News & Events
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The 50th Annual Band Pageant is Thursday, November 16, 2017 – 6PM at San Ysidro High School Football Field (5353 Airway Rd, San Diego, CA 92154) Featuring SUHSD Middle and High School Bands. Tickets are $5, free admission for children 4 and under.
Participating High Schools: Bonita Vista High, Castle Park High, Chula Vista High, Eastlake High, Hilltop High, Montgomery High, Mar Vista High, Olympian High, Otay Ranch High, Sweetwater High, and San Ysidro High.
County of San Diego California PROCLAMATION Presented by Supervisor Greg Cox HONORING SWEETWATER DISTRICT BAND PAGEANT 50TH ANNIVERSARY. Participating Middle Schools: Bonita Vista Middle, Castle Park Middle, Chula Vista Middle, EastLake Middle, Granger Junior High, Hilltop Middle, Montgomery Middle, Mar Vista Academy, Rancho del Rey Middle, National City Middle, and Southwest Middle.
Chairwoman Dianne Jacob and all the members of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors herby declare this 16th day of November 2017 to be “SWEETWATER DISTRICT BAND PAGEANT DAY” throughout Sand Diego County.
City of Chula Vista PROCLAMATION Mayor of the City of Chula Vista Mary Casillas Salas together with City Council herby proclaim November 16, 2017 as “SWEETWATER DISTRICT BAND PAGEANT DAY” in the City of Chula Vista and ask all residents to observe and take part in activities recognizing the importance of music, musicians, and musical organizations to the cultured life of our city.
City of San Diego PROCLAMATION Councilmember for the Eighth District of the City of San Diego David Alvarez hereby commends Sweetwater District Band Pageant and proclaims November 16th, 2017 to be SWEETWATER DISTRICT BAND PAGEANT DAY in the Eight District of the City of San Diego.
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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.
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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:
