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Mary Jo Maichack dressed students in
costumes and masks during her
presentation of Greek Myths Alive at
Center School, Tuesday, April 2.
(Photo Kay Saltmarsh)
By KAY SALTMARSH
Staff Writer
LONGMEADOW - Center School's PTO sponsored "Greek Myths
Alive," a visual and active presentation of ancient stories
told by folk artist Mary Jo Maichack for grades K-4 on Tuesday
April 2, 2002.
"Greek Myths Alive" included stories from Aesop's Fables
and Atalanta and concluded with stories of Phaeton, Demeter and
Persephone; which were enacted by the students with costumes and
masks.
Last year Maichack performed an African American assembly for
the students at Center School and the students enjoyed her so
much, the PTO decided to ask her to return this year for another
performance.
PTO coordinator Sheri Knight said the committee chose "Greek
Myths Alive" since it ties in with the curriculum of ancient
Greek civilization. Knight also mentioned a fourth grade teacher
requested that Maichack perform for the students.
Maichack presented two performances that day. The first performance
was held late morning in the auditorium for six kindergarten classes
and six grade 2 classes. (The first grade classes did not attend
the performance because they were on a scheduled field trip.)
The second performance was held in the afternoon for grades 3
and 4.
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Center School's Principal Dr. Paul Mengel began the first performance
with an introduction to PTO Knight. Knight then proceeded with an
introduction to Mary Jo Maichack and encouraged the children to
clap their hands.
Maichack then took the stage and told the children how happy she
was to be there. She then asked the children questions about the
stories she would soon tell. The children were all attentive and
eagerly raised their hands to answer questions such as: What is
another name for a turtle and What is another name for a bunny?
The children answered the questions correctly, which began Maichack's
performance of the story the Tortoise and the Hare (one of the stories
from Aesop's Fables).
As Maichack told the story about the tortoise and the hare, in a
poetic form with different voices and gestures, the children applauded
and laughed with expressions of joy on their faces.
Maichack explained to the children that Greek myths are like little
stories about religion and stories about the world that we don't
always have answers for like, 'Why is the sun in the sky and Why
is the grass green?'
She then continued her performance with the story of Atalanta, a
young girl who was raised by bears. The children continued to listen
intently as Maichack told the story with various voices of the characters
in the story, animal noises and facial expressions. Throughout the
story she asked the children to copy her and they did so as they
laughed.
After the story of Atalanta, Maichack picked up her guitar and sang
a myth about a crow. The children participated as they sang…
"Lady crow, lady crow… what pretty feathers you have."
The final part of her performance concluded with stories about Zeus,
Phaeton, Demeter and Persephone, as she dressed the children in
costumes with capes and masks.
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