First graders perform their class play, "The Cuckoo"

First graders performed their class play this morning, “The Cuckoo,” a story based on the Mexican folktale. In this story, Cuckoo is beautiful and lazy. She sings compulsively, irritating the other birds who want to sleep before beginning the arduous task of gathering seeds. They are so exhausted from the continual singing, in fact, that when a fire threatens the seed crop, they all sleep on. The only one awake is Cuckoo, who flies back and forth until all the seeds are safe. In the process, her rainbow plumage is scorched and her beautiful voice turns hoarse--but she earns the undying gratitude of the other birds. Bravo first graders!