MEEKER I Ronda Friend is not just a children’s author. She is a master storyteller, musician, singer, songwriter and a motivational speaker who will be in Meeker today and this evening to interact with students and parents.
Friend engages the whole school using character messages, storytelling, music, puppets, sign language and audience participation. She has presented her humorous, heartwarming program to more than 1 million children.
Friend now writes a nostalgic series about her life, containing original songs and true stories. She was raised on a farm rightly named “Friendly Acres” in Ohio in the ‘50s and ‘60s.
Students, staff and parents relate to Friend’s series, “Down on Friendly Acres,” complete with family squabbles, life lessons and unbelievable true cliffhangers. Titles include “Time Out at Home (patience),” “Panic in the PigPen (perseverance)” and “Woolly Baaad Lies(honesty).” Families flip over family nights as the audience teams up to act out “P.U. You Stink!” In the end, everyone realizes that “Families who stink together, stick together!” The books may be purchased at the school or ordered five days after the performance
Friend’s desire is for children to fall in love with reading, writing and the fine arts. The three Rs are important in life, but what Friend hopes children treasure the most are the three Fs — family, faith and friends.
Friend will be coming to Meeker Elementary School today and this evening. She will present an assembly from 8:35 to 9:20 a.m. for preschool, kindergarten, third, fourth and fifth grades. She will give three writers work shops for third through fifth grades also.
A second assembly will be held from 2:05 to 2:50 p.m. This assembly will be for preschool, kindergarten, first and second grades.
Parents are welcome to attend, and Friend will have a book signing during the times she is not performing.
The best part of the day will be the evening performance at 6:30 p.m. in the Meeker Elementary School gym. Parents, children of all ages and members of the community are welcome, and the events is all free.
White River Electric Association and the PTO are sponsoring this day of educational fun and learning.
If you have questions, contact Kay Bivens, the MES librarian, at 878-9050, Ext. 110.
