The sound of soft voices is echoing through the music room at Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School, in East York. It’s the music of a famous Beatles tune.
“Let it be, let it be, let it be,” Alexandria Hunters, 11, sings with her classmates and vocal teacher, Patricia Hinschberger.
The Holy Cross student glee club is rehearsing for the school’s upcoming Remembrance Day ceremony on Nov. 11. Their teacher said the school is committed to honouring the special day for so many veterans around the world.
“It’s a day that needs to be recognized,” Hinschberger said. “There are many days in the year dedicated to celebration. This day is for honouring.”
As Holy Cross’s vocal teacher, she has been working at the school Wednesdays to Fridays, since October, to help the glee club get ready.
As the rehearsal proceeds, the students appear respectful of the significance of Remembrance Day. While many agreed that it was a day to remember the many men and women who fought for Canada, Alexandria Hunters, the lead female soloist, urged the club to recognize that it was also about celebration.
“My grandpa taught me that Remembrance Day was about the freedom our country had. It was something to be happy about,” Alexandria said. “I choose to be happy about Remembrance Day.”
Hinschberger’s glee club singers aren’t the only ones at Holy Cross involved in the school’s ceremony. The drama department also organized a mini play open to all students in the school.
“We agreed very early on that we wanted every student to be able to join us,” Hinschberger said. The elementary school, which includes junior kindergarten to Grade 8, will feature its 45-minute production on Remembrance Day at 10:45 a.m.
“I hope we leave everyone, including the parents, a bit more aware of this special day that often flies by us,” Hinschberger, said. “The day is to be celebrated and I can’t think of a better place than this school, with this community of people.”