By Marie Gilmore
More than a dozen Newsome teachers, music directors and leaders in the community gathered at the Aquatic Club pool in FishHawk Ranch recently to support the Newsome Band and Colorguard trip to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade next November. The fundraiser, called the Arctic Plunge, challenged the teachers vs. community members to see who could raise the most funds for the band. The winning team did not have to jump into the freezing waters of the Aquatic Club pool in FishHawk.
By a huge margin, the community leaders were the winners. The Newsome teachers were good sports and jumped into the freezing waters. This competition helped raise $3,800 for the Newsome Band trip next fall.
That is just a drop in the bucket for what the band needs to make the trip. The school, the first in the state to be invited to the parade and one of only seven high school bands scheduled to perform this year, will continue fundraising to reach its $140,000 goal.
With T-shirts, auctions, a 5K run, the Arctic Plunge and an upcoming Mardi Gras party on Friday, March 4 and an upcoming Spring events will also feature a Hop Into Spring Festival with breakfast with the Easter Bunny at The Landing Bar & Grill on Saturday, March 12, 8-10:30 a.m. next to Lithia Springs.
For more information on the Mardi Gras party, contact event chair Roxanne Salabaria at 967-7361.
The Arctic Plunge pitted the teachers against community representatives. Team Penguin included Newsome staff and faculty members, Director of Bands Michael Miller, Assistant Principal Richard Peacock, Orchestra Director Christopher Allen, Choir Director Jeff Bogue and Percussion Coordinator Ryan Marsh. Team Polar Bear included School Board Representative Melissa Snively, Realtor George Shea, Honorary Mayor of Brandon Michelle Hernandez, DJ Jake De La Cruz, Grizzly Creek Home Services’ Zach Shue and Lightning Lock’s Doug King.
“This is just awesome,” said Snively during the event, “I’m proud to be involved. Let’s get this band to the Macy’s parade!”
For more information, visit nbbfundraising@gmail.com or www.newsomeband.com.
