Disney Honors Trip:

Received April 16, 2005

Disney Honors Photos by PapaB!

Disney Honors Photos by Mary Weiss!

Disney Honors Photos by Janet McDonough!

Disney Honors Photos by Wally Nadeau!

Disney Honors Group Photos for Printing!

Disney Honors Photos by Robin Moore!

You Do Not Want To Miss This Video!

Disney Honors Semi-Formal Banquet Video

WSHS Disney Honors Performance Video

We flew an Airbus 319 Click Here
Click here to looking inside the cabin.

Walt Disney History
Walt Disney World Inside/Out

4/18/2005 Email

Greetings

Well, we are back from participating in the inaugural Disney Honors program for Band and Orchestra in Orlando. This program is designed to showcase the elite high school music programs in our country. We not only got to perform, but we also got a workshop and a couple of seminars. We left last Wednesday for the jam packed three and a half days. I would like to make several comments so you know how things went.

Performance. When the Mighty Vikings walked into the breakfast seminar in full concert attire, the reaction form the other bands was wow. The music performed by your students was fabulous. It was the same music from VBODA with an additional piece added in. To my ear, and although I am a little biased, this was the best performance I have ever heard the Mighty Vikings give. Our chief judge, H. Robert Reynolds of the University of Southern California and the dean of American music educators, singled out Beth Keegan for exception play on the soprano sax. Based on his comments, I believe that he was really surprised at how good WSHS was.

Behavior. When our school administrators need an example of how it should be done, they should point to the band. Your students were on time, considerate, exceptionally pleasant and a real pleasure to be with. We did not have one incident; in fact nothing happened that was out of line. In every circumstance, our kids set the example. On top of that it seemed to me that everyone had a really good time.

Direction. The preparation of the band was outstanding. I would like to give a big hip-hip-hooray to Mr. Pearman for a job well done. (I’m sure there will be pictures that show that Mr. Pearman had a good time too.)

Thank you. A big thanks to our chaperones who created an environment for the kids to have a great time while making sure they were safe 100% of the time. They organized the kids into groups from Dulles, to the performance venue, through the parks, to the dance and banquet and then back to Dulles. It was an outstanding effort. I know, because all I saw were kids smiling and laughing all the time. My personal thanks go to Mr. Ed Bayne, Mr. Sylvester Jefferson, Mrs. Robin Moore, Mrs. Sherry Smith, Mrs. Karen Wedmark and Mrs. Mary Weiss who also was the trip nurse. I would like to offer a really big personal thanks to Mrs. Janet McDonough, our lead chaperone, who also had the unenviable task of getting the poor performing bus company to get our kids where they needed to go.

I also need to thank Mrs. Christine Wykle, our treasurer, who keeps tracks of all the money. Without Mrs. Wykle we could not have gone.

Finally, thanks to all of you parents for entrusting us with your kids and for writing the checks which makes it possible for them to have this kind of wonderful experience. You should be proud because they represented their families and school as well as it can be done. Check the website when you can, I’m sure that pictures and videos will start to appear shortly.

Wally Nadeau
Booster President

4/19/2005 Email

Wally, Thanks for the informative e-mail. I am very proud of our Band program and their ability to make trips like this with such positive results is only one of the reasons why. I am gratified that your trip was such a success. Thank you for sharing.

Alan C. Ross
Principal

April 27, 2005 Email

Dear Band Family

As most of you know a week ago last Monday night, I had significant chest pain. (No, it was not caused by the kids in Orlando). Following quick evaluations at Potomac and Fairfax hospitals, I heard that I had three major arteries blocked from 80 to 90 percent. Last Thursday, I had a triple by-pass. I am now home and, through the grace of God, apparently on the road to a complete recovery. Looks like my activities will be restricted for about a month or so depending on how well I heal and apply myself.

Thanks for the beautiful plants, all of the cards, the countless offers of help, the many visits and all of the prayers.

Thanks to the rest of the board for picking up the slack and finishing the budget process.

Finally, please accept my heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming support. I am truly humbled by your concern for me and my family.

Wally

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