Henry News-Republican – September 15, 2010

MWAH! Troupe Brings Strong Message To Henry-Senachwine Students

By Doug Ziegler, Editor

Henry News-Republican

Posted Sep 15, 2010

The death by suicide this past April of a 15-year-old who lies in peace in a cemetery in Granville, IL, in Putnam County, and the alcohol-related and texting while driving deaths of six more Illinois teenagers were among the issues addressed Monday afternoon, Sept. 13, at Henry-Senachwine High School in Marshall County, northeast of Peoria, by the teenage MWAH! Performing Arts Troupe. The assembly for grades six through 12 began at 1 p.m. in the high school gym, located at 1023 College Ave. in Henry, IL, along Highway 29 on the west bank of the Illinois River.

Other issues addressed during the 9O-minute assembly included the controversy surrounding the proposal for building an Islamic community center and mosque near the 911 Ground Zero site and local implications, a true story of a child abuse situation involving a young girl named Alyssa, a real life abusive situation involving a jealous and controlling boyfriend, and another teen suicide earlier this year following relentless bullying.

Joining the MWAH! troupe for addressing the implications of these issues in Henry and surrounding communities was Henry Police Chief Bill Calbow.

The essence of the 15-member MWAH! ensemble is real life drama combined with contemporary music and lots of audience interaction, including the recognition of a number of Henry-Senachwine area students and adults as heroes. A constant focus was on what's happening with today's youth and their families. A common thread was choices and the importance of making the right ones.

On a lighter note, some 25 Henry-Senachwine grade school and high school students joined the MWAH! troupe in a highly energized hip hop dance finale, having rehearsed with the troupe Monday morning.

Coordinating the troupe&s visit to the Henry area was Julie Nelson, principal of Henry-Senachwine Grade School.

Further information on the MWAH! troupe is available on its website at MWAH!

The not-for-profit ensemble is affiliated with Kids Do Count, Inc. and the Chicago Area Project, a grass-roots service and advocacy agency based in downtown Chicago and part of a statewide community services network targeting at-risk youth and their families.

Current troupe members live in Yorkville, Aurora, Plainfield, Naperville, Willowbrook, Bartlett, Elizabeth, Cherry Valley, Chenoa, and Rockford and attend II different schools - public, parochial and home school.

The following is a story written by Julie Nelson, principal of Henry-Senachwine Grade School, about a performance by the MWAH! Performing Arts Troupe on September 13, 2010, at Henry-Senachwine High School. The story was prepared by Mrs. Nelson for publication elsewhere, but it is here for you to enjoy as well! Please follow the link! Julie_Nelson_MWAH_Article

MWAH! troupe member Chris Oechsel tells the Henry-Senachwine audience about the sentencing in August 2010 of the adult driver of the crash that killed five Oswego teenagers - 15 years in prison for reckless homicide and drunken driving. A photo of the car appears to the left of Chris, courtesy of the Aurora Beacon News.
(photo by Bob Summitt)

Police Chief Bill Calbow of Henry, Illinois, shares with the Henry-Senachwine High School audience on September 13, 2010 his feelings about the MWAH! presentation of an alcohol-related crash that killed five teenagers in Oswego, Illinois and a texting-while-driving crash that killed a friend of MWAH! troupe member Lexi Parr (left). As part of the piece, Lexi sang the song 'Hurt' in dedication to Chelsea Toot, who would have been a senior at River Ridge High School near Hanover, Illinois.
(photo by Bob Summitt)

Joining the MWAH! troupe in its appearance at Henry-Senachwine High School on September 13, 2010 in a closing hip hop dance finale were the high school dance and cheerleading teams as well as nine junior high students, all of whom spent about 90 minutes rehearsing before the performance.
(photo by Bob Summitt)

Henry News-Republican September 15, 2010

	MWAH! Troupe Brings Strong Message To Henry-Senachwine Students By Doug Ziegler, Editor Henry News-Republican Posted Sep 15, 2010 The death by suicide this past April of a 15-year-old who lies in peace in a cemetery in Granville, IL, in Putnam County, and the alcohol-related and texting while driving deaths of six more Illinois teenagers were among the issues addressed Monday afternoon, Sept. 13, at Henry-Senachwine High School in Marshall County, northeast of Peoria, by the teenage MWAH! Performing Arts Troupe. The assembly for grades six through 12 began at 1 p.m. in the high school gym, located at 1023 College Ave. in Henry, IL, along Highway 29 on the west bank of the Illinois River. Other issues addressed during the 9O-minute assembly included the controversy surrounding the proposal for building an Islamic community center and mosque near the 911 Ground Zero site and local implications, a true story of a child abuse situation involving a young girl named Alyssa, a real life abusive situation involving a jealous and controlling boyfriend, and another teen suicide earlier this year following relentless bullying. Joining the MWAH! troupe for addressing the implications of these issues in Henry and surrounding communities was Henry Police Chief Bill Calbow. The essence of the 15-member MWAH! ensemble is real life drama combined with contemporary music and lots of audience interaction, including the recognition of a number of Henry-Senachwine area students and adults as heroes. A constant focus was on what's happening with today's youth and their families. A common thread was choices and the importance of making the right ones. On a lighter note, some 25 Henry-Senachwine grade school and high school students joined the MWAH! troupe in a highly energized hip hop dance finale, having rehearsed with the troupe Monday morning. Coordinating the troupe&s visit to the Henry area was Julie Nelson, principal of Henry-Senachwine Grade School. Further information on the MWAH! troupe is available on its website at MWAH! The not-for-profit ensemble is affiliated with Kids Do Count, Inc. and the Chicago Area Project, a grass-roots service and advocacy agency based in downtown Chicago and part of a statewide community services network targeting at-risk youth and their families. Current troupe members live in Yorkville, Aurora, Plainfield, Naperville, Willowbrook, Bartlett, Elizabeth, Cherry Valley, Chenoa, and Rockford and attend II different schools - public, parochial and home school.	The following is a story written by Julie Nelson, principal of Henry-Senachwine Grade School, about a performance by the MWAH! Performing Arts Troupe on September 13, 2010, at Henry-Senachwine High School. The story was prepared by Mrs. Nelson for publication elsewhere, but it is here for you to enjoy as well! Please follow the link! Julie_Nelson_MWAH_Article MWAH! troupe member Chris Oechsel tells the Henry-Senachwine audience about the sentencing in August 2010 of the adult driver of the crash that killed five Oswego teenagers - 15 years in prison for reckless homicide and drunken driving. A photo of the car appears to the left of Chris, courtesy of the Aurora Beacon News. (photo by Bob Summitt) Police Chief Bill Calbow of Henry, Illinois, shares with the Henry-Senachwine High School audience on September 13, 2010 his feelings about the MWAH! presentation of an alcohol-related crash that killed five teenagers in Oswego, Illinois and a texting-while-driving crash that killed a friend of MWAH! troupe member Lexi Parr (left). As part of the piece, Lexi sang the song 'Hurt' in dedication to Chelsea Toot, who would have been a senior at River Ridge High School near Hanover, Illinois. (photo by Bob Summitt) Joining the MWAH! troupe in its appearance at Henry-Senachwine High School on September 13, 2010 in a closing hip hop dance finale were the high school dance and cheerleading teams as well as nine junior high students, all of whom spent about 90 minutes rehearsing before the performance. (photo by Bob Summitt)