6 November 2019

Throughout 2019, the students at St Macartan’s School, Mornington, have brought delight to the retirement villages located next to their school by singing to entertain the residents.

The school’s choir, which comprises 97 children from Foundation to Year 6, has regularly connected with older people living in the parish by visiting them each term to perform well-known songs.

‘I love going to sing at the aged care and retirement village because it makes me happy singing to the elderly and I feel good that I can make them smile. It’s really interesting talking to them because I’m not used to talking to older people and I have learned not to be scared to sing in front of them’, said a Year 2 student.

Some of the songs in the student choir’s repertoire include the Yorta Yorta lullaby ‘Inanay Capuana’, ‘I Am Australian’, the Swahili song ‘Malaika’, ‘Everyone Belongs’ and ‘I’m Being Swallowed by a Boa Constrictor’.

Performing arts teacher Darshini Jacob said that the choir teaches the students to practise their faith in the community by bringing others joy, peace, love, hope and happiness.

The laughter, tears and hugs are certainly testament to the power of music to make positive connections.