By Isabel McFarland and Makenzie Pridgen
After years of feeling the joy in the RPCS community on Opening Day, Ms. Short, RPCS Performing Arts Department Chair and class of 2001, hopes to continue that exuberance in a new convocation. The Feel the Joy Convocation will “celebrate the whole Roland Park Community.”
The new tradition will occur for the first time on Monday, May 16th, when the Roses will perform with the fourth grade (Thornettes), and the Semiquavers will sing with the kindergartners. In addition, the teachers will be given awards, faculty who are retiring will be celebrated, and those that have had multiple years of service at the school will be honored.
Sophie Christoff, a senior Rose, is elated to collaborate with Lower School students once again. “Having been a student for 13 years, it means a lot for upperclassmen to interact with the lower schoolers because when I was their age I really looked up to them… it’s really full circle for me and I really appreciate and value that,” says Sophie.
This feeling is reciprocated by the fourth graders. Thornettes, Brooklyn Smith and Makayla Engelman, shared, “For this convocation we are most excited about dancing with the Roses.”
Ms. Short says that when others ask about favorite aspects of RPCS, “They always say the opening day convocation, which is the very first day of school. So, to have something to look forward to at the end of the school year to celebrate the whole community is great…Since we have only come together as an all-school community twice this year, this is especially meaningful. Celebrating our community and being together is important. ”
Sophie says, “Even if you don’t do dance seriously it’s still something that brings a lot of people joy. The Roses don’t usually dance at convocations outside of opening day and that is something that so many people look forward to in the year in general.”
“Feeling the joy” has many different meanings for everyone. For the Thornettes, it means to “feel the happiness in the air, be happy about what you have, don’t doubt yourself.” Sophie says, “It reminds me to enjoy the present and enjoy life for what it is in that moment, a reminder to enjoy all of the little things.”
For faculty, alumni, and students alike, joy is an important part of RPCS. We are celebrating the talents and achievements of each and everyone in the community with lots of JOY! This convocation is just one of the many ways to display all of these beautiful aspects.
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