Chris Lawson /
clawson@ccnewspapers.com
Magician Bill Anderson and Timber Trail Elementary
second-grader Riley Davenport, 7, show off handfuls of warm fuzzies
during a Sept. 6 assembly in Castle Rock. Anderson’s Pro-Kids Show
is full of laughs, but also sends a strong message about being
respectful and caring.
By Joan Gandy
Timber Trail kindergartners barely contained their excitement
last week when they saw the blue curtains for Bill Anderson’s
Pro-Kids Show draped in the gym.
“Wow,” “This is going to be cool,” “Oh, a magic show,” the kids
exclaimed while taking their seats on the floor.
And then the countdown began: 10, nine, eight, seven, six, five,
four, three, two, one, blast off.
Anderson burst out of the curtain, spritzing water on students,
singing about staying upbeat and making the kids explode with
laughter. But the performance isn’t all jokes. Anderson’s Pro-Kids
Show brings magic with a message.
“This show is about positive attitudes, spreading kindness and
bullying,” Anderson said.
At Timber Trail, in Castle Pines, the school uses the Character
Counts program emphasizing trustworthiness, respect,
responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship.
“We try to model them everyday,” said Lisa Phillips, principal
at Timber Trail. “Whenever we can reference it through assemblies,
we do that as well.”
Anderson works those character traits into his show, a
customization that appealed to Timber Trail parents. The Timber
Trail Educational Alliance sponsored Anderson’s appearance after
hearing about the program from other schools and the Web.
“We were excited to learn about the program,” said Melissa
Howard, a parent volunteer with the educational alliance. “This
kind of filled a void we hadn’t filled yet.”
Despite having performed at more than 3,000 schools, sporting
events and the White House, Anderson said he still has a few nerves
before the start of a show, even if his audience’s average age is
7.
“The thing I get nervous about is getting everything in its
place,” Anderson said. “If you’re not nervous, then you get too
comfortable in it and you’re robotic.”
Anderson had no problem winning over the crowd of Timber Trail
kindergartners, first-graders and second-graders.
He made an orange-nosed reindeer out of balloons, pulled warm
fuzzies out of students’ pockets and yanked handkerchief after
handkerchief from a previously empty tube. Banana-phone jokes and
an opossum puppet pleased the kids.
Throughout the act, Anderson continued to emphasize the real
trick is being caring, cheerful and nice to one another.
“If you decide to have a great day, you can make your school a
great place to be and that’s magic,” Anderson said.
For more information visit www.prokidsco.com.
Contact Joan Gandy at jgandy@ccnewspapers.com.