By SARAH HODGES

Beaufort County Schools

The shelves of the Washington High School Band Room are adorned with years of Marching Band trophies, many older than the students now in the program and even their director. The days of a large band program may be gone for now, but if it is up to Michael Blackmon and the current band students, that will be a temporary condition.

The Pam Pack Band is down to 25 members. Their number may be small but they are all heart.

Ariel Jones, drum major, takes a great deal of pride in what the band accomplishes with a performance. “We reach out to the community and make others happy with our music.” Members of the band like Erin Lewis take their role very seriously when it comes to school spirit and supporting their athletic teams. “It means a lot to show we care,” the Pam Pack junior explained. “We love them (the football team) and want to help out.”

Pam Pack Alum and basketball star Tonya Holley remembers first-hand the importance of the band performing at athletic events. “The band is just as important as the team,” she explained. The presence of the band and the enthusiasm they bring is “a lot of support.”

Much like Coach Roy Williams when he took over Tar Heel basketball, Michael Blackmon had his work cut out for him when he became director of the Washington High School Band Program. Now in his second year, Blackmon wants the program to turn a new page when it comes to the image of the band.

“The goal is to fund new uniforms and more sizes,” Blackmon told us. “Currently we can’t outfit all the students we have.” Age and wear have taken a toll on the existing uniforms that can only be helped by replacement. That replacement has a price tag of $350 per student. The band program has set a goal of $11,000 to have new uniforms and needed equipment repairs in place for the 2015-2016 school year.

The annual fruit sale, going on now, will support the band reaching that goal and taking the field by storm next fall. Pam Pack Band Members will be selling oranges, tangerines, grapefruit, and apples to raise money for the programs and a set of new uniforms for next fall. You can order from any Pam Pack Band Member or by calling the school. Prices for fruit can be found by visiting the Washington High School webpage. Look for the band’s Fruit Sale icon. The fruit sale will run until November 24, with delivery expected the first week of December.

 

Playgrounds are about much more than recess according to Arie and Kanyon….

For Northeast Elementary School students Arie DeHoog, grade five, and Kanyon Slade-Credle, grade three, the gift from the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust means a great deal.

“The first thing I would want to tell them is thank you,” explained Kanyon. Before the improvements from this project, students often could not go to their low-lying playground for a few days after a rain event. Raised, mulched areas beneath equipment such as the swings have greatly improved the playground’s tolerance for water. “Some days if it had rained, the playground was straight up mud,” according to Arie.

For these students, missing time on the playground was much like missing instruction time in class.

“You learn a lot on the playground,” Arie told us. “It teaches you how to participate with each other.” Kanyon agreed. “Teamwork, you learn teamwork.”

“Playing is exercise and exercise keeps your body healthy.”

Take it from a third grader.