Students at San Bruno Park take the stage

The 2023 fall semester marked the first time theatrical performances were held in the school district, a new enrichment opportunity meant to spark creativity among students, Michelle Graham, the district’s Student Services coordinator, said.

Students practiced weekly for months, learning lines and lending a hand with minor set projects. On opening night, elementary school students from across the district performed “Dragon Trouble,” a production full of fairies, princesses, knights and, of course, dragons. Meanwhile, the district’s middle schoolers presented “How to Eat Like a Child,” a musical jam packed with lessons.

“Some were obviously very natural at it and others it was fun to watch blossom and grow,” Graham said.

The success of last fall’s shows has only helped grow the program as it enters into its second semester, Graham said. Even those not interested in taking the stage have gravitated toward the program, contributing to projects behind the scenes, she added.

Unlike many other after-school programs in the district, the opportunity is open to students free of charge, Graham said, noting the district will also help coordinate transportation for students in need.

The theater program is made possible through a partnership with the Spindrift School of Performing Arts, a Pacifica nonprofit providing lessons in dance, music and theater since 1994. While the San Bruno Park School District provides the space and students, Spindrift brings with it the expertise, props and costumes.

Gary Furguson, artistic director of Spindrift, highlighted the various benefits arts programming provides including an outlet for creative expression, an opportunity to build confidence, exposure to teamwork and collaboration and cultural appreciation.

“We are truly grateful to the San Bruno School District for recognizing the value of performing arts in education and for making the investment necessary to provide these opportunities to students,” Furguson said. “Their dedication to enriching the lives of young minds through the arts is commendable, and we look forward to witnessing the positive impact it will undoubtedly have on the students within the district.”

This spring, students are gearing up for two new productions, “Nemo Jr.” for elementary students and “Percy Jackson” for middle schoolers. Enrollment in the after-school program maxed out quickly, Graham noted, with between 50 to 60 students total signed up. Parent involvement has also grown over the course of the program, Graham said.

Ultimately, Graham said, the goal is to give students an exciting outlet that draws them to the school yard while also helping to develop their public speaking and presentation skills, commitment to teamwork, organization and passions.

“Children learn academically when they’re challenged in all the different areas of their lives

It’s crucial to remember children need exposure to different areas to learn from them,” Graham said. “Any way you can expose kids to new things, it not only triggers imaginations and interests but it creates a love for school.”