Pasco ends school year with talent show

By RONNIE BLAIR
rblair@tampatrib.com
The 2008-09 school year in Pasco County - all 180 days of it -- came to an end today, and at Pasco Elementary the plunge into summer break got a little help from the Wicked Witch of the West.

And, yes, she melted, right on cue.

The witch's antics provided part of the last-day activities at the Dade City school, where students gathered in the multipurpose room for a talent show that featured dancing, singing, acting, gymnastics and instrumentals.

Becky Layton, a music teacher, urged the children to cheer loudly to show their appreciation for the acts.

"We are celebrating all the kids who are going to be up on stage performing," Layton told the children, "and we are celebrating the last day of school."

Booing was not allowed, though the children did boo Layton's warning that a "timeout room" awaited "all of you who can't control yourselves."

Among those displaying their talents was Caleb Rafuse, 11, a budding actor who donned a wig and witch's attire, then strode confidently onto the stage and channeled Margaret Hamilton, the actress who cackled her way through the 1939 movie "The Wizard of Oz."

Caleb, a fan of the 70-year-old movie classic, chose to reenact the witch's last scene, the moment where she and her soldiers corner Dorothy and friends in the castle and her wickedness sets the scarecrow on fire.

Oz aficionados such as Caleb know this was the witch's final - and fatal - mistake. A terrified Dorothy came to the scarecrow's rescue, dousing the fire with a bucket of water and at the same time splashing the witch.

In the Land of Oz, a wet witch melts. Caleb played the melting scene for all it was worth, slumping onto the stage floor, the wig and costume enveloping his body and helping to create the illusion that he had dissolved.

"The witch is my favorite character," Caleb said. "She's green, she's evil and she melts."

Now that the school year has drawn to a close, Caleb and other students won't need to worry about textbooks and No. 2 pencils again until late August.

Although lots of learning took place, 2008-09 also was a year of financial belt tightening for schools across the county, as statewide budget shortfalls hit education. Teachers and other school employees went without raises, and district administrators, including Superintendent Heather Fiorentino, filled in on occasion as substitute teachers.

It also was a year that saw the opening of two new traditional public schools, Veterans Elementary in Wesley Chapel and Crews Lake Middle in Shady Hills, and one new charter school, Imagine School at Land O' Lakes.

Several principals changed schools because of retirements, promotions or other reasons. A new school board member, Joanne Hurley, was elected to succeed longtime board member Marge Whaley, who retired.

For students, it was the usual year of reading, writing, science projects, sports, club activities and hanging out with friends.

By Wednesday, it was also time for a little fun.

Allyson Worthy, 9, a Pasco Elementary third-grader, stuck with the adage "the show must go on" as she took to the stage for the talent show. Allyson broke a finger Tuesday playing soccer, but did not let the injury deter her as she sang a solo, then later joined her brother, Ben, 6, a kindergartner, for a duet of "I Won't Grow Up" from "Peter Pan."

Sean Sloan, 8, a third-grader, demonstrated his skills on the guitar. He took up the instrument about a year ago.

"When you get used to it, it's pretty easy," he said.

The talent show also promoted audience participation, as Layton instructed everyone to get up and dance on a couple of occasions. Physical education teacher Angela Lewis-Bennett led the students in a song and dance she learned at a training day for P.E. teachers.

"This is a dancing school," Lewis-Bennett said.

On Wednesday, the students danced right into summer.