Third-grade students at Northwestern Elementary performed "Beach Day" for parents and peers May 17 at the high school.

Shawn Fies, music teacher, began writing musicals for third-grade students in 2008, beginning with "Science Musical." In 2009, he wrote "Space Adventure," then "Pearl of the Night" in 2010 and "Fractured" in 2011.

His goal is to help the students study for the PSSA test by turning facts about the solar system, the weather and more into song.

Teachers Marisa Bartholomew, Marsha Johnston and Laura Luca and librarian Susan Hanlon helped gather the information he needed.

They also helped with the artwork, properties, costume, lighting, sound and scene design as did Ross Kirk, set painter and decorator extraordinaire.