When Collegeville Elementary students returned from spring break, second graders were eager to perform The Day the Crayons Quit. But that excitement was met with uncertainty when the school suddenly found itself without a music teacher. “When we came back from spring break, our second graders were so excited to do their program… and when we found ourselves without a music teacher, we wondered 'what are we going to do?'” Principal Victoria Carter said. Teachers shared that initial disappointment, but quickly shifted their mindset. “We were really sad because our kids were so excited… and they had all practiced and auditioned,” second grade teachers said. “Our next reaction was, it’s got to happen. Not if it would happen, but how would we do it?”
That determination sparked a bold, all-hands-on-deck effort across the campus. Teachers, staff, and even families stepped into new roles to ensure the performance continued. “We can’t let the kids down. That’s why we’re here,” the activity team said. Classrooms became rehearsal spaces, with choreography created at home, music edited in classrooms, and staff taking on responsibilities far beyond their typical roles. “We each just played our own parts perfectly… we all just had different pieces,” teachers explained. Support poured in from every direction. “It was like an all hands on deck… we even had community members step up,” they said, noting that a Benton music teacher who originally wrote the program donated decorations to help bring the show to life.
By performance night, that brave teamwork paid off. “When we saw the kids take the stage that night, we just felt so proud,” teachers said, while staff members admitted there were “tears in our eyes” watching students shine. For Mrs. Carter, the moment captured the very heart of the district. “This team embodied Be Bold, Be Brave and Be Bryant,” she said. “They were bold in stepping up… and that also takes a lot of bravery… coming together as Bryant, as our one team.”