By Tamas Mondovics
Newsome High School students and staff, most specifically members of the Wolfpack Marching Band got a surprise announcement that will be hard to beat.
By paying a visit on Monday, April 27 to the school, Macy’s officials, led by Wesley Whatley, stood in front of the students and announced that the Newsome Wolfpack Marching Band has been selected to perform in the 2016 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
“My job is to look across the country and to find the best marching band,” Whatley told the excited crowd in the school’s auditorium. “I am happy to announce that you are just one of ten schools that was chosen to perform in the annual parade.”
Whatley emphasized that Newsome High School, located at 16550 Fishhawk Blvd., in Lithia, was picked out of 175 nationwide and that Macy’s Parade officials have been working in secret with Newsome administrators and the band director, Michael Miller, to surprise members of the band.
Adding to the intensity of the announcement, Whatley put things in perspective when he said that the band will perform in front of more than 3 million spectators on the streets of New York City and more than 50 million people that will be watching the papered on television.
“Your participation will bring honor to your school, community and the state of Florida,” he said.
Miller agreed when he told his students, “This is about as great of an honor as it gets. You guys have worked hard and it paid off.”
Sharing her excitement with the students, Newsome Principal Carla Bruning, reminded the band of the reason for their recognition.
“Your hard work has been rewarded and you deserve it,” she said, while adding,“This has been a difficult secret to keep and I am just so proud of you.”
Newsome’s chance to take part in the annual Macy’s parade is the first for the school and according to Hillsborough County Public Schools Supervisor of Music, Ted Hope, its also the first for any school in the county.
Newsome sophomores, Grace Vaughan and Mikaela Granados, could hardly believe their ears as they heard the news, saying without hesitation what the announcement and traveling to the city for the festivities meant for them.
“It’s pure excitement,” Vaughan said while Granados added, “We wouldn’t miss it for anything.”
For more information about Newsome High School please visit www.sdhc.k12.fl.us.
Photo: Newsome Wolfpack Macy’s Parade Anouncement
Cutline: Members of the Newsome High School Wolfpack Marching Band react to the announcement that the band was chosen to perform in the 2016 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Performing in the parade will be the first time for the school. Newsome will also be the first school ever to represent Hillsborough County in the parade.
