 90 students, representing two fourth-grade classes and one third-grade class, took part in the May 22 production, said Cherie Wescott, who produced the musical along with Dennis Danielson, Angie D’Mello and Lisa Fuentez.

“Every year we get together and do one of these at the end of the year,” she said. “We just find it is a nice way to wind things up for the kids; and after all the hard work of state testing, it gives them a little relaxation. It is something fun for them to do every year.”

The play combined favorite fairy tales with lessons on building good character.

“We purchased this play from a company in Camarillo,” Wescott said. “We have a selection of these musical performances we have purchased from them. We did this one about four years ago. We try to do a different one each year.”

Wescott believes the youngsters take what they’ve learned from the plays and apply it to the classroom curriculum.

“In the past, we did a play about the Western movement and they will come back the next year when it’s part of the social studies curriculum and they say they remember when the same things were mentioned in the play,” she said.

The chorus of the song that runs through the production hits a poignant note:

“Character matters, you must care how you act. Character matters, as a matter of fact. Character matters, ‘cause you are what you choose. Character matters, it’s one thing you can’t lose.”

In one skit, “Magic Mirrors,” three students — Robert McGraham, Kate Outwater and Troy Outwater — wear cardboard squares covered in a reflective material, in a take on the story of “Snow White.”

The final line says, “Honesty is the fairest of all.”

In another scene, Richard Solano plays Jack, and Brandin Gustafson is the giant from “Jack and the Bean Stalk.”

“I learned that you don’t judge someone by how they look, but by asking them questions and finding out something about them,” Richard Solano said.

The final line is, “Differences can be scary, but it’s cool.”

Parent Fran Martin said she was impressed with the acting. Her favorite scene was the one about Humpty Dumpty and his friends, she said.

“It was about taking responsibility, and the little girl was blaming everyone but herself,” Martin said. “I thought that was really cute.”

Webelos earn Cub Scouting honor

Eight Webelos Scouts from Burbank’s Cub Scout Pack 225 received the Arrow of Light Award, Cub Scouting’s highest honor, at a pack meeting in April at Burbank First United Methodist Church.

The boys received hand-crafted arrows symbolizing completion of the program. Webelos Scouts who have earned the Arrow of Light Award have also completed nearly all the requirements to earn the Scout badge, so they have already begun their Boy Scout trail.

Those who earned the Arrow of Light Award are Matias Artiga, Aleko Brice, Gavin Cho, Dylan Giliberto, Jonah Goldman, Liam Stackhouse, Jake Noren and Christopher Wilke.

Cub Scout Pack 225 serves boys in grades 1 to 5. For more information, visit www.pack225.com.

Couple will exchange vows

Don and Debbie Schrey of Burbank announce the upcoming wedding of their daughter, Casey, to Andrew Lazar, son of Jerold and Pam Lazar, of Mulvane, Kan.

Casey graduated from Azusa Pacific University and is employed at Pepperdine University.

Andrew graduated from Purdue University and is employed with Pankow Construction in the engineering department.

A June wedding is planned. The couple will make their home in Burbank.

Local singers perform with chorale

Two local singers will perform with the Los Angeles Master Chorale when it concludes its 48th season with a mostly a cappella tribute to celebrated Polish composer Henryk Górecki at 7 p.m. June 10 at Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Performing are Todd Honeycutt (tenor) and Christian Marcoe (tenor) of Burbank.

Music Director Grant Gershon conducts “Miserere,” “Lobgesang (Song of Praise),” written for chorus and glockenspiel, and the “Marian Songs.”

For tickets call (213) 972-7282, or visit www.lamc.org.

JOYCE RUDOLPH can be reached at rudolphjoyce10@gmail.com.

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