On November 13th, 2017, The San Diego Union Tribune featured an article about the upcoming Band Pageant and Olympian High School Band Director Eric Mabrey titled: Sweetwater high school band show happens Thursday.
On November 13th, 2017, The San Diego Union Tribune featured an article about the upcoming Band Pageant and Olympian High School Band Director Eric Mabrey titled: Sweetwater high school band show happens Thursday.
Sweetwater District Band Teacher Amy Cruz is taking the challenge of making the arts accessible to EACH child to a new level at Bonita Vista Middle School. What began as a pull-out program for kids with mild-to-moderate disabilities has blossomed into a full class where students, teachers, and peer mentors gather together to make music.
Ms. Cruz worked with her Principal, Dr. Eduardo Reyes, the Director of the Visual and Performing Arts Department, Jeff Kover, and the director of Special Services, Dr. Ron Lopez to get funding for the class. Through their combined efforts, Ms. Cruz was able to have a stand-alone class, instruments, and the support of the teachers and staff of Bonita Vista.
Teaching instrumental music is always challenging, but even more so when students are disabled. “We have students with mobility challenges, a lot of them have dexterity challenges where manipulating their fingers can be difficult. Playing a standard instrument like a clarinet or saxophone or even a trumpet could be tricky because they don’t have the same finger strength but with our modified instruments, with recorders and the Orff instruments, they’re able to participate and in meaningful ways. They’re making music but adapted to their ability level.” Ms. Cruz adapts music to the instruments and abilities of her students, while teaching them basic music fundamentals.
Working alongside Ms. Cruz are the Special Education teachers like Richard Giffen. He has found that, beyond the music lessons, “we’re able to make connections. Music is that language of communication that allows them to communicate with peers of all levels.” He is proud of the exposure that his students receive to experiences they might not have had otherwise.
Parents are happy with the program as well. “The students get to be on stage, they get to perform. For some of them that makes them very nervous but once it’s done and once they’re up there and they have that moment of ‘we did it’ they are just beaming and their parents are beaming. It’s great to give the parents the opportunity to see their kids with all of the other students performing” says Ms. Cruz. Her plan now is to make this class available to the rest of the district.
You can see these wonderful kids and their teacher on Youtube here:
The District Orchestra Fall Concert is Tuesday, November 7th, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. Location: Eastlake High School Ruth Chapman Performing Arts Center (1120 Eastlake Parkway, Chula Vista, CA 91915)
Featuring the District String and Symphonic Orchestras under the direction of Jennifer Opdahl, Greg Caldera, and Maren Glover. General admission is $5.00 (free admission for children 4 and under)
EastLake Middle School’s 1st Annual Day of the Dead Celebration and Display is November 1st, 2017 from 5:30 – 7:00 PM at the EastLake Middle School Pavilion (900 Duncan Ranch Road, Chula Vista, CA 91914)
For more information, please contact Visual Art teacher Andrea Arroyo at ELM.
Sweetwater High School Advanced Art -Mediation/Relaxation Exhibition October 13-15, 2017 at The Healthy Spirit – 629 3rd Ave #B, Chula Vista, CA 91910. Reception is Friday, October 13 from 7-9pm. Open House is Saturday, October 14 from 12-5pm.
Congratulations to two of our outstanding music educators! The California Music Educators Association-Southern Border Section has once again honored teachers in the Sweetwater Union High School District as Outstanding Music Educators. They will be recognized at the annual Arts Empower Mega-Conference in October.
Tamara Frazier, Castle Park Middle School: Middle School Music Specialist Award
Danielle Bruce, Hilltop Middle School: Richard Levin Orchestra Educator Award
Congratulations! We are all so very proud of you!
The 2017 Sweetwater Summer Theater Institute presented CHILDREN OF EDEN on July 26-28 at 7 pm & July 29 at 2 pm – San Ysidro High School – Dr. Maida Torres-Stanovik Performing Arts Center (5353 Airway Road, San Diego, CA 92154) Performed entirely by Sweetwater District students.
Directed by Jose C. Lopez
Assistant Director: Rhys Greene
Choreographer: Valerie Ingram
Music Director: Tony Sacco
Vocal Director: Rebecca Land
Assistant Vocal Director: Barbara Schroeder
Stage Designer: Paul Maley
Theater Manager/Lighting Designer: Keith Davis
Sound Designer: Eusevio Cordova
Costume Designers: Kelly Fox & Marce Drysdale
Prop Master: Analyse Gutierrez
Pit Orchestra information here.
The 2017 Sweetwater Summer Theater Institute presented CHILDREN OF EDEN on July 26-28 at 7 pm & July 29 at 2 pm – San Ysidro High School – Dr. Maida Torres-Stanovik Performing Arts Center.
Orchestra Director – Tony Sacco
Keyboard – Kyra Sacco
Accompanist – Barbara Schroeder
Flute – Jia Wen Chen (ORH)
Piccolo – Geli Samia (OLH)
Soprano Saxophone – John Cochran III (ELH)
Oboe – Jeremiah Vargas (OLH)
Alto Saxophone – Jason McCann (BVH)
Tenor Saxophone – Anthony Belen-Gonzalez (SYH)
Baritone Saxophone – Eliezzer Rodriguez (SYH)
Trumpet – Israel Avila (MOH)
French Horn – Adrian Lacsamana (BVH)
Trombone – Myles Gonzalez (BVH)
Percussion – Gabriel Ledezma (BVH)
Drum Kit – Angus Campos (SYH)
Congratulations to the 2017 San Diego County Fair Student Showcase – Best in Show and Best of Class award recipients from the Sweetwater Union High School District!
Fine Arts Results:
Teacher | Student | School | Division | Class | Ribbon |
Young | Xavier Cordova | MOH | 4308 Print | 005-10-12, 2-4 yrs | Best of Class |
Exum | Ashleigh Alqueza | OLH | 4300 Ink | 004-10-12, 1st yr | Best of Class |
Young | Keilyn Cendana | MOH | 4302 Pencil | 004-10-12, 1st yr | Best of Class |
Burner | Dafne Martinez De La Parra | RDM | 4307 Collage | 002 – Gr 8 | Best of Class |
Burner | Mikala Quiambao Villanueva | RDM | 4301 Pastel | 002 – Gr 8 | Best of Class |
Burner | Mikala Quiambao Villanueva | RDM | 4302 Pencil | 002 – Gr 8 | Best of Class |
Burner | Angel Solano | RDM | 4316 FineArt | 002 – Gr 8 | Best of Class |
Burner | Karlee Paiste | RDM | 4307 Collage | 001 – Gr 7 | Best in Show |
Photography Results:
Teacher | Student | School | Division | Class | Ribbon |
Helton | Mathias Cien | HTH | 4707 Phone | 005-10-12, 2-4 yrs | Best of Class |
Lim | Trace Thompson | BVH | 4708 Aerial | 005-10-12, 2-4 yrs | Best of Class |
Lim | Rebekah Torres | BVH | 4708 Aerial | 004-10-12, 1st yr | Best in Show |
Helle | Cedric Vitug | BVH | 4709 Action | 004-10-12, 1st yr | Best of Class |
Lim | Arie Jajati | BVH | 4707 Phone | 003 – Gr 9 | Best of Class |
Helle | Veronica Macias | BVH | 4709 Action | 003 – Gr 9 | Best of Class |
Video Results:
Teacher | Student | School | Division | Class | Ribbon |
Exum | Xavier Sanchez | OLH | 4904 PSA | 002 – 9-12 | Best of Class |
Exum | Jessica Villarin | OLH | 4902 Music Video | 002 – 9-12 | Best of Class |
Graphic Comm Results:
Teacher | Student | School | Division | Class | Ribbon |
Helle | Vivianna Estrada | BVH | 4507 2pg Spread | 014 – 9-12 Group | Best in Show |
Lim | Fabian Llamas | BVH | 4505 Typography | 004 – 10-12 1st yr | Best of Class |
Lim | Yax Trejo | BVH | 4500 PS Ad | 004 – 10-12 1st yr | Best of Class |
Helton | Eilana Rodriguez | HTH | 4516 Group Project | 003 – Gr 9 | Best of Class |
Lim | Kailani Del Rio | BVH | 4500 PS Ad | 003 – Gr 9 | Best in Show |
Lim | Earl Purser | BVH | 4505 Typography | 003 – Gr 9 | Best in Show |
New Media Results:
Helton | Ella Geonzon | HTH | 4100 Ed/Info | 011 – 9-12 Indiv | Best of Class |