Throughout the month of December, the halls of Dove Estates, and other spaces in the community, came alive with something magical. The local retirement care home and senior living facility welcomed an extraordinary gift offered by Goddard’s school communities - the voices of students, harmonizing in celebration of the season. Students from Eisenhower High School (EHS) Madrigals & Belle Voice singing groups and Goddard High School (GHS) Madrigals and Jazz Band paid visits to the residents of Dove Estates to provide a chorus of community spirit. Their voices, blended in classic holiday melodies, served as a reminder that music can transcend age, circumstance, and even language, bringing people together in the truest sense of community.
The visits embodied some of the core values of Goddard Public Schools:
All students can learn and must have access to resources, which maximize their opportunities for post-secondary and career success.
Education is a shared responsibility. Students, parents, community members, and the district must be active partners in the process.
Status quo is not acceptable. We must pursue excellence in providing connected and advanced opportunities for all students.
We must continue to recruit, develop, and retain world-class staff members throughout the district.
The district must provide a safe, caring, and connected learning environment to educate the whole child academically, physically, and socially.
These weren’t just performances - they were acts of service, demonstrations of how education extends far beyond classroom walls. For Christopher Shaw, Vocal Music Teacher at GHS, these moments hold profound meaning. "Music isn't a competition between two schools in the district," he shared. "It is an activity where our students can come together in unity to positively impact our community."
Ashley Peery, Vocal Music Teacher at EHS, understands this gift from both sides of the exchange. As a GHS alumna, singing in high school Madrigals and Concert Choir, Peery carries forward the legacy of her own mentors, Dr. Lewis and Mr. Shaw, whose goal was always to love others using music as the vehicle. "Music is such a gift, and the students are able to share something so special with others," Peery reflected. "At a time of year that can be filled with joy, but also nostalgia and loss, being able to perform for residents at places like Dove Estates is an opportunity for the students to share their gift with others."
It was clear to anyone in attendance the profound joy that the performances brought to residents, as the room filled with applause following each tune - and feet tapped along enthusiastically to each melody. As familiar carols rung through the space, faces lit up with recognition and delight. Shaw describes these precious moments with admiration, "Their faces light up, their feet start tapping, they start clapping, and even start singing along. Many people have made the statement that music reaches us when words cannot. This is what we experience out in the community." The students witnessed firsthand how their small act of kindness rippled outward, touching hearts and awakening memories. It was the universal language of music doing what it does best - connecting human beings.
These tour days demand much from the young performers. Hours of singing, moving from location to location, maintaining energy and enthusiasm throughout - this was no easy feat. Yet that's precisely what made it so meaningful. "They have to work hard to perform for that long,” Peery acknowledged. “Performing all day for others was truly an act of service that I hope they were proud to be able to do." The students learned an invaluable lesson: that their talents are not merely for personal achievement or competition, but are gifts meant to be shared generously with others. They discovered that making a positive impact in the community doesn't require grand gestures, sometimes it simply requires showing up with an open heart and a willing voice.
Shaw sees these community visits as essential to helping young people understand the lifelong nature of music. "When we sing in the community, particularly retirement centers, we can see the joy we bring to our audiences. They often share their own experiences in choral music as a student. It is important for students to see how music will impact them lifelong and the special connection it gives them to their community." For many residents, the visit stirred memories of their own youth, of school concerts and holiday programs, creating a beautiful circle of experience that connected past and present. In this exchange, students glimpsed their own future selves, understanding that the music they make today will stay with them always.
As the final notes of the performances faded and students journeyed home, they carried with them something more valuable than applause or recognition. They carried the knowledge that they had made a real difference. They had brought joy to people who welcomed it with open arms. They had learned that true community isn't built on competition or separation, but on coming together with purpose and compassion. In a season often focused on receiving, these young musicians gave the greatest gift of all: the gift of connection, the gift of their time and talent, the gift of showing others they are seen, remembered, and valued. These small acts serve as a living example of what USD 265 strives to achieve: to educate all students for lifelong success. In that spirit of unity and gratitude, we want to extend thanks to all that brought this magic to life, and to all the educators, students, families, and community members that help advance the mission of our district day after day, year after year - to positively impact the lives of the students here in Goddard. With that, and from our entire #265Family, we wish you and yours a warm and wonderful holiday season!