By WESLIE STRATTON
Moapa Valley Progress
Ute V. Perkins Elementary School music specialist Vince Dasal recently announced his retirement and will leave big shoes to fill at the school.
Principal Mary Scialabba described Dasal as “incredible” and said that she will be sad to see him go.
“His rapport with the students is just outstanding,” she said. “He’s very personable.”
Scialabba said that Dasal’s students feel that he is very approachable and that he is always chatting with them.
“He’s very mindful of their accomplishments and their talents,” she said.
PTO president Wendy Jensen said that Dasal’s annual Christmas program performed by students is unlike any other.
“He’s amazing,” she said.
Jensen said that the program is a big deal for the school and that it is something that students look forward to each year.
“He really teaches the kids different things,” she said. “Especially the older kids, he teaches them more than just singing songs.”
Jensen said that rather than scraping the surface with ordinary songs, Dasal teaches his students about rhythm and beats.
“They love going to music because he really teaches them,” she said of her own children.
Jensen said that, when she heard of Dasal’s retirement, she was also saddened. She said that she hopes his replacement will be able to keep up with the precedent that this beloved teacher has set.
Choreographer for the Perkins dance group, Patriot Rockers, Leslie May said she will also miss working with Dasal.
“Pretty much from the get-go when he got here, he was 100 percent for the kids,” she said. “They got to experience things that a lot of kids in high school don’t even get: like performing on a stage with lights and sets and costumes.”
May credits Dasal with the creation of Patriot Rockers and said that without him the kids wouldn’t have learned to perform on a dance team.
“He’s going to be missed,” she said. “Everything (he does) is above and beyond. He’s a dreamer and makes everything happen.”
Scialabba said that she has recommended Ms. Thomson from Moore Elementary to fill the space that will be left by Dasal after eight years at Perkins.
“She has worked in Vegas at several schools,” she said of the replacement.
