Singing Club is a vibrant, thriving extra-curricular activity sponsored by Dickens PAC, and is one example of many activities that runs throughout the year for which we raise funds.
After the Vancouver School Board gave the go-ahead for school clubs to be cautiously re-established in September 2021, numerous Grade 3 to 7 students joined the singing sessions in the main school gym during Tuesdays' lunch breaks.
The brainchild of Dickens' parent, Eve-Lyn de la Haye, Singing Club began five years ago in 2017 with 18 students. The numbers gradually increased over time, reaching a total of over 50 participants this school year.
Affectionately called, "Evie" by her students, she is passionate about working with children to reach their full singing potential. As she teaches, she builds their personal presentation skills, which in turn boosts their self-confidence and their ability to communicate.
Students sang at the virtual Remembrance Day Assembly in November 2021 and presented a brief Winter Concert after school in the Red Courtyard.
However, due to pandemic measures, singers were unable to participate in the Vancouver School District’s Elementary Choral Festival, hosted annually at John Oliver Secondary. When Singing Club first participated in the music festival in 2018, custom royal blue Dickens' T-shirts were produced by Jackson’s General Store that could be reused again in consequent years but sadly they were not used over the past two years, due to the cancellation of larger gatherings.
In February 2022, students were treated to a field trip to the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra's "Carnival of the Animals" at The Orpheum in Downtown Vancouver, BC. Group-discounted tickets were enjoyed by 48 students and 12 parent/guardian volunteers. Students were exposed to different musical instruments, genres and styles of music.
Singing Club ended on a high note with three beautifully presented songs at the two, in-person Spring Concerts on June 9. Here's a sample of one of the songs, A Million Dreams, sung by Evie from which the students learned the song. It was written for the musical drama film, "The Greatest Showman", and was sung by Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams and Ziv Zaifman.
In conclusion, students not only blossom in their ability to perform but participating in Singing Club also helps them to establish a stronger sense of community, belonging and connectivity at Dickens.
Some Notes:
1) If your Grade 3-7 child(ren) would like to join Singing Club in the 2022-23 school year, they can join in September 2022 once registration opens – announcements will be made accordingly.
2) Look out for more info here on our PAC Blog, in the fall, to learn how you can initiate / kickstart or restart a Parent-led, Teacher and PAC-sponsored Club at Dickens.
Top Left: Students sing at the Vancouver School District’s Annual Elementary Choral Festival in 2019. Top Right: Singing Club presents at the virtual Remembrance Day Assembly in November 2021. Below: The VSO performed the Carnival of the Animals, at The Orpheum, in February 2022.
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