Mrs. Simon’s fourth-grade class, with the help of their kindergarten buddies from Mrs. Dogget’s and Mrs. Steinman’s class, transformed the Lower School stage to a time of hope for a better life in America. The production took place at the Short Hills campus on Friday, April 25, 2003.
The morning began with a Power Point slide presentation of pictures showing students’ ancestors set to Neil Diamond’s tune “America.” The kindergarten children, dressed in ethnic costumes from around the world, sang “There are Many Flags in Many Lands,” and “In America,” which was written by Mrs. Patty Finn, Short Hills faculty member.
The tale of the Anton family was portrayed by the fourth-grade class. Beginning the story at a dockside, somewhere in Europe, the tale wove through the hardships, the anticipation, and the joys of an immigrant family coming to America. Through script and song, the children gave the audience an idea of the hopes and dreams – and the harsh reality – of the early immigrants who came to this country, including a joyful reunion with family members who later followed. The feeling of hope and determination was voiced by one young actor who sang the line, “I’m not giving up until I make my dream come true.”
The set was designed and built for the first performance of Freedom Bound five years ago by Mrs. Simon, her son Greg, and her fourth-grade students at that time: Ali Apruzzese, Ana Barry, Grace Lin, and Katie Strangfeld. One of the painted “store fronts” in the New York City street scene is named Hanrahan’s Book Shop. The children created this in honor of Joyce Hanrahan, former Lower School director who retired to open a book shop with her husband.
The play allows students to understand the Ellis Island experience, make an emotional connection with an immigrant family, and discover the rich diversity of the American population with the theme that we all come from different places. At the conclusion of the play, the kindergarten buddies, and the fifth- and sixth-grade classes that had participated in this play when they were in fourth grade, were invited to the stage to sing “America’s Our Home.”
© 2003 The Pingry School |
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 Kindergarten students sing “There are Many Flags in Many Lands,” dressed in their ethnic costumes and holding their ancestral flags.
 The Anton family sings about the family they left behind in Europe and their hopes for a good life in America. |
