Welcome to C-2

Today was my first day of field placement at Pleasant View Magnet School. I've worked in a magnet school before, however, Pleasant View focuses on visual and performing arts, which is new to me. The school seems like a nice place; it has a warm feel to it. However, I have heard from some friends that live in Lansing that the surrounding neighborhood is a little "rough".
My first impressions of C-2...
I walked in to a class of about 25 students with 1 teacher, all sitting on the rug in the front of the classroom singing a song. I quickly noticed the students' artwork hanging on the walls and the globe shaped lights that my CT has hung above the windows-which have cute little curtains hanging from them. The students sit at tables, in groups of 4-5. There is a play corner in the back of the room that has a Little Tykes kitchen along with student cubby's. There is a pretty diverse crowd sitting on this rug...racially at least. As I'm walking around, taking in this sense of community that has already been established, the students are dismissed to their seats for journal time. My CT then introduces me to the class and then they go about their business. It's clear to me that they know what is expected of them-they get right to work.
They begin their journal work and in a matter of minutes I can see the different academic levels coming through. Some students write whole words and simple sentences. Other students are still drawing a picture to get their brains thinking of words to use. Other students are drawing lines, instead of letters, as if they were text. Some students are copying their names from the name tag that is taped to their desk.
Recess time.
We all go outside and play for about 15 minutes. The playground is a busy place! K-8th grade students attend this school, and many classes are out for recess at this time.
When the students come back in the classroom they go straight to the rug and wait for their teacher to start singing a song. I'm noticing that there is a lot of singing going on in this classroom and I'm not sure how I feel about that. Would I be comfortable doing this in front of someone else? Is this my CT's personal choice?
The rest of the day breezes by as I spend more time observing the different interactions taking place and try to place faces with names as my CT calls them aloud.
This is going to be an interesting year...I wonder if the singing will continue???