June 12, 2008

Los Alamitos goes Hawaiian at annual variety show

By Shana McLean Moore
Staff Writer

If you replaced the image of Oahu’s Diamond Head with a view of Mt. Umunhum and traded the sensation of a warm tropical breeze with a brisk continental one, it was easy to believe you were in the islands when Los Alamitos students celebrated their annual variety show with a colorful Hawaiian theme on Friday, June 6.

Trevor Parcella wows the crowd with his magic. Photos by Mike Young

Surrounded by a grove of inflatable palm trees and a sea blue backdrop, some 120 students took the stage to the delight of the parents, siblings, grandparents and staff members who cheered them on. All told, there were 60 acts during the two-and-a-half hour show. While the majority of performers sang or danced, there were also a handful of magic tricks, comedy routines, gymnastics displays and instrumental performances.

Chloe Clevenger and her partner Isabel Epstein embraced the Hawaiian theme and charmed the audience with a hula dance to “Huma Huma, Nuka Nuka.” Clevenger, a first grader at the school, was both nervous and excited to perform for the crowd of approximately 300 people who sat in their beach chairs on the school field for the show.

“My favorite part was dancing,” said Clevenger, who had so much fun that she plans to be a part of the show again next year.

Fifth grader Nathan Wolf knows what it’s like to be a show veteran; he has participated in the show four times during his elementary school career. “It’s such a memorable experience to get on stage and have the crowd cheer for you,” said Wolf. “It’s just sort of magical.”

Mrs. Finch, a first grade teacher at Los Alamitos, gets a thrill out of seeing her current and former students in a different context. “I love seeing the kids outside of my classroom, relaxed and out of uniform,” said Finch. “They are so excited that I have come out to watch them perform. When I sit there cheering for them, I feel like I am part of their family,” Finch added.

The parents are equally enthusiastic. Nicole Ison, the mother of performers Sophia and Loreta Ison, finds the show to be a great way for her daughters to express themselves. “My fourth grader, Sophia, and her friends created their own costumes and made up all of their own moves for the routine they danced and sang. They practiced for two months for their two minutes of fame,” said Ison. “I am very proud of all the students who walked up on that stage. It takes a lot of courage and hard work to get up there and perform,” Ison added.

The brave performers were easy to spot by the end of the show because they were given light-up leis as souvenirs when they exited the stage.

Event co-chair Sharon Wicks soaked up the glow and reflected on the seven weeks of work that led to the successful event. “I love the fact that so many of our students are eager to participate in the variety show,” said Wicks. “Children from every grade level participated—including some adorable kindergarteners. The performers practice very hard to perfect their acts for the big night and they are always incredible! It's amazing to see it all come together. This show always leaves our audience grinning from ear to ear. It's a fun way to end the school year and I'm so happy to be a part of it.”

The variety show is one of the most popular events on the school calendar because it fosters a deep sense of community, as it is one of the few opportunities when students, parents and staff members are all outside together in a relaxed setting, sharing a meal and taking in a show that they are personally invested in.

As a testament to the involvement of community, this year’s Hawaiian-themed dinner was served by parent volunteers and came from the Sandwich Mill, the neighborhood restaurant owned by Ronda and Albert Rodriguez, a Los Alamitos family. At a table nearby, fourth grade parents also hosted a bake sale that raised nearly $400 toward next year’s science camp trip.

It is no coincidence that the Hawaiian word for “community” is a word also used for “family,” and the students, staff and parents of Los Alamitos didn’t let the dictionary down with this year’s demonstration of Aloha spirit.