AR "Hoedown"
Students Rewarded for Reading Achievement
Launch the media gallery 1 playerThe St. Francis Elementary Gym was the site for a recent "hoedown." Students from both the grade school and high school as well as the elementary teachers enjoyed a good old fashioned hoedown on Friday afternoon, January 25th. The hoedown was this month's reward for the AR (Accelerated Reader) Goal Achievers. Each student sets a goal with their teacher and there is a reward at the end of each month. This is the second year for the program. Reward days have included; a movie with popcorn, treats and board games, craft projects, play time and games over at the park, extra recess, etc. This was the first time a dance was tried and it was done to tie in with Kansas Day.
Launch the media gallery 2 playerDancing was one of the most important recreational activities for pioneers in the West. A typical evening hoedown included waltzes, schottishes, polkas, square dances, and longways sets such as the Virginia Reel. The fiddle was the most common dance instrument. Someone in the family always seemed to have one. In addition, you might hear the accordion, harmonica, guitar, mandolin, banjo, jews harp or concertina.
Launch the media gallery 3 playerHoedowns were held in whatever facilities were handy - homes, schoolhouses, barns, community halls, and saloons. Weekend dances would start at 4 in the afternoon and sometimes last until 10 the next day. In some places dances were notoriously rowdy; in others there were strict rules to enforce proper behavior.
JeanAnn Confer played the piano and Luann Isernhagen shared her "fiddling" skills with the students. Everyone seemed to have a great time!
For more photos of the hoedown, use the "Photos" link on the left of the page and click on the "Hoedown" slideshows.
