..as you might first be aware – is the iconic song that Guns ‘N Roses produced. Yet for one weekend, the WHS Theatre a week ago, celebrated an exciting production that captured the imagination of pushing what is possible on stage, thanks to some amazing sponsors guiding many through the production. Yet, we have not thanked everyone for making this possible. As we connect three more cast members to this success as well as one large portion of support (It is coming!) we stand back in admiration of being able to see this great production.

Confronting Creative Risks Often Involves Adding the Very Risks that Seem Daunting

Shayla Stewart/Ensemble – Again, it can’t be said enough how vital and important it is to have quality, talented, motivated returning students to a program. From Elf, to Annie, to Little Mermaid Jr., as well as balancing the extracurriculars such as volleyball in this case, today it is worth admiring students who take on challenges, risks, and areas that challenge in pushing them.

In fact, being involved in such a wide array is a testament and support of the very institution that strives to represent a diverse community. Shayla was expressive and a staple part of the ensemble and it turns out, the ensemble in many ways, from apes to horticulture, was one of the most creative and imaginative aspects of the play, from the movements to the way these groups supported the overall theme. It was exciting to see Shayla on the stage in this production.

The Power and Strength of Preservation Relies on Powerful Individuals

Brooke Taylor/Ensemble – I was first introduced to Brooke through her Social Studies class and Md. McGill and to say I was impressed was a huge understatement. Having interviewed both Steve Inskeep from NPR and author Traci N. Todd. She was a crucial member of the interviewing panel for that podcast and a willingness to take on projects tied to the National History Project in her class. Driven to challenge oneself let alone allow challenges that come to you to overcome is a heavy lift while balancing just everyday routines. By helping reinforce the power of natural beauty on our environment, the ensemble pushes the expression of the natural world versus what is considered a “modern” world. It seems a subtle message, yet without an ensemble to show this clash, a major conflict in the production falls flat.

Adding the responsibilities of an FFA program and member, being a new student in a high school year, as well as maintaining stellar grades and finding who you are, all huge responsibilities to maintain. Seeing Brooke on stage as another main component of the ensemble’s success was gratifying on so many levels. The power and influence of the ensemble on the rest of the production should not and could not be underestimated by reinforcing the themes of how the natural word plays an important part of our experiences and discoveries. One of the strengths of a school is the individual students who are willing to push the efforts to be involved, and Brooke has been on an amazing start to allow that.

Discovery and Exploration at the Risk of Exploiting Resources Reduces Discovery

Carly Wharton/Ensemble– The widest possible picture painted by an individual willing to take on things outside of their wheelhouse, I have noticed opens even more doors than expected. Carly has been on that path in many ways. From serving as a strong and expressive ensemble member (Did you NOT love the scene of Carly with first meeting Porter!!!), being integral to the concert and marching band, to select ensemble is one chapter Carly embraces.

Add to that the fact that her experience at legislative hall lobbying for how integral school libraries and librarians are to the educational process, certainly Carly is more than someone in the midst of everything. She has become an influencer of what changes and can change, what can impact the student and the student body, and what expresses and what can be expressive. The continued talent, support and respect for how to best impact programs and those around us is priceless, and definitely reaps benefits as others help best represent WHS as well.

Sponsors Helping to Break Down the Concrete Jungle and Creating Paths Forward

In addition to the influence and abilities of all those mentioned through these series if posts, celebrating already a week after Tarzan the Musical, the one aspect that looms overall in one of the most responsible reasons for anything successful in a community are it sponsors.

Seeing Seely Homes embrace their own member of the production as well as the whole cast, process and production was amazing. In addition to knowing we have such a close impact and connection with school board members, but seeing the construction of success within our school as well as Seely’s commitment to building homes is heartwarming to say the least. One of the biggest drivers of confidence comes from transparency of sponsors with our schools and we are so lucky to have Seely Homes always supporting our faculty on special days throughout the year and especially in this production.

We have had so many positive students connected to the Tressler Mennonite Group and Mennonite Church, it has been so positive to have a tie and connection to this group. Their support in wanting to always support the immediate community, be it school or simply its residents, adds to the power we are as a Woodbridge School family.

Kiwanis of Bridgeville has been associated with so many positive aspects of our community, from the Christmas Parade, Scholarships, Hometown Heroes, utilizing the famous chicken BBQ fundraisers, to supporting literacy and libraries, having the Kiwanis front and center in supporting all things community and neighbor, the ties between youth and community are vital as represented by the Bridgeville Kiwanis.

The Union Methodist Church in Bridgeville is synonymous with Baacalaureate, Blood drives. summer programs, and some of the most delicious food that supports our faculty on various times of the year. It is so rewarding to see the Union Methodist Church always visible during Apple Scrapple and almost anything tied to the community when it comes to Bridgeville, and all know they are an asset when it comes to supporting community endeavors.

What is your vocation? Again, seeing a vocational path as represented by Morse Roofing & Siding is a welcome support to the production in front of us. One can only think of height and flying braces in the production, and it was a nice connection to this vocational tie to the program. The reinforcement of possible paths post-high school in careers are well represented and a piece of who Woodbridge High School is a faculty and student body. It means much to seem businesses in support of this production.

I love there are so many apprenticeship opportunities in our community and pathways in our community. Many overlook the vocation paths that so many rely on, and that lead to amazing and fulfilling futures for many of our students. It is even more exciting to see companies like Outten’s Plumbing to be one of those services that in turn support various paths students find themselves on in their futures and activities. This support adds to the flavor and feel of a tight community, and it goes without saying that the longevity of this service in the community is a testament to their support of the community they serve.

With the ability to connect so many locations from a computer, as in Information Science, the onslaught so much to choose from can be overwhelming. It was awesome to see the phrase Swing into Spring Break tied to Tarzan the musical with Aaron Jackson’s Dreams Fulfilled services. Navigating experiences, similar to the production of Tarzan, is even more rewarding with someone within our own community to help with those decisions. I love connection discovery, experiences, and travel to the very themes we discovered in Tarzan the musical.

Again, discovery is an essential component of any community. With the service that many might not be aware of with Owens Sporting Clays, many will not even be aware of the experiences in a specific community. The ability to support student and educational events is a daunting one at times, and often comes from the most generous and connected groups tied to environmental and conservation groups. There are so many connections and support activities requiring sponsors of every area, and it is generous to see Owens Station as one of them and informing individuals of those very resources many might not have been aware of.

Again, every vocational service in a community is often overlooked and viewed as secondary when it comes to the time of year when many consider college, scholarships, and tuition. Thank GOODNESS that our educational community also finds ways to magnify the value, importance and opportunity where specific vocations in neighborhoods/community lead to lifelong careers. It is exciting and rewarding to see a service like Willey & Co be also a staunch supporter of the students of the WHS theatre.

Having a Bridgeville community member as Pam Tull willing to invest in a creative endeavor like Tarzan the Musical is priceless, and helps who how individuals make a difference when they believe in the ability to achieve, make a difference, and succeed. Giving back to events that support students in that community and enabling success to occur on the behalf of students – priceless.

Knowing members of the community versus seeing members of the community reinforcing the success of students is a huge difference. These following individuals, a mix of parents, community members, organizations, and alumni were responsible for standing up for the oath forward for our students to be successful:

Amy West Anna Thomas

April Morehouse Bridgeville Lions Club

Dave Dunn Contractors Eric & Wanda Albright

Impact Graphics Jake Meyers

Jane Wright John Wright, Sr.

John Wright, Sr. Kim and Mike Wharton

Leslie and Fred Hulliger Rita and Roger Hovermale

Robert Lisle Sheila Morgan

Sheila Kintz The Melvin Family

Wanda Johnson