Students from W.T. Cooke Elementary recently performed the national anthem at a Norfolk Admirals hockey game for the first time.

Students in the fifth grade chorus were excited in the weeks leading up to the Feb. 1 performance at Norfolk Scope, fifth grade teacher Logan Berns said.

“Students have been very motivated during rehearsals and are really looking forward to the upcoming opportunity,” Berns said.

Music teacher Apollo Simon was interested in having the fifth grade chorus perform. The Admirals’ mascot, Salty, knows Cooke Elementary well as he has attended the school’s spirit assemblies.

Cooke students had performed the national anthem at the school’s turkey bowl, but this was a much larger event.

Several students and staff attended the game as part of a spirit night. One of the Admirals players, Pavel Padakin, is the father of a Cooke pre-kindergarten student. The family emigrated to Virginia Beach from Ukraine.

“Students did a wonderful job and the performance went well,” Berns said. “It was the largest audience the students have performed for and they enjoyed the entire experience.”