HSA students hit the stage

SANDPOINT — The second year of the Home School Academy is well underway and on Wednesday, the students showed off their talents during an "All School Revue" in the Music Conservatory of Sandpoint.

Melinda Rossman, teacher and facilitator for the school, partnered with the conservatory this year to introduce the kids to art, culinary arts, theater and musical carousel.

"When they sing it brings tears to my eyes, because they just have such powerful little voices," Rossman said. "They're so wonderful."

For Wednesday's show, the kids sang three songs to open the show. One song that the group performed was titled "May All Children," which the kids paired with sign language. After the entire group of more than 40 kids sang together, a few of the kids showed off their skills on the piano. They were introduced to the piano just a few weeks ago, but they banged out the Star Wars theme nonetheless. For the final musical performance, several of the kids formed a half-circle, grabbing their drumsticks or using their hands to entertain the crowd with a well-practiced drumbeat.

The show came to an end after the theater students garnered laughter and applause from the crowd while performing some improv — they created a "machine" and "shoes with laces" using only their bodies — followed by comical monologues.

After the performances, guests enjoyed cookies made by the culinary art students while browsing some of the students' artwork.

The Home School Academy, which is administered through the Lake Pend Oreille School District, only requires students to attend a minimum of two-and-half-hours per week. Rossman holds different classes each day of the week and the programs change for fall, winter and spring sessions.

For the upcoming winter session, for example, Monday classes will include reading, writing and science. On Tuesdays, the kids will hit the slopes during an eight-week ski program on Schweitzer. Wednesdays will be filled with dance, art and math. Thursdays, Rossman said, will consist of an "in-depth mountain" education program. The final day of the week will remain "Freeform Fridays" with the students continuing their current lessons in learning Latin.

When the school opened in 2016, Rossman started with 16 kids. She now has 55 students, with nine more ready to start in January. To help out with the growing number of students, Candy Moon, who has five grandchildren in the school, will be supporting Rossman three days a week beginning in January.

Rossman will hold a presentation at the LPOSD board meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12, which is open to the public. She will talk about "where the school came from and the vision for the future."

"The board really wants to know more about what's going on right now, and I think there is some great support coming in the very near future for the vision," Rossman said.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.