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Wheeling Park High School ‘Singing Tree’ Offers Inspiration

photo by: Photo provided

Wheeling Park High School chorus members stand with their painted rocks around the "singing tree" at WPHS. Pictured from left are teacher Joyce Jingle, Keke Merchant, Alice Hughes, Taylor Andrews, Sarah Seivertson, Izabella Aston, Addy Perks, Abby Stillion, Grace Robertson-Villamagna, Mackenzie Kret, Juniper Du, Alex Evans, Rylee Birkett, Melody Campbell, and Mrs. Christie Greenwood.

WHEELING – A “singing tree” just outside the activities entrance to Wheeling Park High School is striking the right note – or word – with chorus students.

Visitors to the school will notice brightly colored rocks under the tree, with words such as “trust,” “faith” and “believe” inscribed upon them.

The chorus students often practice around the tree on warmer, sunny school days, and the spot is especially important to them, explained chorus teacher Joyce Jingle.

“When the weather is nice, they are eager to get out and sing there,” she said.

The idea to have students paint the rocks with words that are important to them came to Jingle as she sought positive inspiration while at home during the pandemic. She read the book, “One Word That Will Change Your Life.” The book encourages the reader to focus not on goal setting, but on just one word for an entire year as a catalyst for life change.

photo by: Photo provided

Colored rocks placed around the bottom of the "singing tree" at Wheeling Park High School by have motivational words painted on them by chorus students.

When students returned to school last year, on the first day she asked them to think and choose a word that was most important to them that would inspire them throughout the year.

“Rather than making a resolution, that word becomes a guiding word and they put their word on the rock,” Jingle said. “When we are done, we all stand around the tree with our rocks to place them.

The students are invited to share their word and explain it if they want to. The kids get to know some things about classmates that are deeper than names and faces.”

She termed the process an “ice breaker” for the students in the class who start to talk and get to know each other.

At the end of the last school year, the decision was made to let the rocks lay for years to come so that when the students return as alumni they can also return to the tree to find their rock.

photo by: Photo provided

Colored rocks placed around the bottom of the "singing tree" at Wheeling Park High School by have motivational words painted on them by chorus students.

“We think it will become a tradition,” Jingle added.

Senior Chase Burdick selected “legacy” as his word.

“I chose that word because when we were going over the assignment we talked about the idea of legacy and what we wanted to leave to school,” he explained. “But I chose to honor the legacy of those coming before me. I feel it is my responsibility to carry on after them.

“It’s very important to have a phrase to come back to that makes you better – one that can inspire. It’s a fantastic idea to keep doing. In the coming years, it’s something kids will enjoy.”

Jingle added another student selected the word “potential.” He explained to his classmates he was always told he had potential, but he never saw it. He said his goal this year was to live up to his potential.

“By the time we go around the circle of students, I’m in a state of awe,” Jingle said. “They are in such a state of emotion and reflection.”

As for Jingle, her word was “prioritize.”

“I think sometimes when we’re teaching, taking care of kids and family, and maybe also being a caregiver, we sometimes forget to take care of ourself.

“My goal is to keep priorities straight, and I want to move myself up in my list of priorities.”

She encourages the students as they consider their word to shut themselves off from social media, their cell phones and television.

“When I say that, there are looks of trepidation,” Jingle said. “But this is an opportunity to spend time with themselves and their own thoughts. They forget to do that when so much media is coming at them all the time.”

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