Belmonte staff shines in talent show

SAUGUS – Nearly 20 faculty and staff members at the Belmonte Middle School took center stage last Friday night for the fourth annual Faculty Talent Show.The show started with English teacher Joy McCauley singing the Liza Minnelli classic “Life is a Cabaret” with high school freshman Own Andruchow on the piano, followed by a juggling act by band teacher Justin Jones, who juggled everything from handkerchiefs to apples.Special education teacher Rick Thompson performed a monologue from William Shakespeare?s “Henry V,” while librarian Sharon Hamer sang “Wait a Minute Mr. Postman” by the Marvelettes.?We just started doing that on Tuesday,” said Hamer. “I forgot a few things, but the kids don?t know it so I think I was OK.”The occasion marked Hamer?s first time singing in the talent show and she admitted she was a little nervous during her performance.?I had to switch the microphone to the other hand because the left one was shaking too much,” said Hamer. “But I feel good. I enjoy it. I like the kids to see me outside of the stereotype of a school librarian.”Math teacher Mark Schruender sang his variation of the Bruno Mars song “Just the Way you Are,” except his version was all about the wonders of math.?Division?s amazing,” sang Schruender. “With its simple rules.”McCauley, Jones, science teachers Benjamin Lynch and Thomas Finn, and band and music teacher Amanda Twaddle teamed up to bring some blues to the Belmonte, and brought the house down with their rendition of “COD” by blues legend Stevie Ray Vaughan.?They were so good together,” said Spanish teacher Fin MacArthur, who danced in the aisle as the band played. “They?re teachers from all different disciplines and they all just came together with the perfect song, the perfect music and the perfect rhythm. It was awesome.”MacArthur enjoyed watching her colleagues Friday night.?I love it,” said MacArthur, who was also a part of the Family Feud segment that closed out the show. “You just can?t go wrong with this. I work with these folks every day and I can?t believe how talented they are. I had no clue.”Rosaria Witkowski and her son, Andrew, a sixth-grader, were one of many in attendance Friday night.?It?s fun,” said Andrew. “I liked Mr. Schruender. It was funny and it actually involved something.”Andrew said talent show host Richard Piecewicz was his favorite part of the night because he?s his homeroom teacher.Carrie Evanchik, Music Director for the Drama Club, said Friday night?s show is one of the most popular events the club holds and also one of its biggest fundraisers.?It?s great,” said Evanchik, who sang “King of Anything” by Sara Bareilles and “All By Myself” by Celine Dion.?We always have a variety of acts, from teachers who are in the performing arts right down to math and science teachers. They do all kinds of things. We use it as a fundraiser for the Drama Club to help us pay for the musicals and plays and parties we put on for the kids.”Evanchik said having teachers perform is a rare treat for the students at Belmonte.?It?s a chance for the kids to see a different side of their teachers,” said Evanchik. “To see us as funny, engaging, talented people other than just their funny, engaging and talented teachers.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].