Extraordinary Players

SPEECH/lLANGUAGE:  I am off to a fast start this year with lots of good happenings in the wings to help step up speech and language  goals to meet the needs of our ever growing students,  The first week  of school was hearing screening for k,1,3,5, EC and language screening for returning students and some new referrals.  Now, it is Dibel time for all students at NES and we are taking our maiden voyage with the new Nokia hand-held screening device all this week.  It is an exciting time for all of us involved with some new technology that will bettter prepare us for meeting the individual needs for reading remediation.  As in the past I will be implementing speech and language therapy in my classroom and participating in regular classrooms as an inclusionist  with speech students and collaborating with the teacher.  I am looking forward to an awesome 2009-10 school year.

On May 30th the 9th Annual Academy Awards was held at the Best Western in Banner Elk and there were some paparazzi spotted at the red carpet ceremony.  So check out our website soon; www.extraordinaryplayers.com ,for the latest photos from the awards ceremony..  You Players really know how to do some stylin‘….did you learn that from Mean Jean or have it on your own? The entire evening was enjoyed by everyone in attendance and the highlight was the awesome dvd produced by Josh Carver with photos linked to music, short clips, and Farthing Auditorium filling up to see Kickin’ It. A huge THANK YOU goes out to Josh and if you see him, please tell him how much you loved the dvd.  We need his expertise to capture your talents as memories!  The close of the year is only 5 days away for all of you and I wish you all a great summer vaca…but remember to keep singing, acting, dancing and dreaming big dreams, because I AM.  I will be  re-reading lots of children’s books and going to some theatrical shows trying to get new ideas for Extraordinary Player’s next production.  CONGRATULATIONS ON A GREAT YEAR,  PLAYERS!  We will miss our 5th graders going on to middle school but hope that they continue on in theater. and chorus.  Players, be proud of what you accomplished this year and dream about what you can do in the future.  Make a committment to trying something new every day and living life to the fullest .  THAT MEANS HAVE FUN!

Love to you all, Ms  Laurie

YOU DID IT, PLAYERS. YOU ROCKED THE AUDIENCE!  You put on an awesome, flawless, energetic, engaging show for over a 1000 people.  You demonstrated to everyone what talent we have at Newland Elementary and that when everyone works together on a project we can really reach the stars.And STARS you have become.  When you receive a compliment about your performance just say thanks and thenGLOW in the spotlight because you deserve it..I thank you for helping make my dream come true for the Extraordinary Players, showcasing the talents of everyone and letting the world know that anything is possible when you make the effort to change and grow.  All of our Team Extraordinaire is so proud of all of your accomplishments and we can’t stop talking about the talents we saw develop and grow.
Our website www.extraordinaryplayers.com will soon have a new photo gallery up from the show pictures and a short clip from the show,….. again, thanks to Kevin Lawrence.

“EXTRAORDINARY PLAYERS, YOU’VE GOT IT GOING ON“

Well, Players, this is it. It is OUR time to Kick It Down the Yellow Road.  We have all been working very hard on all the preparations necessary to make a great show.  The scenery is ready to be loaded on  Banner’s Cabinets truck, most of the costumes are ready to be rehearsed in on Wednesday, photographers are ready to capture the memories, and the staff at Farthing Auditorium is ready for us to come show them  we can put on a great, entertaining and exciting show  We have one more rehearsal at Newland on Monday and then Wed, and Thurs we rehearse at Farthing on the BIG STAGE. ; Thursday night is our first show and then the final showing on Friday for all Avery County schools, Parkway School  and some students from Hardin Park School in Boone. Please be sure to keep up with your school work even though we will be working hard on the production.  I will be sending a note Monday  reminding you what to wear for your costumes to fit and look the best.  We will try to get through the entire show Monday so be prepared and ready to stay in character and know your cues , lines, songs, and dances.  Go to www.extraordinaryplayers.com to see the video from 5 weeks ago and compare that to what we can do now..AMAZING. Mr. Carver and I were interviewed for Mountain TV, channel 18, about Extraordinary Players and Kickin’ It so check that out, too..  My heels are clicking and ready to Kick It !  Let’s do the Cupid Shuffle all the way to ASU and let’s not miss  beat. Look to the EAST , look to the WEST, look to the NORTH and OFF WE GO down the highway learning to fly, to the BIG STAGE at ASU!  I am so proud of  ALL our PLAYERS! Let’s show the world we CAN DO IT.

Monday, April 6, Extraordinary Players in Scene 1 of  Kickin’ It Down the Yellow Brick Road  put on an outstanding performance for Board of Education members and guests at the PLC at Newland Elementary.  It was well received by the audience and showcased the awesome talent we have in our Players.  Way to go Players!  In order to perform as well as they did we had added some intense practices to the schedule, so that is what I am doing now for the remaining weeks prior to show time, May 14, May 15.  In order for us to focus on one scene and get it right ,I am having general practices (for all cast members on the Mondays.,.Tues this upcoming week April 14. and then adding select scene( scenes 3, 4, 5) practice on Thursday April  16.  The  following week will be as follows: Monday, April 20 (all cast members) and Tuesday, April 21 scenes 7,8. Look for notes going home for calendar up-dates for your Player.
The painting of the scenery with Ms. Jessie went fabulously well and it is truly a work of art.  Congrats to all the players , siblings, high school students, and parents who contributed to this effort.  Wait until you see it on that big stage at Farthing.  I have begun sewing costumes and asked some parents to help with a few of them.  The costumes have been designed by Ms. Jessie  to compliment the scenery.
Again, I ask you to keep practicing your lines with your parents or siblings. The faster we say our lines the more sense it makes to the audience.  The play needs to make sense to you, first, and then to the audience.  Next, try not to miss any practices from now until May 15.  We need EVERYONE HERE to make Kickin’ It  5 star rated.*****  And don’t forget to mark your calendars for May 30 for the Academy Awards being held for all PLAYERS at Best Western in Banner Elk.. Still Kickin It Down the Highway…

Thanks to Kristen and Kevin Lawrence we have a new, very cool website in order to advertise Kickin’ It Down the Yellow Brick Road.  Please check out www.extraordinaryplayers.com. to see for yourself what a fabulous link it is.  We hope to get pictures on it depicting our making of this production( acting, painting, dancing) so that the public can see just how hard everyone involved with Extraordinary Players works to make this successful. I will be sending home a letter asking permission for use of player’s photos on the website so please make sure you sign and return it in a timely fashion.  I am looking forward to our Monday practice from 2:40 til 4:00 and I urge Players to be prepared for the practice.; that means learning your lines and knowing your cues to be out on stage.Got it? I knew you did.
THANK YOU,KEVIN, FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND MOST OF ALL FOR THE EXCITEMENT YOU HAVE BROUGHT TO THE TEAM.! Kickin’ It Up a Notch.