In 2002 our school was awarded a grant from the Benwood Foundation to purchase a school starter set of Schulmerich Hand Bells. We have a 25-bell set, which is 2 octaves chromatic from G4 to G6. The grant also included the purchase of all the equipment needed to go along with the bells, such as storage cases, tables, foam pads, music folders, mallets, polishing creme, and table covers. Since that year, we have had a 4th Grade Beginning Hand Bell Ensemble and a 5th Grade Intermediate Hand Bell Ensemble each year, with 10 students in each group. The same ten 4th graders automatically become members of the 5th grade group as they promote up one grade each year.
Our first performance this year will be at the December P.T.A. meeting on Tuesday, December 13, 2011, at 6:00 pm. This meeting will be held at Middle Valley Baptist Church. We will perform the same concert for the students at school during the School-Wide Christmas Sing Along on Tuesday morning, Dec. 20, 2011, in the school auditorium. Our next performance of the year will be at the May P.T.A. meeting on Thursday, May 10, 2012, at 6:00 pm. This meeting will be held in the school auditorium. We hope you are able to hear the students perform with these beautiful bells!