Catamount Times
February, 2016
Ms. Bradford Inspires Students to Love the Performing Arts
the beauty of the area,‖ she said.
Ms. Bradford is the Pre-K through
―Until that interview, I‘d never stepped
8th grade music teacher, and 5th
foot in Vermont.‖
through 8th grade choir teacher. She
Ms. Bradford said she loves her job
grew up in Zelienople, Pennsylvania,
here at the school. ―I am so passionwhich she said is a ―beautiful small
ate about what I do with students, be it
town outside of Pittsburgh.‖
general music, chorus or theater,‖ she
She knew early on that she wanted
said. ―Coming to work every day and
to teach music. ―I always knew that I
teaching kids to love the performing
wanted to teach music, basically from
arts is the best job in the entire world.
9th grade on,‖ Ms. Bradford said. ―My
The kids at the St. J School are the
music teachers all inspired me so
most dedicated and hardworking I‘ve
much, that I knew that‘s what I wanted
ever met (not to mention fun!).‖
to do for others – inspire them.‖
Her favorite theater experience
She attended Seneca Valley High
was winning the lottery for the
School in Pittsburgh, and re“I am so passionate about what I do with the
final performance of ―Rent‖ on
ceived her undergraduate degree
in music education at Dana students, be it general music, chorus or theater. Broadway in New York City, and
School of Music in Ohio. She Coming to work every day and teaching kids to meeting tons of famous people.
also holds two master‘s degrees, love the performing arts is the best job in the Something interesting about her
from Mercy College in New York entire world. The kids at the St. J School are the is that she went to the high
City in special education and most dedicated and hardworking I’ve ever met school prom with one of the lead
(not to mention fun!).”
actors
in
the
movie
school building leadership.
- Ms. Bradford
―Dogma‖ (Jared Pfennigwerth,
Ms. Bradford taught at P.S.
one of the Skateboard Killers).
35 – The Manhattan High School
for eight years, right out of undergrad- more professionally fulfilling experi- Her favorite food is Italian – anything
uate school. Asked how she came to ence, I started putting my materials her mom makes. Five adjectives she
be in Vermont, she said that ―New out, received a call from the St. used to describe herself are loud, enEngland is always a place that I‘ve Johnsbury School District, rented a ergetic, hardworking, musical and fun.
By Emily E.
had a desire to explore/experience.‖
car in Midtown Manhattan, drove up
Catamount Staff Reporter
―When I realized that I needed a for an interview, and fell in love with
Go ‘Into the Woods’
on April 6 and 7
St. Johnsbury School students will
be performing ―Into the Woods,‖ a musical about well-known fairy tales, tied
together by a baker and his wife. The
couple has to go through the woods to
lift a spell that was cast upon them.
Along the journey they encounter
Rapunzel, Jack, Cinderella and Little
Red Riding Hood. They need to take
an item from each of them to help
break a spell. They need Rapunzel‘s
hair, Jack‘s cow, Cinderella‘s slipper
and Little Red‘s cape. With these ingredients, they can brew a potion that
cures them of their barren family tree.
Ms. Bradford calls ―Into the
Woods‖ a ―gem of a show.‖ ―I have
wanted to direct this show for a very
long time, but the music is extremely
difficult (even for professionals), so
I‘ve held off for a few years,‖ she said.
―But, boy are our kids handling the
score like pros.‖
―‗Into the Woods‘ is also very different from anything else we‘ve done
here in the sense that there‘s absolutely no ensemble singing – it‘s a lot
of little vignettes,‖ she added. ―I forecast that people will be blown away by
the talented students of this school!‖
The “Into the Woods” shows are on
April 6 and 7 at 7 p.m.
By Lukas M.
Catamount Staff Reporter
Student Council:
Fun But Different
The cast of “Into the Woods” before a recent practice. Front (left to right): Russell C. and Lily S. Middle: Ceirra M., Alyssa A., Zoe L.,
Natalie E., Sophia H., Juliaunna G., Ms. Bradford, Rolincio D., Lukas M. and Olivia B. Back: Kaylin B., Katie M., Shea M., Ollie H., Jas3
Student Council is fun, but different than it has been. On Jan. 21, we
included 7th graders into our program.
This year, Student Council has an allnew format: we are separated into
teams for the first time in over a decade! So we need to start from scratch.
Our next event push is for a Winter
Carnival, a day of fun for all students
in middle school. I hope we can also
push to get all of our teams combined
one day a week, just to interact and
finally meet the new 7th graders.
We are also going to try to make
presidents part of our Council, to turn
it into a government. It is a long,
bumpy ride but I think we can manage.
By Tristan M.
Catamount Staff Reporter