May 6, 2004

Fifth grade girls say goodbye to elementary school teachers with a song

Katie Sisto, Williams Elementary School’s fifth grade student council president, started to write a song for her teacher Mrs. Polizzotto in April. When she heard that the school was having a Teacher Appreciation Luncheon, she thought it would be fun to write the song for all the teachers at Williams and perform it at the event. With the help of her parents, Tom and Marilu Sisto, they completed the lyrics and her father composed, played and recorded all the music in his home recording studio.

Katie then asked four of her classmates to get together and perform the song at the luncheon on May 30. Katie, Erin Ortegon, Hannah Marianetti, Valerie Koo and Kelly Fuellerman formed a group called “The Breach” signifying the fact that the girls are “Williams Whales” preparing to jump out of the fifth grade to middle school. The Breach went into the studio for a week to record a CD of their song, “One in a Million.” Katie’s mom then helped choreograph their performance.

When the curtains were pulled back on the cafeteria stage last Friday afternoon, the group’s careful work to keep the song a secret really paid off. The teachers were extremely surprised. After expressing their thanks and appreciation to the teachers for six wonderful years at Williams, The Breach performed “One in a Million” live with their recorded CD. At the end of the song, Mrs. Polizzotto and the other teachers flooded the stage to share hugs, kisses and tears with the girls. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. At the request of the teachers and staff, the girls gave two more performances before sitting down to eat lunch.

The Breach was successful that afternoon in expressing the gratitude and admiration that our school teachers most certainly deserve. It was a wonderful moment for both the teachers and the girls. Mrs. Neilson, a first grade teacher at Williams had one of the most poignant comments of the afternoon. After thanking them for the fantastic performance she expressed her heartfelt gratitude for reminding each of them why they became teachers in the first place.

Like The Breach shouted from the stage at the end of their performance, “We love you! You’re One in a Million! Teachers...You Rock!”

ONE IN A MILLION
© 2004 Music and Lyrics by Katie, Marilu and Tom Sisto—Sterling Gate Music. All Rights Reserved. Performed by The Breach, Katie Sisto, Erin Ortegon, Hannah Marianetti, Valerie Koo and Kelly Fuelleman.

Where did the time slip away, we don’t know
Half of a lifetime but now we must go
Oh before we hit the road
We just had to let you know

That you were one in a million
Too good to be true
And we will always remember
How much we love you
There will be times in the future, when
We’ll talk about you
Cause you will live forever in our hearts

Movin’ on, not away
We’ll be back another day
Movin’ on, not away
Livin’ life the Williams way

How can we say to you all here today
Thank you for teaching and leading the way?
I guess before we say goodbye
We oughta show you we can fly

You were one in a million…