SMITHFIELD-- The following performances will be held in the various Johnston County Schools listed below during November. These programs are supported by grants awarded through the Artists-in-the-Schools program. The Artists-in-the-Schools program is supported by the Fred Smith Company, the Johnston County Arts Council, Johnston County Schools and corporate, foundation and individual donors. This program is modeled on the Artists in the Schools program of the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County and is supported in part by services provided by United Arts. If you are interested in attending any performances, please call the school to request permission and confirm the date and time of the performance. November programs are as follows: Billy Jonas will perform at North Johnston Middle School on November 2 at 9:30 a.m. Billy Jonas is a musician who performs his original material in concert while focusing on the environmental studies, construction and physics of instruments made of recycled materials, and composition. Mad Science will visit Meadow Elementary School on November 4 at 9 a.m. to present Fire and Ice, an interactive program of amazing science and unbelievable feats of science and nature designed to instruct and entertain the students. "Johnny, the K" will perform for River Dell Elementary School students on November 10 at 8:45 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. Musician, "Johnny, the K" (John Kelleher) promotes character education through an energetic blend of music and song, dialogue, movement and humor. Georgia Sea Island Singers will perform at Benson Middle School on November 15 at 1:15 p.m. The Georgia Sea Island Singers share the rich heritage and history of their 200 year old African American culture of the isolated sea island communities off the Georgia coast through songs, dances, games and activities. Joe Ferguson will visit students of Cleveland Elementary School on November 16 at 9:00, 9:45, and 10:30 am. Storyteller Joe Ferguson blends music, movement, games, humor and straight talk into his stories which encourage social, emotional, and academic success. Smithfield Middle School will host the music and dance company, Footworks, on November 16 at 1:30 p.m. Footworks will present "Steps Around the World", a program of diverse multi-cultural percussive dance forms native to North America, from Native American cultures and African American cultures to clogging and French Canadian stepdancing. David DiGiuseppe will perform "We All Have a Voice" for K-2 graders at Four Oaks Elementary School on November 18 at 9:00 AM. Mr. DiGiuseppe will share songs and stories with his young audience members, based on stories they are familiar with. On November 19, Mr. DiGiuseppe will perform "The Old North State" for grades 3-5 at 12:30, 1:15, and 2 p.m. It is a presentation of songs and stories that explores NC's history through spirituals, blues, and African-American music which cover NC history over the centuries from pre-colonial times through industrialization. Storyteller Lloyd Arneach will share Cherokee Stories with the students at Clayton Middle School on November 19 at 8:30 a.m. Mr. Arneach shares his native Cherokee history and culture as well as that of other tribes through humorous and informative stories and legends. Paul Hadfield, known as Spats, the Lost Vaudevillian, will appear at Meadow Elementary & Middle Schools on November 22 at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. respectively. Mr. Hadfield utilizes vaudeville to demonstrate a system of goal-setting and rewards. He will demonstrate the importance of laughter and community as he performs, juggles, reminisces, sings, and clowns for the students.
