Superintendent Blog

Chris Gdowski

Superintendent

A couple of years ago, when The Bucket List was a popular movie in theatres, several of my colleagues talked about the life experiences they wanted to complete before the end of their life's journey.  I mentally developed my own "bucket list," and it is fairly short.  I'd like to travel to Africa and engage in meaningful, hands-on work with those burdened by poverty; attend the Kentucky Derby; harvest a wild pheasant with my sons by my side; and attend the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  (There are a few more items on the list, but I'll share them another time.)   Most of our high school students are decades away from thinking about their own "bucket lists," but I anticipate that many of them will be drawn to the energy of the Big Apple, the tradition of the Macy's event, and will add the parade to their lists.  And if those students are members of the 2011 Legacy High School Marching Band, they'll be able to check it off the list with fond memories of their participation in this year's parade.

The Legacy band is expected to be on the parade route tomorrow morning between 9:20 and 9:40 a.m. Denver time on KUSA-TV (Channel 9), and I hope that you'll join me in watching them perform.   There are many statistics which make clear that Legacy's marching band has exceptional talent and is deserving of the honor of performing in the parade, including Legacy's status as the 5A state champion marching band six years running and its selection as one of 11 marching bands to participate in this year's event from over 150 applications.  Legacy is only the third high school band from Colorado to participate in the Macy's parade over its long history, and the first to do so since 1998.  The 135 members of the marching band rehearse year round so that they can perform at the highest level in an environment of high expectations, and those fortunate enough to be along the parade route tomorrow will hear a band that one would assume had travelled from a college campus.

As I watch our Legacy students tomorrow morning, I'll be reflecting on the many individuals who have contributed to this opportunity but are unlikely to be on the TV screen.  That list starts with Clay Stansberry, the band's director, who invests his talents and enormous amounts of time each year in bringing out the best in each year's group of performers; continues with the extensive group of parent volunteers who spend evenings and weekends moving all of the equipment and instruments from semi-truck to performing area and back again; and concludes, fittingly, with the past members of the LHS marching band who performed at the exceptional level necessary for Legacy to be a successful Macy's applicant and have since graduated or moved to another school community.  These individuals have reminded me, once again, that there are many people behind the scenes, past and present, that contribute significantly to the present success of a marching band, a school, and a school district.

Congratulations and best wishes to the LHS marching band; have a great time tomorrow!  I'd also like to extend my sincere thanks, as we commence this Thanksgiving weekend, to all of those who have worked in and supported the Five Star school community, past and present.  You've given us a school system with much to be proud of and grateful for.  I'm thankful that I was a student in this community and for all of the opportunities that my outstanding Adams 12 education has provided me as an adult, and am committed to working with the staff, students, parents, and community members so that the current and future generations of Adams 12 students include their schooling experience among those things they are thankful for as they celebrate future Thanksgiving holidays.

Happy Thanksgiving!