BY KARISSA MILLER

Hundreds of parents and community members gathered on the lawn at N.B. Mills Elementary around lunchtime on Friday to hear music, student and teacher reflections, and comments from school leaders.

The intended target for the underlying message — “Hear Us. See Us. Believe in Us.” — extended well beyond the school grounds. 

Kindergarten and first-grade students began the program by singing, “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around.”

Music teacher Brittany Holland said each song had been carefully chosen to reflect the concert’s theme of resilience, determination and hope.

“This concert isn’t about performance, but it’s about purpose. It’s about shedding light on who we are as a school. It’s about the real life struggles our students and staff face each day, how we can find the strength to persevere, grow and succeed,” Holland told the guests.

Often when adults speak, she continued, they forget children are listening.

“You will hear some of the words spoken today. Not to blame, not to accuse, but to bring awareness,” Holland said. “By speaking them, we begin to heal. We begin to build a new positive foundation rooted in unity and mutual respect. Together, we can lay those negative words at rest and raise up a new wave of hope.

“Our hope today is to change the narrative for the heartbeat of our school — which is our students … Our students deserve our support,” she added.

After performing some of the students’ favorite songs, “Man in the Mirror” and “God Only Knows,” the school chorus made a lasting impression with the song “The Champion.”

The performance was a powerful moment in the program for the students, who belted out the words:

“I am the champion, you’re gonna know my name/You can’t hurt me now, I can’t feel the pain/I was made for this, yeah, I was born to win/I am the champion.”

“This song is showing our emotions and who are,” said fifth-grade student Brooklyn.

“It’s exciting and truthful to be able to show people who we actually are and show them that what they say about us isn’t true,” Skylar added.

During the performance, a student named London, who was dressed in a pink T-shirt and white and pink tennis shoes, stood center stage and held the microphone close to her mouth.

The second-grader surprised the crowd with her smooth rap performance as she spelled out “Champion” using the letters of the word to represent qualities the students embody: Courage, Honor, Attitude, Motivation, Perseverance, Integrity, Optimism and Necessary.

“The N is necessary ‘cause I’m never giving up/See, they ask me how I did it, I just did it from the heart/Crushin’ the competition, been doing it from the start/They say that every champion is all about his principles.”

The song elicited a strong emotional response from audience members, who clapped loudly and cheered for the students.

“I am invincible, unbreakable/Unstoppable, unshakable/They knock me down, I get up again/I am the champion, you’re gonna know my name,” the students shouted.

Principal Sally Schultz said the program aimed to redefine N.B. Mills Elementary.

“Too often people talk about our school and instead of talking to us they make assumptions. They repeat stories that doesn’t reflect the beauty that lives within these walls each day,” she said.

Together, the students said: “Hear us. See Us. Believe in us.”

“We don’t need saving, we need support. We don’t need sympathy, we need partnerships. Believe us enough to invest in us,” Schultz said.

“Hear us. See us. Believe in us … Walk with us into the future we are building together,” she added.

The message resonated with the audience.

“It just brought tears to my eye to see these kids spreading such a positive message,” said parent Breanna Blankenship, who has two children that attend N.B. Mills.

Hear us. See us. Believe in us.

Ahead of the concert, more than a half dozen fifth-grade students shared with Iredell Free News, without prompting, their concerns about how the public views their school.

“A lot of people who talk bad about our school have never even stepped foot in this building,” Nyla said. “It is very very good school. Some days can be hard, but it’s a lot of fun. They would say, ‘This is a behavior school.’ I wouldn’t say that about myself or anybody at this table is a ‘behavior child.’”

Another student named Rahem added: “I have so many emotions. I feel sad. I feel disappointed. People don’t know what this school is like at all. They haven’t seen how much the teachers are trying and doing their best.”

“What we are doing today, I feel so nervous and excited because I have three speaking parts. One is short and I have medium and a very long one. I have been practicing in class. My teacher has been encouraging me and even helping me with my part,” he added.

“All teachers at our school are positive,” Skylar said.

“Friendly, yet, strict and encouraging,” added Camden.

Liliana, who had a speaking part, said she enjoyed being a part of the performance.

“I talk about the negative things people say about our school that aren’t true,” Liliana said.

“It shows that people go through the same struggles. You don’t really know what is going on with somebody,” explained Brooklyn.

“Our school is a wonderful place. It’s amazing. I love my school,” Ingrid said.

The fifth-graders expressed their appreciation for all of their teachers and Ms. Holland for their support.

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