Lunch Bunch Promotes Singing and Fellowship on Our Campus

We know that as students move into high school and beyond, they will have to make tough decisions when it comes to prioritizing activities and pursuits. While they are in grades 1-8, we believe our students should have ample opportunity to explore new interests to find their talents and passions.

Thanks to the Lunch Bunch of Singers, a new initiative by our Performing Arts teachers Thalina Marques and Chiquita Paulson, our 3^rd-8^th grade Stars and Suns don’t have to choose between choir and cantor opportunities and other after-school activities.

“We want our students to be well-rounded in their interests and we believe the fine-arts are an essential part of their education. We felt it was important to provide time during the day for students to participate in the Cantor-Choirs without having to pit music against athletics or other extra-curricular offerings,” explained SDS Dean Adam Woods.

“These choirs are also important for maintaining excellence in our student-led music during mass, but in addition to growth in skill and liturgical understanding, we hope they will also help students to grow in their love of music,” Dean Woods added.

With the support of the lower school Deans, Ms. Marques and Mrs. Paulson collaborated to find alternate times to grow our community of singers. 

The process, however, was started in part thanks to COVID. “COVID brought us the dilemma of not being able to gather large groups of singers,” said Mrs. Paulson. “We began to alternate the Mass leadership from SAA, to SDS, and Jr High to provide student cantors for the masses. The students liked the new format of singing once every three weeks. When we were once again able to gather together, we kept the format and the community responded.” 

Scheduling made it a challenge to see these smaller student groups individually. Realizing they could take advantage of a lunch time opening, they started meeting with the Boy Choir midday. “The boys were in the same building/location as our classrooms, and they were also an established group I had worked with for many years. It was an easy transition for us to have lunch together and sing and not have the constraints of the other afternoon activities,” shared Mrs. Marques.

This year they expanded the concept to other grade levels, and the Lunch Bunch of Singers became a reality, with five different groups each meeting once a week. “We are so grateful to be able to provide these opportunities and help these young people explore and grow in their gifts and talents as they use them to the glory of God,” said Mrs. Marques.

Lunch Bunch not only promotes spiritual and artistic growth, but it also supports fellowship among grades as the students relax and enjoy lunch together before they begin singing. “We learned with our first small group that the students liked grabbing lunch and having time to gather with different grade levels in a social setting. The mix of the boys gave the younger ones more confidence and we experienced a tremendous growth in their vocal ability and leadership in mass,” Mrs. Paulson shared.

The student response to the Lunch Bunch sessions has been great, with Ms. Marques and Mrs. Paulson seeing the most participants in some groups they have ever had. According to Mrs. Paulson, “We are building a community of leaders and singers one cantor at a time!”