Chester Community School District 139

Chester District # 139 donation to Chester Area Christian Food Pantry Pictured here Steve Colonel, Chester High School Band and Choral Director, and Sue Colonel, Chester Grade School Band and General Music Director, present Bob Koenigstein, Chester Area Christian Food Pantry Manager, with a donation of $2,234.00 for the Chester Area Christian Food Pantry. The Colonels have conducted monetary donations at their annual Christmas Concerts for many years and recently been supplementing those donations with money they collect at their annual Christmas Light Displays held at their home in Chester. This year, Mr. Colonel collected $741.00 at the CHS Christmas Concert and Mrs. Colonel collected $471.58 at her CGS Christmas Concert. The Colonel Family collected $1,021.42 at their annual Christmas Light Display for a total of $2,234.00. The Chester School District # 139 Music Department is happy to be able to assist the CACFP with these donations each year. Pictured are Louis Holloway and Dave Hustedde, Food Pantry volunteers, Bob Koenegstein, Food Pantry Manager, and Steve and Sue Colonel, Band Directors, Jim Beers Photo

“Santa’s Helpers” purchase Christmas gifts for 60 kids (3 of 3) Annual event had CHS Football Team shopping for deserving local children BY JIM BEERS PHOTO 1 Jim Beers Report Wal Mart employees and Chester High School Football players pose for a photo during the 2024 "Sant's Helpers" shopping trip in which the YellowJacket Football Team purchased Christmas gifts for 60 children. Pictured (left to right) are Angela Kirchhofer and Jimmy Hunt, Wal Mart employees who helped check out the gifts; Billy Belton, CHS Head Football Coach; Reed Creason, player; Melissa Davitz and Casey Peters, CGS Employees and Co-Coordinators of the "Santa's Helpers" project; Alex Blechle, player, and Trent Westbrook. Jim Beers Photo PHOTO 2 Jim Beers Report CHS Football players Dennis Vasquez, Tray Peters, Darias Shoemate, and Trever Keeton take time out from shopping to pose for a photo at the 2024 "Santa's Helpers" project shopping event at the Chester Wal Mart. Jim Beers Photo PHOTO 3 Jim Beers Report CHS Football Players Morgan Mier, Jacob Stueve, and TaShawn Palacio shopped for kids at the 2024 "Santa's Helpers" event in which the CHS Football Team helped purchase gifts for 60 children who were accepted into the program. Jim Beers Photo Photo 4 Jim Beers Report The Chester High School Football Team went shopping for gifts for 60 children as part of the annual "Santa's Helpers" program. (Left to right) are Kross Jany, Assistant Coach, Daigen Hunter, Lannin Conder, and Karim Landeros. Jim Beers Photo PHOTO 5 Jim Beers Report Chester High School football player Trevor Keeton, a junior 5'9", 260 Lb. lineman, seems to be mesmerized as he attempts to purchase Christmas gifts for a girl. This was part of his assignment for being assigned to shop for a female child in the 2024 "Santa's Helpers" project that provided gifts for 60 children. Keeton eventually\y accomplished hid goal and helped make some young girl have a better Christmas. Jim Beers Photo PHOTO 6 Jim Beers Report Jackie Bess and Brock Fuller, Chester High School Football players pose for a photo while shopping for Christmas gifts for children accepted into the 2024 "Sant's Helpers" project. Jim Beers Photo PHOTO 7 Jim Beers Report Kanon Jany, a 5'5", 150 Lb. sophomore running back and linebacker for the Chester High School Football team appears to be proud with the basketball backboard and hoop that he purchased for his assigned child in the 2024 "Santa's Helpers" program. CHS players shopped for 60 children this year and helped them have happier Christmases. Jim Beers Photo PHOTO 8 Jim Beers Report Jaden Ramirez, Kross Jany, and Zane Eggemeyer had fun shopping for gifts at the 2024 "Santa's Helpers" event which provided 60 children with gifts this Christmas. Jim Beers Photo

“Santa’s Helpers” purchase Christmas gifts for 60 kids (2 of 3) Annual event had CHS Football Team shopping for deserving local children BY JIM BEERS Chester High School Football players converged on Chester Wal Mart to shop for the children on their lists. Applicants were asked to make a wish list and each player was given a certain amount of money to spend to purchase gifts for his assigned child. Once players were finished shopping, the player went to the Wal Mart cashier to check out their purchases. The gifts were then taken to Chester Grade School for storage. Parents were then notified by Davitz and Peters to come to CGS to pick up their gifts. In a few circumstances, parents were unable to come to pick the gifts up, so Davits and Peters delivered those gifts to the parents. Davitz said, “In earlier years of this project, we even wrapped the gifts before having them picked up or delivered, but the past two years, we have asked parents to take some ownership in getting their child’s gifts wrapped. That also gave them the opportunity to be involved in the experience of getting gifts for their children.” According to Davitz, the “Love Abby” organization sponsored 16 families and provided coats, hats, gloves, shoes, clothing items, and toys. “Love Abby” provides items for Randolph County. There are a huge number of individuals who help shop and fundraise to help this charity provide its services. State Farm Insurance sponsored five families. Their sponsorship provided coats, shoes, clothing, and toys for the families. Ebenezer Church in Rockwood, Memorial Hospital in Chester, and St. John Church (Angel Tree) in Chester sponsored a total of 60 children by providing them with clothing and shoes. Finally, the “Wee Care” organization in Jacob, Illinois, one community member who asked to remain anonymous, and the Chester Presbyterian Church, also made a monetary donations to help sponsor the event. Davits said, “Chester Wal Mart was very organized this year and had everything ready to go when the football players arrived to do the shopping. We can’t say enough good things about the Wal Mart staff for all they did to make this year’s project a huge success.” “Finally, a great big thank you to Knight Hawk Coal and Wal Mart for the very generous monetary donations with which to purchase gifts. Thank you to everyone that helped in any way. Billy Belton and his fellow coaches and players were great too! We couldn’t have done it without them!”

“Santa’s Helpers” purchase Christmas gifts for 60 kids (1 of 3) Annual event had CHS Football Team shopping for deserving local children BY JIM BEERS A local “decades-old” program has one again come through at Christmas time to purchase gifts at Christmas time to help children have a good Christmas. The annual event has financial and tangible support from numerous sponsors to fund the program and the Chester High School Football team has stepped up for years to do the shopping for kids. The program began decades ago when the Chester Grade School Nurse , Wellness Coordinator, and staff organized the “Adopt a Family” program in which local families, clubs, and organizations actually adopted needy families at Christmas time and purchased gifts for those families. Back then, (early 2000’s) the sponsoring family or organization actually did the shopping for the family, wrapped the gifts, and delivered the gifts to the receiving family, often times on Christmas Eve. Gift lists were put together by the school nurse and provided to the sponsor. Over the years, as the program evolved, several local businesses and organizations began to learn of the program and made rather large monetary donations to support the gift-buying event. It didn’t take long until the small-scale, personal event expanded to a size that required someone to shop and spend the money to serve larger groups of recipients. At that point, the Chester High School Football Team began volunteering to do the shopping for the program. The number of recipients also expanded to today’s numbers. Chester Grade School Staff still organize and implement the program, but the increased monetary donations from local sponsors and manual support from the football team, have made the program more easily manageable. The current program at CGS is titled “Santa’s Helpers” and is coordinated and managed by Melissa Davitz and Casey Peters. Davits is the Early Childhood Coordinator at CGS and Peters is the Speech and Language Pathologist. When asked how they became responsible for the program, Davitz said, “It was one of those deals where there was no one else that wanted to do it and we just decided to step up and become the Co-Chairwomen. Now that we are doing it we are glad that we accepted the task because lots of children are getting gifts for Christmas as a result of the efforts of the “Santa’s Helpers” program. Davitz said that teachers at CGS know best who might be the best candidates to be recipients of the gifts. They provide us with lists of students that would benefit from the gift-giving program. “We actually have never had to reject any child from being accepted for the program. This year we served a total of 60 children.” This is the second year for Davitz and Peters to coordinate the program. Davitz also said, “We try to consult with the other similar local organizations that are providing the same service as us (giving Christmas gifts to children) to be sure that we all are not serving the same children. By spreading the gifts among a wider population of children, we can provide more gifts to more kids.” “In the past, some parents were applying to as many as three or four agencies for gifts. That meant that possibly other children were not accepted for those programs because they were already full. By monitoring which kids have already received gifts, we can eliminate them from our lists and offer other kids gifts that have not already received any.” This year, more than eight agencies, organizations or individuals contributed monetary donations or tangible items to the “Santa’s Helpers” cause to make it possible to serve 60 children. Knight Hawk Coal contributed $3,500 and Chester Wal Mart contributed $2,000 for a total of $5,500.00. Those donations made it possible to purchase gifts for 60 children purchase gifts.

CHS: YELLOWJACKET BASKETBALL TONIGHT ON HUDL Join our Chester Yellowjackets Varsity Boys Basketball vs. Red Bud Musketeers in Colbert Gymnasium or on our HUDL Pay-per-View Broadcast. Junior Varsity Game Starts at 6:00pm Varsity Game Starts at 7:30pm Mike Lochhead in gym Announcer Dr. Jim Beers pay-per-view Announcer https://fan.hudl.com/usa/il/chester/organization/14289/chester-high-school

Season’s Greetings From CGS & CHS Saludos Navideños de CGS & CHS Holiday Break Friday 12/20/24 (Last Day Before Break) Saturday 12/21/24 (First Day Of Holiday Break) Holiday Office Hours: 8am-2pm Closed: 12/24, 12/25, 12/31 & 1/1 2nd Semester Monday 01/06/25 (Teachers’ Institute - Non Attendance Day) Tuesday 01/07/25 (First Day 2nd Semester) For the duration of the Holiday Break CHS visitors and deliveries use #1 Door (OLD entrance in front of 1925 Building for Holidays & Summer ONLY) CGS & CHS wish all of our Chester families a safe and joyful Holiday Season!

2024 Chester High School Christmas Concert is quality event! (2 of 2) CHS Band, Swing Choir, and Concert Choir shine at annual Christmas Concert BY JIM BEERS Photo 1 Jim Beers Report Steve Colonel, Chester High School Band and Choral Director, addresses the audience at the 2024 CHS Christmas Program, "The Sounds of Christmas". Jim Beers Photo Photo 2 Jim Beers Report The Cheser High School Swing Choir, "Sound Affect" prepares to open the 2024 CHS Christmas Concert Monday December 9. The group performed four songs to "kick off" the event, much to the pleasure of a large crowd in attendance. Jim Beers Photo Photo 3 Jim Beers Report The boy's section of the CHS Swing Choir, "Sound Affect" carried the bass and tenor parts in the four-song performance at the 2024 CHS Christmas Concert. Pictured (left to right) are Jason Sibley, David August, and Bentley Valleroy. Jim Beers Photo Photo 4 Jim Beers Report Bently Valleroy, a Chester High School freshman, sings a solo in the CHS Christmas Concert Swing Choir "Sound Affect" Monday December 9. Valleroy did an amazing job opening the song, "Jingle Bell Rock", arr. M. Weir. Jim Beers Photo Photo 5 Jim Beers Report The CHS Swing Choir, "Sound Affect" soprano section performs in the opening number of the 2024 CHS Christmas Concert. The tune was titled, "Linus and Lucy", arr. P. Kern. Jim Beers Photo Photo 6 Jim Beers Report Justice Mattingly and Elizabeth Wilson, sing in the CHS Swing Choir, "Sound Affect" in the second song of the night at the 2024 CHS Christmas Concert, "The Sounds of the Season". The concert was Monday December 9th. The selection was titled, "Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow", arr. M. Weir. Jim Beers Photo Photo 7 Jim Beers Report The 2024 CHS Concert Choir performs one of its three songs at the 2024 CHS Christmas Concert Monday December 9th at Colbert Memorial Gymnasium. The group opened with, "Do You Hear What I Hear", arr. H. Simeone, followed by "The First Noel", arr. Pinkzebra. The final selection of the night featured soloist, Summer Valleroy in the song, "Please Come Home for Christmas", arr. M. Brymer. Valleroy is the older sister of Bently Valleroy who soloed earlier in the night in the CHS Swing Choir. Both siblings dd a great job and performed to perfection. Jim Beers Photo PHOTO 8 Jim Beers Photo The CHS Concert Band performs to close out the 2024 "Sounds of the Season" Christmas Concert Monday December 9th. The group featured four selections including, "Christmas Vacation", arr. P. Rozell"; "Silent Night", arr. D. Shaffer; Ukrainian Bell Carol", arr. R. Saucedo; and Sleigh Ride", arr. L. Anderson. The Concert Band did a fantastic job of closing out the concert and sent everyone home filled with the Christmas spirit. Jim Beers Photo PHOTO 9 Jim Beers Report Chester High School Band students, Addison "Addie" Gottschammer, Jaden Lopez, and Will Welge, present Steve Colonel. CHS Band and Choral Director, with his Christmas present from the CHS Band and Choral students. This year's gift included several items that Mr. Colonel can use on the 2025 Band and Swing Choir trip to Florida when the groups will perform on a Carnival Cruise ship and then visit Disney Springs and Universal Studios. Shown here Mr. Colonel models his new beach hat and Addie shows off his new swim trunks. Jim Beers Photo

2024 Chester High School Christmas Concert is quality event! (1 of 2) CHS Band, Swing Choir, and Concert Choir shine at annual Christmas Concert BY JIM BEERS Steve Colonel and his Chester High School Music Department presented their annual Holiday Concert, “The Sounds of the Season” Christmas Concert Monday December 9 at Chester’s Colbert Memorial Gymnasium. The event was a one-hour concert of music performed by the Swing Choir, “Sound Affect”, the Concert Choir, and the CHS Concert Band. The Swing Choir, otherwise known as, “Sound Affect” was first to perform. This select group included Abigail Carter, Natalie Guethle, Justice Mattingly, Allyna “Ari” Shipley, Jason Sibley, Allyssa Stehl, Bently Valleroy, Elizabeth Wilson, David August, and Megan Zimmer. “Sound Affect performed four songs to open the show. Song No. 1 was, “Linus and Lucy”, arr. P. Kern. Song No. 2 was, “Let it Snow, Let it Snow Let it Snow”, arr. M. Weir. The third song was “Jingle Bell Rock”, arr. M. Weir, and featured soloist Bently Valleroy. He did very well and received a huge round of applause. The closer was, “Twas’ the Night Before Christmas”, arr. M. Brymer. “Sound Affect” was a real crowd-pleaser and began the 2024 Christmas Concert with much pleasure and enthusiasm from the large crowd. The CHS Concert Choir was next to perform. Mr. Colonel described them as “small but mighty.” This group presented three selections and did not disappoint the audience. The first song was titled, “Do You Hear What I Hear”, arr. H. Simeone. The second number was a crowd favorite and familiar to everyone in attendance. “The First Noel”, arr. by the popular rock group, “Pinkzebra”, was a big hit and stirred the Christmas spirit in everyone. The Concert Choir closed its portion of the event with a moving version of, “Please Come Home for Christmas”, arr. M. Brymer. This crowd-pleaser opened with an extended solo by Summer Valleroy who received a huge round of applause. This song was a perfect way to close the vocal portion of the evening! While the band was organizing for their portion of the concert, several seniors passed collection buckets around the gymnasium for the 2024 Chester Area Christian Food Pantry (CACFP) donation project. Each year the District # 139 Music Department collects donations to help support the pantry. At the Chester Grade School Junior High Christmas Concert the audience donated $471.58. At the CHS Concert $741.00 was collected for a total of $1,212.58. The Colonels have a donation box at their home (down by the road), in which visitors to their annual Christmas Light Show can drop in monetary donations. This year they even have a bar code which can be used to make donations on line. At the end of the holidays the Colonel’s will add their home donations to the school concert donations and make a big presentation to the CACFP. Following the monetary collection, the CHS Concert Band began its portion of the show featuring four songs. The band opened with, “Christmas Vacation”, arr. P. Roszell. The second song was titled, “Silent Night”, arr. D. Schaffer. Prior to finishing the concert with the final two songs, the 2024-25 Band Officers presented Mr. Colonel with a traditional Christmas present made possible from donations from the band and choral members. This year the students presented Colonel with a basket filled with several items that he will be able to use this summer when the Band and Swing Choir makes their trip to Florida to perform on a Carnival cruise ship and to visit Disney Springs and Universal Studios. Following the presentation of Mr. Colonel’s gifts basket, the band finished the concert with two selections. One was, “Ukrainian Bell Carol”, arr. R. Saucedo, and the closer was, “Sleigh Ride.” Both songs were real crowd-pleasers and sent the audience home with a heart filled with Christmas spirit. Before adjourning the 2024 CHS “Sounds of the Season” Holiday Concert, Mr. Colonel said, “The members of the CHS Music Department would like to thank you for joining us this evening.” “Your continued support over the years has helped the Music Department at Chester High School to become not only one of the best programs in Southern Illinois, but one of the best programs in a school of our size in the entire state. We would like to wish you and your family the very merriest of Christmas’s and a Happy and healthy 2025.” Important dates coming up in 2025 or the CHS Music Department Saturday March 8: IHSA Solo and Ensemble Contest Thursday thru Saturday March 20-23: CHS Presents “The Addams Family Musical” Friday April 11: IHSA Organizational Contest Thursday May 13: CHS Spring Concert and Awards Night

Chester 139: Just a friendly reminder that tomorrow December 18th, Thursday, December 19th and Friday, December 20th are all early dismissal days with CHS dismissing at 1:26pm and CGS at 1:30pm. Christmas break is December 23rd - January 6th. Happy Holidays!

CHS: 1ST SEMESTER FINAL EXAM (REMINDERS) See attached graphic for details. Students are not permitted in the halls while exams are in session or the breaks between exams. All students who are in the building during exams or breaks, but not in an exam are required to be in either the Professor Sharp Cafeteria for quiet study and snack or the Professor Sharp Media Center for silent study. Any students who do not show up and take finals without a verified excuse will fail the course, and receive no credit for the semester, as noted in the handbook. Weds. 12/18, EXAM DAY 1 1st hour 7:55-9:05am *40 minute Break* 4th hour 9:45-10:55am *60 minute Lunch/Study Break* 6th hour 11:55-1:05pm 1:26pm Release Thurs. 12/19, EXAM DAY 2 2nd hour 7:55-9:05am *40 minute Break* 7th hour 9:45-10:55am *60 minute Lunch/Study Break* 8th hour 11:55-1:05pm 1:26pm Release Fri. 12/20, EXAM DAY 3 3rd hour 7:55-9:05am *40 minute Break* Make-Up Exams 9:45-10:55am *60 minute Lunch/Study Break* Make-Up Exams 11:55-1:05pm 1:26pm Release Enjoy the Holiday Break and we will see you next year!

We would like to extend our congratulations to one of our own! Our Assistant Principal at the Grade School, Dr. Petrowske, has completed her doctoral work and officially graduated last Friday. Please join us in congratulating her on this outstanding accomplishment when you see her!

CHS: 1ST SEMESTER FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE (CORRECTION) See attached graphic for details. Mon. 12/16, REVIEW DAY After School Tutoring 3:10-4:10pm Tues. 12/17, REVIEW DAY After School Tutoring 3:10-4:10pm Weds. 12/18, EXAM DAY 1 1st hour 7:55-9:05am *40 minute Break* 4th hour 9:45-10:55am *60 minute Lunch/Study Break* 6th hour 11:55-1:05pm 1:26pm Release After School Tutoring 1:40-2:40pm (CANCELED) Thurs. 12/19, EXAM DAY 2 2nd hour 7:55-9:05am *40 minute Break* 7th hour 9:45-10:55am *60 minute Lunch/Study Break* 8th hour 11:55-1:05pm 1:26pm Release Fri. 12/20, EXAM DAY 3 3rd hour 7:55-9:05am *40 minute Break* Make-Up Exams 9:45-10:55am *60 minute Lunch/Study Break* Make-Up Exams 11:55-1:05pm 1:26pm Release Enjoy the Holiday Break and we will see you next year!

CHS: 1ST SEMESTER FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE See attached graphic for details. Mon. 12/16, REVIEW DAY After School Tutoring 3:10-4:10pm Tues. 12/17, REVIEW DAY After School Tutoring 3:10-4:10pm Weds. 12/18, EXAM DAY 1 1st hour 7:55-9:05am *40 minute Break* 4th hour 9:45-10:55am *60 minute Lunch/Study Break* 6th hour 11:55-1:05pm 1:26pm Release After School Tutoring 1:40-2:40pm Thurs. 12/19, EXAM DAY 2 2nd hour 7:55-9:05am *40 minute Break* 7th hour 9:45-10:55am *60 minute Lunch/Study Break* 8th hour 11:55-1:05pm 1:26pm Release Fri. 12/20, EXAM DAY 3 3rd hour 7:55-9:05am *40 minute Break* Make-Up Exams 9:45-10:55am *60 minute Lunch/Study Break* Make-Up Exams 11:55-1:05pm 1:26pm Release Enjoy the Holiday Break and we will see you next year!

The following Chester Grade School students were honored Friday December 13, 2024, with a "HIVE" award. "HIVE" awards are presented to students that are nominated by staff members for demonstrating one or more of four "Good Character Traits" including Respect, Responsibility, Safety, and Empathy. For December 13, there were a total of 29 recipients that demonstrated the following traits: 11 for Respect, 11 for Responsibility, and seven for Empathy. (Row 1, left to right): Quinten Abell, Suceli Gomez Sales, Santos Pastor Ramos, Axi Law, Daniel Law, Emelia Johnson, Sophia Krantz, Nash Halterman, and Baylee Lloyd. (Row 2, left to right): Haven Hall, Reagan Bryant, Gwen Yankey, Bronx Carrol, Kinley Krantz, Jackson Conway, Liam Curtis, Lydia Miller, and Donald O'Bryan. (Row 3, left to right): Zury Gomez, McKinlee Graham, Ashlynn Young, Lucas Buskirk, Camron McClaine, Pamela Cale Ixcoy, Harper Steward, and Brycen Petrowske. Not Present: Daniella Chavez, Chloe Keeton, and JoLee Braun. Each honoree received a certificate, his or name was announced over the CGS Public Address System, and each was awarded 1 PBIS Point. Jim Beers Photo

Chester Grade School Student Fall Picture Retakes and Winter Sports Pictures will be this Thursday, December 19th!!! Retakes will take place in the morning, followed by pictures for Winter Sports, which includes Cheer, Jr. High Boys and Girls Basketball, as well as 5th/6th Grade Boys Basketball. Makeup photos for Fall Individual Sports may also be taken.

Don't forget to check out the PTS Basket Raffle before and after the 1st-4th Grade Christmas Program this evening! The Christmas Program starts at 6:30pm in CHS Colbert Gym. Hope to see you there!

CGS Students, Faculty & Staff will be kicking off our annual Christmas Spirit Week next week starting Monday, December 16! See details below!

Chester Grade School Christmas Concert creates holiday spirit (2 of 2) 6th Grade Band and Junior High Band perform exceptionally well! BY JIM BEERS PHOTO 1 Sue Colonel Chester Grade School Band Director, Sue Colonel, welcomes everyone to the 2024 CGS Christmas Concert Thursday December 5th. Colonel directed both 6th Grade Band and the Junior High Band in a delightful program to kick-off the Christmas season. Jim Beers Photo PHOTO 2 Junior High Band The Chester Grade School Junior High Band performs one of four songs at the 2024 Chester Grade School Christmas Concert Thursday December 5th. The group played, "Christmas Light Fanfare", "Dance of the Slippery Slide Trombones", "The Polar Express Medley" and "All I Want for Christmas is You". Jim Beers Photo PHOTO 3 CGS 6th Grade Band The Chester Grade School 6th Grade Band performed four selections at the 2024 CGS Christmas Concert Thursday December 5th. The group played "March for Christmas", "Santa's Toy March", "Sleigh Ride", and "A Christmas Fanfare". Jim Beers Photo PHOTO 4 CGS Trumpet Section The Chester Grade School Junior High Band Trumpet shines at the 2024 CGS Christmas Concert. Jim Beers Photo

Chester Grade School Christmas Concert creates holiday spirit (1 of 2) 6th Grade Band and Junior High Band perform exceptionally well! BY JIM BEERS The Annual Chester Grade School Christmas Concert took place Thursday December 5. The event was hosted at the Chester High School Gymnasium in order to accommodate the large crowd comfortably and safely, and because parking was much more available at the CHS Location. Sue Colonel is the CGS Band Director and she had the members of the 6 th Grade Band and Junior High Band well-rehearsed! The musicians performed very well and very professionally, and provided the large crowd on hand with a fantastic evening of Christmas Music. The first half of the concert featured the 6 th Grade Band. Mrs. Colonel praised their high level of improvement above last year’s abilities and noted that the music to be presented was of noticeably higher quality and accuracy. Mrs. Colonel was certainly correct, as the 6 th graders did a wonderful job of performing and wowed the crowd with four musical selections. The first song was titled, “March for Christmas”, by John Edmondson. Next the band played, “Santa’s Toy March”, by Sean O’Loughlin. The third selection was the ever-popular, “Sleigh Ride”, arr. Michael Story. The 6 th Grade Band closed out its portion of the show with a rousing song titled, “A Christmas Fanfare”, by Randall Standridge. Following the 6 th Grade performances, Mrs. Colonel and her husband, Steve Colonel, the Chester High School Band Director, conducted their annual fund-raising effort to help support the Chester Area Christian Food Pantry. This has become an annual event at District # 139 concert. Mr. Colonel noted that the project is nearing $10,000 mark that has been raised by concert-goers over the years from collections at CGS Concerts, the CHS Concerts and at the Colonel’s Christmas light displays hosted at their home. The 2024 CGS Christmas Concert raised $471.58 from donations made by patrons in attendance. That amount will be combined with the CHS Christmas Concert donations and donations made at the Colonel household from drive-by viewers of their Christmas light show. The second half of the concert featured the Junior High Band which included musicians from the 7 th and 8 th grades. These musician are seasoned and perform with a high level of music excellence and pageantry. The Jr. High Band also performed four musical selections. The first song was titled, “Christmas Light Fanfare”, by Randall Standridge. The second tune was a crowd-pleaser titled, “Dance of the Slippery Slide Trombones”, by David Shaffer. This lively song naturally featured the trombone section. The third performance was a very popular song that was also familiar with many of the younger music patrons. This crowd-pleaser was titled, “The Polar Express Medley”, arr. Paul Lavender. The medley featured many of the popular tunes that were featured in the hit movie, “Polar Express”. The Jr. High musicians closed out their portion of the concert, as well as the entire concert, with a long time, romantic, Christmas song titled, “All I Want for Christmas is You”, arr. Michael Brown. Mrs. Colonel praised the Junior High Band for its excellent performances and noted how much improvement that had been made from the start of the 2024-25 school year throughout the first semester. Prior to adjourning the evening event, Mrs. Colonel announced several upcoming music department events, including the following: Saturday December 7: Christmas on the River Parade, 5:30 Monday December 9: CHS Christmas Concert, 6:30 Thursday December 12: Grades 1-4 Christmas Program, 6:30 Saturday March 1: IGSMA State Solo & Ensemble Contest @ Carterville Junior High March 20-23: CHS Presents: “The Addams Family” Musical at CHS Juergens Gym Friday March 28: Jr. High Band Organizational Contest @ Marion Jr. High Thursday May 1: CGS Spring Concert @ CHS Colbert Gym, 6:30 Tuesday May 13: CHS Spring Concert @ CHS Colbert Gym, 6:30 Thursday May (TBA): CGS 8 th Grade Graduation, 6:00 p.m. ? Sunday May (TBA): CHS High School Graduation, 3:00 p.m. ?

Chester CUSD 139: