ShowMe Time Editor
They have been looking forward to this weekend all school year, and for a group of talented Dexter students, Saturday is “the day”
“The day” is a chance of a lifetime for the Songmakers chorus of fifth grade students. Because on Saturday the Songmaker members will walk out onto the field at Busch Stadium. They will be on the same field as Matt Carpenter, Yadier Molina, David Freese, Matt Holliday, Jon Jay. And they will stand tall and full of Bearcat Pride, wear their Bearcat – and Cardinal – red shirts, and sing with all their hearts an All-American favorite – “Take Me Out To The Ballgame.”
The Songmakers chorus is a select choir of fifth grade students at Central Elementary. The chorus is under the direction of Delisa Sitze.
On Friday afternoon they had one final rehearsal before their journey to St. Louis. After rehearsing inside the school cafeteria, Sitze had the singers file in order outside to the lawn in front of the school. There they went through their song like seasoned pros.
“Now – do you hear the difference in singing outside,” Sitze asked the students. Heads nodded in agreement – they could hear the difference.
“It really echoes inside,” one student commented.
“That’s what it will be like tomorrow,” the direction cautioned. They’ll be ready!
This is the 12th year for the Songmakers to perform at Busch Stadium. The tradition began with former teacher Jean Rahm – a big Cardinals fan. And Sitze – another Cardinals fan – has continued the tradition. There have been some interesting journeys, including the time in 2002 the Songmakers were slated to perform and it was the same day of the funeral of famed Cardinal broadcaster Jack Buck. Following the memorial to Buck, the Songmakers entered the stadium and performed their hearts out!
The Dexter students have always been wonderful ambassadors of the community and school system, have always given tip-top performances, and have always received high praise from the Cardinal organization.
“They're a fantastic group of kids who can sing well and their conduct is excellent,” said Sitze. "I'm very proud of this group."
The Dexter Songmakers will be performing during the traditional seventh inning stretch when the Cardinals take on the Brewers. Start time for the Saturday afternoon game is 12:05 p.m. Kyle Lohse is expected to by on the pitcher’s mound for the Cardinals; Marco Estrado for the Brewers.
The ShowMe Times will accompany the Songmakers on their incredible journey to Busch Stadium. Watch the ShowMe Times for photos!
Good luck, Songmakers!
ShowMe Times Editor
It’s an incredibly big world out there – and what’s a worm to do!
The story of one young worm – and his daily chronicles - was the topic of the day Tuesday morning for the youngsters at Story Hour at Dexter’s Keller Public Library. Hosted this week by Tracy Horton and Christy Dorton, the children heard all about the life of a worm through the children’s book, “Diary of a Worm.”
The book, by Doreen Cronin and Harry Bliss, centers on the worm and his daily life. He lives with his parents and plays and goes to school. But as the youngsters learned, he doesn’t have to take a bath, he eats his homework, and he can’t dance and do the hokey pokey.
The youngsters sat on the colorful carpet in the Community Room at the library – with just a little wiggling – as Dorton read the delightful book. The worm has one misadventure after another and he learns the hard way that a sidewalk is not the place for a worm during a game of hopscotch.
Following story time, Dorton and Horton helped the children with a couple of craft projects to take home. And of course everyone had a few gummy worms for a snack!
Story Hour is a program of the Keller Public Library in Dexter and is free. Story Hour is held each Tuesday morning at 10:15 a.m. through the end of May.
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'Diary of a Worm'
ShowMe Times Editor
Few events are more anticipated, better planned, orchestrated, and arranged. There are dresses to shop for and buy, shoes to select, tuxedoes to order, flowers to ponder over and purchase, decisions made concerning the meal, transportation arranged, photo sessions organized.
This. Is. Serious. Business.
It’s prom.
All that doesn’t even count the actual day of the event. There are photo to be taken at parents’ houses and the homes of grandparents, photos at school by veteran prom photographer Joe Craig. Some teens even have “location” pictures around town – near the railroad tracks, the depot, old buildings.
All in anticipation of the evening. It’s a springtime tradition that is an important rite of passage for teenagers – and their family and friends.
Dexter’s annual Prom was held Saturday evening at the high school, beginning with the Grand March and the presentation of the couples. Family and friends packed the DHS Auditorium for the Grand March. Couples were introduced and promenaded across the stage.
Traditionally, the prom is the most formal dance of the school year, with girls wearing short cocktail dresses or floor-length gowns with shoes and accessories to match. Bright colors (orange seemed to be a favorite) and sleek black gowns, and the “front-back” look all were popular for the girls.
For the guys – everything from western styled tuxedos and cowboy hats, to tuxedos that coordinated with the date’s dress, to top hats and canes were popular Saturday evening.
The theme for the DHS Prom this year was “Enchantment Under the Sea” with nautical decorations in the auditorum, gym, and even in the cafeteria. Refreshment tables in the cafeteria were loaded with treats made by moms helping this year.
Following the Grand March presentations, parents and friends were allowed into the transformed gym for another round of photo-taking and to see the decorations. But once the music began for the dance, it was very clear that the time for family had come to the end and it was time for the prom revelry to begin.
Photo Above: Erika Mouser and Josh Overall pose near the boat in the center of the dance floor at Saturday's Prom at Dexter High School. (ShowMe Times photo by Annabeth Miller)
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Dexter High School Prom, April 21, 2012
ShowMe Times Editor
Every spring when she was a young girl, she would anxiously await the arrival of the camp brochure, and would be one of the first to register for her summer trip to Girl Scout camp.
Once summer arrived, it was time for camp – for her friends, cooking over an open fire, singing favorite songs around a campfire, giggling over crazy skits, and swimming, hiking and all the things that define “summer camp.”
Now, as an adult and with years of camp, Girl Scouting, leadership and teaching experience, Karen Lane of Dexter is looking forward to that summer camp experience once again.
But this time when she goes through those gates at camp, she will be returning as the camp director – in charge of the summer camp experience for girls at Latonka and Cherokee Ridge camps in Southeast Missouri.
“I’m excited,” Lane said during a recent conversation. Right now the job is mainly administrative – finding and hiring staff, developing plans and preparation for the summer. But in a flash of the eye, it will be time for staff to arrive, plans to become action, and the campers and fun to arrive at campsite.
Lane will be directing two camps for the Girl Scouts of Missouri Heartland. Both facilities are in Southeast Missouri, and have strong heritages in the region. Camp Latonka – where Lane attended as a girl and worked as a staff member – is on Lake Wappapello, and Cherokee Ridge is near Sam A. Baker State Park in Patterson.
The summer will begin June 17 at Cherokee Ridge, with a group of units for girls wanting to enjoy horseback riding, as well as other traditional camp programs.
Then beginning in July, programs will shift to Latonka, with some traditional summer camp experiences with exciting new twists. The Latonka part of the summer will include units that will sample geo-caching, and older girls at Latonka will have the opportunity to take advantage of the camp’s ropes and challenge courses, as well canoeing and water fun and traditional camp activities.
Lane, who has taught at Richland school for more than 20 years, is obviously no stranger to Girl Scout summer camp. She attended camp for nine years as a girl, graduated from Latonka’s Counselor-in-Training course, and served as a unit staff member, sports consultant, and waterfront director at the camp.
“Since it’s the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouting, I would really like to go back to old camp skills,” she said. Tying knots, pitching tents, building fires, lashing – all are skills that Lane says she would like for campers to learn and have fun mastering this summer. “Just some old-fashioned camping skills. Fun stuff!”
Financial Help To Attend
Lane says one concern heading into the summer is that with the economy is its current site, families will feel summer camp is out of the picture this summer.
However, she said there are programs in place by the Girl Scout council and others to help families with girls who want that summer camp experience.
“When I have talked with leaders and parents I have stressed that there are ‘camperships’ available,’ she said. Camperships are scholarships from Girl Scouts of Missouri Heartland to assist with camp fees.
“The endowment that the late Doris Brown left is specifically for girls who want to attend Latonka,” she added. The late Doris (Beaver) Brown was director at Latonka for more than 30 years, and passed away in November 2009. Her estate established a fund specifically to provide financial assistance for girls to attend Camp Latonka.
Lane said that an application for campership assistance is available in the summer camp brochure from the Girl Scout council.
“The money is there (in the fund) and this is what it is there for – so that every girl who wanted to go to camp had the opportunity to go to camp,” she said.
Girls do not need to be registered Girl Scouts to take advantage of the summer opportunities available and to attend camp, she added.
Jobs Available
Lane said she is still putting together her summer staff team, and she is looking for horse wranglers and a health supervisor.
A health supervisor can be an EMT, RN, or a first responder.
Interested persons should contact Girl Scouts of Missouri Heartland at 1-877-312-4764 or go online to the council’s website.
