Students stage Palm Day pageant and concert

Nursery schoolers celebrate Easter season.

By: Matt Kirdahy
   The students of the Cranbury Presbyterian Church Nursery School processed into the church’s sanctuary Monday waving palms and pretended they were stepping into the New Testament city of Jerusalem.
   "We have been practicing in here, pretending that this church is Jerusalem and we’re traveling with Jesus into the town," said School Director Janice Parker about the Palm Day concert. "The aisles are the streets of the city and the pews are the houses."
   The 46 students from the morning class of the Presbyterian Nursery School gave a concert for their parents in remembrance of Palm Sunday. They sang seven different songs about their faith with the help of instruments played by teachers Dorothy Klotzbeacher and Laurie Davis.
   Ms. Parker called this year’s morning group of kids an "enthusiastic bunch." A total of four concerts were scheduled, one for each of the classes, and spanned over two days.
   Music teacher Ms. Klotzbeacher played the piano as they sang the words to "Praise Him." Then, she made her way from the piano bench to the conductor’s seat.
   "We practiced for about 20 minutes a week for three to four weeks," she said, as she crouched in front of the students so parents could take pictures while she guided the kids’ voices.
   She twirled two red conductor sticks above her head, cueing the students when to sing. The parents were given song sheets and encouraged by teachers to sing along with their children.
   "The boys and girls did a much better job of singing than the people out there," Ms. Parker said to the audience.
   The group of parents chuckled and clicked their cameras.
   During the song "Jesus Loves the Little Children," students pointed to colored pictures of the world and of Jesus telling stories to the young children. They shook tambourines while they sang, but on Ms. Klotzbeacher’s command, put the instruments to rest.
   Teacher Ms. Davis accompanied the vocals with guitar. She strummed to the tune of "Hosanna."
   At the end of the program, the children began their recessional as the six teachers pointed toward the exits, or what the children saw as the main city gates to Jerusalem.
   "Thanks for coming on such a snowy day," Ms. Parker said to the parents.
   Ms. Klotzbeacher applauded the students.
   "They are a small but mighty bunch," she said.