While in town to promote the musical "Bring It On," which he co-composed, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tony Awarding-winning writer/composer of the Broadway musical "In the Heights," conducted a workshop session with performing arts students at The Heritage School,

"Bring It On" is featured at The Alliance Theater through February 20. "In the Heights" won Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Score, Best Choreography, and Best Orchestrations in 2008.  It is one of the first musicals to incorporate Latin-infused hip-hop/rap into a Broadway score.

Miranda spoke informally with Heritage students about his experiences in theatre, music, and film/television.  He entertained the students with three songs, including a humorous one that he wrote about seventh grade.  Miranda also demonstrated his freestyle rapping skills with the help of Heritage student/beat-boxer, Alex Newman.  Students were impressed to learn that he had recently performed at The White House for the President and First Lady.

Later, Miranda took student questions.  The students enjoyed learning about his high school experiences, difficult choices that he had to make to achieve his dreams, as well as his inspiration for song writing.  His overall message of inspiration for students was: pursue that which you are most passionate about, even when the road is difficult, and never give up on your dreams. 

Miranda is a long-time family friend of Heritage science teacher, Loline Pendergrast. 

Thirteen Heritage Music students took time out of their busy schedules to perform at the Palmetto Senior Center this week. The students had been invited to perform for a "Golden Circle Meeting" by the Center's entertainment chair and wowed their audience with pieces played on a variety of instruments. Several of the center's members commented after the program on how impressed they were with our students' abilities and various talents, and that they had never worked with a high school group before that performed at such a high level.  Plans are already being made for Heritage students to return for next year's event!

Students involved in this event were Kelly Abrams (harp and piano), Kent Edwards (piano), John Wienand (guitar and vocals); Elaina Montelongo, Laura Jackson, Julie Thames, and Allison Sullivan (trio and vocals); James Tiernan (violin), Daniel Martin, Sarah Berks, Chris Johnson, and Tristan Stoffle (guitar); and Grant NeSmith (bass).

Mathcounts is a national math enrichment program for middle school children. The Heritage Mathcounts Club, sponsored by Dorothy Rich and Susan Dieckmann, for any interested seventh or eighth grade students, meets every Tuesday during XL.

Our School Mathcounts competition took place last week and consisted of three rounds. The top 12 finishers in the first two rounds were invited to take part in the third (Countdown) round in front of the entire middle school. During the Countdown Round, two contestants compete face to face.  A problem is projected on a screen, and the two students race to finish the problem within 45 seconds. The first to answer correctly gains a point. The 12 contestants for this round were Seraphina Lee, Tripp Brown, Brandon Pal, Jiyun Choi, Tristan Stoffle (pictured, above right), Thomas Gruber, Chris Truong, Natalie Bunch, Tate Crymes, Clara Haugen, Madison Crymes, and Zofia Powell.  Thomas Gruber was the winner of this round and a cash prize of fifty dollars!

All 12 of our Countdown Round students are invited to participate in the Regional Mathcounts Competition consisting of the same three rounds at The University of West Georgia on Friday, February 11.  They will compete against middle school students from Heard, Carroll, and Coweta counties.  We expect them to do quite well this year and look forward to the competition!

Heritage parent, Melissa Harvey, is the Chair of Heart Friends, a group that supports Children's Healthcare of Atlanta through fundraising initiatives and in-service programs.  Heart Friends is pleased to announce its second annual Bowl-a-thon taking place on March 26, at the beautiful Ten Pin Alley at Atlantic Station. 

Proceeds from this event will go toward start-up costs for the Beads of Courage program, a nation-wide pediatric hospital program that recognizes and honors patients for their journey through various surgeries, procedures, and day-to-day treatments they must endure.  Please help support this worthy initiative by attending this event.  Children are welcome!  Purchase tickets here.