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WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP – The Washington Township School District has become known for its community service efforts. Recent years have seen the Washington Township Students in Action (TWP SIA) group – representing the entire District’s efforts – honored as the top service school in the state and the nation by the Jefferson Awards, and more recently, it was tabbed a top ambassador school – a best-of-the-best kind of honor.
But it’s not just the high school and middle school students leading the community service charge. The elementary schools are a big part of the effort, as well, and WTHS Changing Our World project representative Eileen Lucarini wanted to recognize that. So she teamed with Hurffville Elementary School music teacher Nancy Leong to create an original song – and a music video – about helping others to highlight elementary service projects.
The song is called “It’s up to You, It’s up to Me,” and Leong, with recommendations from parents Carol Chila and Tiffany Orihel, took up the charge to assist. The students learned the song, then came to Musically Speaking Studios on the Black Horse Pike to record the song.
“Nancy is well known for her award-winning chorus and her innovative teaching,” Lucarini said. “So she was the perfect person to help us.”
WTHS dance teacher Eisa Jackson helped teach some dance moves and brought along some dancers to do some advanced moves for the video production.
“Videotaping the kids at the school was really crazy fun,” Lucarini said. “There were so many kids and so much enthusiasm. It was like a giant ‘kind words, kind deeds’ party.”
The video could be used as part of TWP SIA’s service application for forthcoming Jefferson Awards, as early as next year, and several of the elementary students will perform the song at the Addiction Awareness Vigil on Monday, June 19, 2017, at Washington Lake Park. The vigil will feature colorful lanterns that were created during the District’s Spring of Service project at each of the elementary schools. Sales of the lanterns have generated nearly $5,000 for local families with children in need.
Lyrics to “It’s up to You, It’s up to Me” are as follows:
Service in Song
Elementary School Music Teacher, Students Sing Song, Create Music Video Highlighting Service Efforts
But it’s not just the high school and middle school students leading the community service charge. The elementary schools are a big part of the effort, as well, and WTHS Changing Our World project representative Eileen Lucarini wanted to recognize that. So she teamed with Hurffville Elementary School music teacher Nancy Leong to create an original song – and a music video – about helping others to highlight elementary service projects.
The song is called “It’s up to You, It’s up to Me,” and Leong, with recommendations from parents Carol Chila and Tiffany Orihel, took up the charge to assist. The students learned the song, then came to Musically Speaking Studios on the Black Horse Pike to record the song.
“Nancy is well known for her award-winning chorus and her innovative teaching,” Lucarini said. “So she was the perfect person to help us.”
WTHS dance teacher Eisa Jackson helped teach some dance moves and brought along some dancers to do some advanced moves for the video production.
“Videotaping the kids at the school was really crazy fun,” Lucarini said. “There were so many kids and so much enthusiasm. It was like a giant ‘kind words, kind deeds’ party.”
The video could be used as part of TWP SIA’s service application for forthcoming Jefferson Awards, as early as next year, and several of the elementary students will perform the song at the Addiction Awareness Vigil on Monday, June 19, 2017, at Washington Lake Park. The vigil will feature colorful lanterns that were created during the District’s Spring of Service project at each of the elementary schools. Sales of the lanterns have generated nearly $5,000 for local families with children in need.
Lyrics to “It’s up to You, It’s up to Me” are as follows:
We may be little but our hearts are big
We make a difference
We can change the world
We hold the future in our hands
We can do it like nobody can
It's up to you - it's up to me
We have to start with our community
(Repeat)
Kind words
Kind deeds
We have to help the people in need
(Repeat)
In the photo above, Hurffville Elementary School chorus members pose with WTPS staff members (front row, left to right) Eisa Jackson, Nancy Leong and Eileen Lucarini, during song recording at Musically Speaking Studios.- WTPS -