Sara Driedger
Lakeside Leader

Kinuso School students had the chance to perform for their peers and school community during a talent show planned by educational assistant instructor Amanda Davis.

Davis says the talent show was the first one held at the school in a couple of years.

Her goal in planning the event, Davis says, was to give students an opportunity to build confidence and showcase their talents.

The event was planned as a way for students to take part in something that allowed them to be seen for their abilities in front of others at the school.

“I want to build students’ confidence,” Davis says.

Davis says confidence was the main reason she wanted to bring the talent show back after the school had gone a couple of years without one.

Davis says the show included singers, dancers, comedy, writers, gymnastics and a guitarist.

She says the range of performances gave students different ways to share what they can do.

According to Davis, the variety of acts meant students were not limited to one type of performance.

She says students were able to take part through music, movement, humour, writing, gymnastics and guitar.

Davis says some students who took part surprised her because she had not expected them to get up in front of an audience.
Those students showed confidence and felt proud of themselves after performing.

Seeing students take the stage when she had not expected them to was one of the meaningful parts of the talent show for Davis.
She says those students were able to show confidence during the event and had a sense of pride in themselves afterward.

Davis was grateful for the audience, which she described as encouraging and supportive.

She says the response from the audience helped create a setting where students could feel supported while sharing their work and performances.

Davis says the audience’s support mattered because students were sharing talents in front of others, including some students who had not been expected to perform.

Davis says she collaborated with wellness coach Carmen Lizee to hold the talent show during wellness week.

She says scheduling the event to take place during wellness week connected with her goal of helping students feel more confident.

Davis says working with Lizee helped connect the event to wellness week at the school.

Davis says she would like the talent show to be more than a one-time event.

Overall she was pleased with how the talent show went. Davis would like to see the talent show continue as an annual wellness event at Kinuso School.

Davis says continuing the show annually would give students another opportunity to build confidence and share their talents at school.

She says the event showed students could step forward, take part and be proud of what they shared.

For Davis, the purpose of the talent show was tied to what students gained from participating.

“I want to build students’ confidence,” Davis says.