The MVAOCOU Tune Squad has had another successful year with numerous honors at numerous competitions. At the Shake the Lakes competition at Spirit Lake, the group placed second and qualified to compete at the vocal jazz championships. The Tune Squad has qualified for the Iowa Vocal Jazz Championships 14 of the last 16 years. Impressive! At the championships, the judges deemed the Tune Squad the 7th best jazz choir in Class 2A in the state.
    "This group has eight seniors out of the fourteen members we have this year and three of them have been in this group since their freshman year," exclaimed Director Brian Smeltzer. That type of experience and leadership has been invaluable as those seniors know the ropes and understand how to perform under pressure and have been great examples to the newcomers this year. They have taken ownership of our set and are able to perform it without any direction from me. That makes what they do even more impressive!"
    Part of that leadership does indeed include working with each other to make beautiful music. With these students also involved in other extracurricular activities, this means they meet early in the morning.
    "Since September, we would meet every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 7:45 to rehearse our three songs which were 'Comes Love,' 'All We Know,' and 'Stop Loving You,'" explained Claire Weber, a 4-year Tune Squadder. "We first were divided into our sections (sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses) and then when we finally felt comfortable enough with our songs, we then got into a mixed arrangement of all four singing parts."
    With 5 new Tune Squad members this year, the group took a little time to get the new voices and personalities to mesh, but mesh they did. That blending of voices and personalities also produced the confidence to earn the accolades they have received.
    "I was very confident that we would make it to the championships again this year," said Jasmine Schaffer, a 2-year member of the Tune Squad. "We have a great group full of leaders and hard workers, so there was no doubt that we were going to make it."
    Of course, coming off a second place finish last year, taking 7th place was a little disheartening.
    "I was a little disappointed, but I felt like we had a good year and sang to the best of our abilities," said Jacob Mitchell, a 3-year member of the group.
    While many of the competitions which the Tune Squad attend are within driving distance the day of their performance, some require the group to spend a little time away from home overnight. Do the kids mind? Of course not!
    "My favorite part of Tune Squad has been the bonding experiences with the team every year, especially when we travel to state and stay in a hotel," commented Grayce Hanke, a 3-year Tune Squad member. "This year we even went bowling and played laser tag. Making friends through music has been amazing!"
    "The thing I have enjoyed the most about being in the Tune Squad is travelling with my friends and the best director in the world, Mr. Smeltzer," declared Wyatt Streck, a senior who is finishing his first year in the Tune Squad. He is not the only person who thinks that Smeltzer is the best director in at least some of the groups in which they have competed. Smeltzer was named Best Director at the Shake the Lakes competition. Smeltzer prides in being the only acapella jazz choir in Class 2A. This uniqueness obviously has worked for the group and has made them stand out amongst the other groups using musical instruments.
    With the school year winding down and these seniors ending their high school careers, their performances as the Tune Squad are also nearing the end.
    "I will miss the fun times with everyone and going places," commented Drew Zahnley, a 2-year member.
    "I will miss going to competitions and having fun with my friends," stated Paige Schmidt, a 4-year member of the Squad.
    With eight seniors on out of 14 Tune Squad members, the group may be getting quite a few new members next year. Logan Reed, a 4-year Tune Squad member, has a little advice for any underclasspersons who may be interested in joining the squad.
    I would advise everyone to just try it," he said. "I was scared my freshman year, but I took the chance, and it has been one of my best decisions. It has been fun and makes me feel like I have another family."
    The Tune Squad is made up of members Jasmine Schaffer (daughter of NiKay Schaffer of Mapleton), Paige Schmidt (daughter of Sarah and Kurt Schmidt of Mapleton), Layla Schoening (daughter of Aggie and Todd Schoening of Mapleton), Claire Weber (daughter of Michelle and Brett Weber of Danbury, Mia Uhl (daughter of Randi and Chad Uhl of Danbury), Sara Rosener (daughter of Angie and John Rosener of Mapleton), Grayce Hanke (daughter of Jesley and Chad Hanke of Mapleton), Delani Welte (daughter of Nikki Ford of Mapleton and Nick Welte of Danbury), Drew Zahnley (son of Dawn and Dave Zahnley of Anthon), Wyatt Streck (son of Laurie and Brent Streck of Mapleton), Jerrell Dean-Byas (son of Shana Dean of Mapleton), Jacob Mitchell (son of Andrea and Paul Mitchell of Oto), Logan Reed (son of Mindi and Louis Reed of Castana), and Troy Schmidt (son of Sarah and Kurt Schmidt of Mapleton).
    Congratulations to these talented vocalists. They will sing for the last time this school at the awards concert on Tuesday, May 14th.

    Friday was pretty nice last week, a little chilly when the wind picked up, but sunny and pretty nice. This was a good thing at Danbury Catholic School as the annual May Crowning and Living Rosary were held.
    Following the Friday morning Mass, parishioners and the student body, minus the fifth and sixth graders who were in Sioux City for a special Mass of their own proceeded to the school where fourth grader Aria Kamrath crowned the statue of Mary while Trenten Shea furnished flowers at her feet. The two then joined the rest of the school members and parishioners to recite the Rosary using a rosary large enough to span the length of the sidewalk beside Mary.

    Did you order plants through Danbury Catholic? Do you want to buy some plants?
    Plant Day is Friday, May 10th. The school will be open to pick up your orders or purchase from the extra plants from 7:00 a.m. to noon and 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. Please note that there are NO early pick-ups or sales.

    Cord Memorial Library visitors will be making some dough on Tuesday, May 14th. Karen Jessen will be leading a class on sourdough bread beginning at 5:00 p.m. at Cord Memorial. All are welcome to join. Please bring a jar to take home some starter.