Spreading Holiday Cheer at Knollwood Retirement Village
On December 9th, a group of ISVI students traveled across town to share the Christmas spirit with the residents living at Knollwood Retirement Village.  The students were accompanied by Mrs. Denise Kerhilkar--ISVI's music instructor.  The students set the holiday mood as they sang Christmas songs for the residents while the residents very much enjoyed the entertainment.
 

The Annual Jukebox Classics Concert at ISVI
On October 7th, students in music classes at ISVI presented an annual concert known as Jukebox Classics. The chorus paid tribute to Michael Jackson as they sang several Michael Jackson songs. There were several solo parts and lots of harmony. Everyone participating in the concert enjoyed performing for staff, students, and family members who came to hear the concert.

A special thanks goes out to Educator, Dan Thompson for providing the sound for the concert. Also, special thanks to Mrs. Kerhlikar who brings out the best in music from ISVI students and also to Robert Sampson, a graduate of ISVI. He accompanied the group on the drums. Educator Steve Radliff taped the concert so we will be able to enjoy the music for years to come.
 

VISIT TO THE ILLINOIS STATE CAPITOL BUILDING
Nothing could have made our field trip better than it was... well, only one thing; we didn't get to meet Governor Pat Quinn. We did however, meet Secretary of State, Jesse White where he invited us into his personal office which was "big enough to play basketball" as he informed the students. He also told us that he had played baseball for the Chicago Cubs for many years, jumped out of planes in the military and also had been a school teacher for over 30 years. Besides our vehicle licensure, etc., Secretary Jesse White is also in charge of all state buildings (the physical plants), the Illinois State Library and the Illinois State Archives.

VISIT TO THE ILLINOIS EXECUTIVE MANSION
The Executive Mansion was a house full of elegant beauty. It was expected that the First Family furnish the house themselves as the state provides the mansion. Interestingly, all First Ladies of the state of Illinois believed a re-model was expected or necessary. Upon the state remodeling the mansion in 1972, they found 25 or 27 layers of wallpaper that they tore down. It was at this time, the state purchased most of the current furniture, which now stays in the mansion. Also, a 25,000 square-foot addition was added at that time, doubling the original size of the mansion, making Illinois' Executive mansion the largest in the Union. It is also the third oldest followed by Virginia and ...perhaps Georgia or Mississippi. Our Executive mansion was built in 1855.

VISIT TO ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CATHEDRAL
We started our wonderful day of events at Mrs. Kerhlikar's church, which the art classes studied intently over the Gothic Art Period. It was a perfect example where architecture can be seen and identified. Besides feeling the grandeur of the Capitol Building rotunda and the acoustics of such a very large inside space, choir students got to experience the grand, robust (LOUD) music that the organ belted out as Mrs. Kerhlikar played in the cathedral for them. It was fabulous! Students wanted to stay and listen to more just as the congregation does. It feels like we're within the music, like the huge cathedral was an instrument and we are all inside that instrument. It is a wonderful and inexplicable experience I wish everyone could experience.
 

ABRAHAM AND MARY LINCOLN HOME
We ran out of time for an actual tour of the house, but we had planned on checking out the neighborhood and the visitor's center there. The rain had held back our entire trip, but had barely begun sprinkling at this time. We instead watched a new movie in the center about Lincoln's adult life --life in Illinois. It was a great, informative half hour movie which, recommended to anyone visiting the house.