For the second time this season, I got to spend Friday evening with the Hubbertville “Lion Pride” Band, who provided a superior soundtrack to the Homecoming 2014 festivities! First, let me try and express, as much as our human language can convey, just how proud of and thankful to the members of the “Lion Pride” Band and co-Band Director Mrs. Erika McCaleb I am. It’s a new experience of amazement each and every time I witness BOTH of my/our bands. Though there are those psychologically, academically, and socially inferior that have attempted to trip them up, the “Lion Pride” Band has marched straight on through and into the limelight once again! Literally countless people stopped me last night and commented on the sound and style of the “Lion Pride” Band. Spanning the 2014 season, numerous strangers from the VISITING SCHOOLS (yes, “Lion Pride” members, the “enemy”!) have commented on your return to all-encompassing success and pride. Sentiments also loudly echoed by a visiting Superintendent Wade Shipman! Each and every “Lion Pride” member and those that you perform for should be proud of your accomplishments and those of the dedicated Mrs. McCaleb. Truly, on so many levels, our Homecoming selection, “Can You Feel the Love Tonight”, was an apt choice. Once again, echoing a comment offered after the very first ballgame of this season, Principal Tim Dunavant (a staunch supporter of and fighter for the school’s Music Program) commented on the superiority of the National Anthem: “Best I’ve heard in three years.” Truly, and maintaining a Lollar, and now McCaleb , tradition, the “Star-Spangled Banner” sounds like a professional CD recording at BOTH schools. Speaking of the Berry “Red Regiment” Band, they flooded Lynn’s field with ghosties, ghoulies, and other denizens of the dark last night! “Who you gonna call!?” Since “Senior Night” is next week and requires a uniform formality to pay homage to those about to enter the real world, the “Red Regiment” Band celebrated the Halloween season a week early. In respect, I would like to offer a heartfelt “Thank you!” to Mrs. Karen Moore, who accompanied the band in my absence. Berry High School, as Legacy Director Angie Banks has professed for years, is THE model for academic and extra-curricular unity. There is not a day that goes by that Athletic Director Danny Raines (and those on his coaching and playing team) does not show support and concern for the “Red Regiment” Music Program. The same goes for the Cheerleading sponsors. It has been a personal professional dream of mine to experience such togetherness since parting ways with each Athletic Director I had the honor and pleasure of working with in the Marion County School System (Young, Peoples, and Hardin) many years ago. Yes, as Mr. Raines has so effectively summed the situation: “There should be no other way. We are all on the same team.” Simple, yet so profound. Though I appreciate it beyond words, more importantly, such a rationalization gives the students a rock-solid sense of self, security, and pride... all in a prime environment for learning what they need to conquer life through personal success. And THAT’S the ONLY reason we open the school doors each day. Thank you so very much to everyone that has returned these two music programs to excellence and a wish for psychological peace to those embarrassingly-troubled souls who have sought to tear them down. On a note of advertisement: The “Red Regiment” Band will be reaping the proceeds from the Hill’s Haunted Trail of Horror on All Saints’ Day, November 1. Up Pleasant Hill Road just outside of Berry, the event will be conducted from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. Ticket prices are $3.00 for those under 12 years of age and $5.00 for those 12 and above. Other than a wicked walk in the woods, other mayhem-on-the-menu includes concessions and a cemetery ride. Frightfully fun! On a strictly personal note: It was so much FUN seeing so many of my former students last night! My, how time flies and things change, but my love for you remains constant.
Posted on: Sat, 25 Oct 2014 19:39:03 +0000
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