Most families living here would agree that Edgewood is a special place. The connection that people feel in the community and at the school is something that’s truly unique. So when one Edgewood mom, Laura Bower, was tasked with writing the lyrics for a song to be performed at a school staff appreciation lunch, she decided to base it on the idea of how Edgewood is “a school more like family.”

The song she eventually wrote, called “The Edgewood Connection,” was sung at the lunch in March by PTA co-presidents Susie Smith and Heedan Chung-Goh, accompanied by Edgewood dad Ray Dotoratos on viola.

Here’s our Q&A with Laura on how she was inspired to write the song, followed by the complete lyrics and a video of the actual performance.

I was speaking with PTA co-president Susie Smith, and she mentioned they wanted to do a song for the staff appreciation luncheon called “The Edgewood Connection” (based on the song “The Rainbow Connection”). I offered to help out if she needed it, and she took me up on my offer!

I have always been interested in writing. I have stacks and stacks of journals that I started writing in when I was about eight. I took some creative writing/poetry classes in college. When I graduated from college I got a job at a public relations firm where I was constantly writing press releases, backgrounders, website content, etc. In the past few years, I have been focusing on more creative writing, and so I was happy to get the chance to work on the lyrics for the song.

Susie and Heedan had collected some key phrases about Edgewood from the administration, teachers, and students. I wove those sentiments into the lyrics for the new song. One of the things that was said over and over in the comments was how Edgewood feels like a true community, and everyone looks out for each other, so I decided to make “a school more like family” part of the refrain.

I pulled up “The Rainbow Connection” on You Tube (sung by Kermit himself!) and wrote down the lyrics, word for word. Then I swapped in the new lyrics, making sure they fit into the beat and rhythm of the song.  Susie and Heedan did a great job performing it, with a beautiful accompaniment by Ray Dotoratos on the viola, at the luncheon.

The Edgewood Connection
By Laura Bower

Why aren’t there more schools
schools just like Edgewood?
A sea filled with blue and white pride.
Families have stayed here
and new families move here
to make Edgewood a stop on their ride.
So we’ve been told and we all now believe it
that Edgewood’s like no other school.

We know we’ve found it
The Edgewood Connection
A school more like family.

We’re lucky our wishes
have been heard and answered
a school filled with kindness and charm.
The assemblies and concerts,
the Edgewood time capsule,
the garden and spring school fair.
A school so idyllic, filled with great teachers
and with good people who care.

We know we’ve found it
The Edgewood Connection
A school more like family.

Someday we’ll leave it,
but never forget it.

A home that’s been etched in our hearts.
We’ll always be eagles with wide open wings,
who’ve learned to soar on our own.
We’ve heard it too many times to ignore it.
It’s somewhere that we’re supposed to be.

We know we’ve found it
The Edgewood Connection
A school more like family

La Lala la Lala la la La la la la la la