High Point hosts Kickin' Country

WANTAGE — “Kickin' Country” entertained a crowded High Point Regional High School auditorium, June 2, clappin' and a grinnin'.
During the first of 10 songs, a stage full of smiles, cowboy hats and boots kicked-off the show with a country line dance to “Cotton Eye Joe.” Happy fiddle music played, with even an occasional, “Hi Mom!” over the audience's hoots, hollers, claps, and cheers.
Elaborate set designs changed from farm fields, silos, and an enormous green tractor, to beaches with palm trees and fishing poles.
The students sang: “Crazy,” “Mamas Don't Let Your Babies,” “Big Green Tractor,” “Knee Deep,” and “Achy Breaky Heart,” which included another country line dance routine.
Scruffy, High Point Special Needs teacher Joan Smith's dog, appeared with red fire hydrants and friends for the song, “Pee Pee Time.”
Students sang, “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” in shiny blue and red choir robes and cowboy boots, according to each school's colors - blue for Kittatinny and red for High Point.
They showed a slide presentation of students to the song, “Humble and Kind,” while gathering a collection for “Four Paws for Ability,” a non-for-profit organization which provides service dogs to children and adults with disabilities.
The show ended with the grand finale, “Thank God I'm a Country Boy!” including square dance moves and country kicks.
Smith creates the show each year, catering to her students' talents. Kittatinny teacher, Patti Nugent, was also instrumental preparing her students and presenting at both High Point and Kittatinny in the two school production.
Smith said the two schools practice independently of one another and then practice only a few times together.
She also explained, Scruffy is “kind of an unofficial therapy dog,” who has come to school three times a week, for the last 10 years.
Students, administration, and Smith were thrilled after the successful program.