A long-awaited moment finally happened at Rice Elementary School! On Thursday, March 6, second graders took the stage to perform the musical Bada Bing, It’s Spring! — but they weren’t alone. Former Rice students, now in 7th grade, returned for a special performance, making up for the opportunity they missed in 2020.
Originally scheduled for spring 2020, Bada Bing, It’s Spring! was set to be performed by that year’s 2nd graders, but the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic forced schools to close before the show could take place. Determined to give students a chance to showcase their hard work, Rice Elementary music teacher Kristin Pool invited them to submit videos of themselves performing from home. She then compiled those clips into a virtual performance and shared it with families.
Five years later, those students—who never had the chance to experience the joy of performing on stage—were invited back to join the current 2nd graders for a special number. At the end of the musical, the 7th graders took the stage to sing one of the songs, creating a meaningful moment of reunion and celebration.
“This performance was more than just a musical; it was about coming full circle,” Pool said. “These students worked so hard back in 2020, only to have their moment taken away by circumstances beyond their control. To see them return to the stage and sing one of the songs they once recorded from home was incredibly special.”
Families, friends, and community members gathered to witness this unforgettable evening as past and present Rice students joined together in song.
For more information, contact Jennifer Hines at Jennifer.Hines@TylerISD.org.