News

Students from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Head Start/Early Head Start Discovery Center for Little Scholars and East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS) delighted their audience Friday, Dec. 18 with tunes from “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” “Little Drummer Boy,” “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” and more. 

Students, ranging from ages of infants through 17, presented the 2^nd annual Winter Wonderland program at the Discovery Center for Little Scholars at the SIUE East St. Louis Center. 

“Some of the students who performed are beginners and others were advanced,” said Earl Leonard Wilkes, music instructor with the SIUE East St. Louis Performing Arts Program. “The younger children get to see the more experienced students perform, and they have made a great effort to do their parts.” 

Wilkes worked with students from the Discovery Center and CHS. “It’s been a pleasure working with the students who were so eager to perform.” 

The result was a big turnout of parents, family and friends, said Heidi Eichenseer, center coordinator of the Discovery Center. “Parents always love to come and see their children perform,” she said. “All of our children were involved, and I think it will be something that they will remember fondly.” 

SIUE East St. Louis Center: With a focus on empowering people and strengthening communities, the SIUE East St. Louis Center is dedicated to improving the lives of families and individuals—from pre-school through adult—in the Metro East region.  The Center offers programs that give the community renewed hope and an opportunity to reach educational, career and life goals. It does so by providing comprehensive programs, services and training in the areas of education, health, social services and the arts.

Photos:

Braylen Sanders, 4, shows off his skills in “Little Drummer Boy.”

Michael Isbell, 1 year old, also plays his part in “Little Drummer Boy.”

Providing guitar assistance is Willis Wright Jr., Performing Arts student.