***Sorry that this was first published incompletely!  I was on my phone driving home from a  pumpkin carving event, but wanted to get this post out 🙂 Thank you T-Maybe for your ultra convenient spots of lost service.***  The following is what I intended to publish.  Thankfully WordPress has a “Revision History” and it was preserved there by the grace of God! : )

It’s so true that success is the journey and not the outcome. I am so blessed and privileged to work with a family who understands this truth. Although our journey is not over, we should take a moment to celebrate the growth that we have achieved this season.

As I shared with students before we took the field for our final competitive performance together as the 2014 CHS Trojan Marching Band, I know exactly how our band students felt starting this season with a new director. Both in high school and in college I had the opportunity of getting to know a new band director at the start of my senior year. On both occasions I was faced with uncertainties and anxieties about the season ahead. Bands are families with unique bonds built from trusting and depending on each other to achieve success. I appreciate everyone, students, staff, and parents, welcoming me into the family and allowing me to experience this journey as your director. The success that we have experienced wasn’t achieved by any one individual, but the determination and persistence of the collective individuals in pursuit of the same goal. For this we must celebrate!

We should celebrate the highly motivated and caring individuals who are our students. They hear, “One more time,” and understand that it is necessary for us to succeed together. They hustle back for each other, practice their individual parts for each other, and strive to give their personal best on a daily basis. They have held extra sectionals to fix the smallest details and organized secret pals to show their love and support for one another.

We should celebrate our supportive community and highly resourceful and active band parent organization. The efforts of these individuals on a daily basis to allow their children to participate, preparing props to add to the overall show, mending uniforms, creating costume accessories, loading equipment, hauling trailers all across our state, providing moral support and encouragement to do our best, and being our biggest fans to inspire us to give it our all, is a difference maker. Thank you for all the things listed and the ones I failed to mention. You guys handle so many things sometimes I question if anyone really knows all of the ways in which we are supported by our parents and community.  We are grateful for you and appreciative of your support!

We should celebrate our passionate and knowledgeable staff. Thank you for always having the best interest of the students in mind when preparing lessons and working together to provide the best possible instruction for our students. Your tireless efforts and passionate individual enthusiasm is inspiring to all.

We should celebrate our supportive school and administration. Dr. Albertus was once again in attendance at our competition assisting with our prop crew and cheering on our students. We are very fortunate to be shown regularly how important our students and program are to our school and community. Thank you, Dr. Albertus for making us a priority.

Finally, we should celebrate our family. People who are undoubtedly leaving a LEGACY at CHS that will be remembered long after they graduate. I am honored to be a part of it. We know that it is the sum of all of our parts that makes us truly special. No one plays a role too large or too small to be celebrated. Thank you all for working together and having fun in the process! Congratulations Band Family for the accolades won last night. But more importantly, congratulations on inspiring people to cheer, move, conduct, and “throw babies!” Another standing ovation from a critical crowd who understands our art form. BRAVO! And many lasting memories were made with friends who will stand the test of time. I look forward to the many other successes that we will achieve together as we continue this journey!

See you tomorrow! *Reminder practice will be finished at 5:00PM on Monday. We will begin learning drill for our Halloween show. Looking forward to Friday night!