So very glad to hear the decision of school district at Woodland Park High School! Bravo!
E
Emily Curtis
9 years ago
Band was my life. We need to keep this going. With a separate teacher who is only committed to band. ❤ Go Panthers!
R
Ronda Kinsman
9 years ago
We need to make the music programs great again for not long ago in 2014 Woodland Park School District RE2 was one of two in Colorado who were named amoung the "Best Communities for Music Education in the United States". Music is important in our community.
I have two teens in music one in Men's Ensemble and one in Concert Band and they are both committed and love it. It was their teachers Ms Connie Campbell and Miss Simpson who helped my two to appreciate music. In college the music degrees go either instrumental or vocal not both. Each needs it's own teacher to accomplish excellence.
J
Jackie Brown
9 years ago
I am relieved that the school board has decided to return to two full-time music positions, but I feel the problem in the Woodland Park School District is much larger than just this one issue. For years, our schools have offered an excellent education and a balanced variety of activities. As a district, we had created several niches where we excelled, causing us to draw students that were looking for strengths in specific areas such as music, art, special education, and honors/gifted programs. Unfortunately, over the last few years, we have seen the administration cut back on these very areas that have been our strengths. Because there was so much public out-cry, the school district has agreed to return to two full-time music teachers for the high school, but are you aware that cuts are already in place for the visual arts for next school year? The speech and debate team, which used to have a classroom and computer lab available to them for after-school practice, was told this last fall they can no longer have those rooms. The drama department has already been cut back. And similar cuts have been happening in our elementary and middle schools. I understand that finances are tight, but I disagree with the district on how to respond to reduced funding. I feel that our district has decided to simply appeal to the mediocre students that just want to get through school and have few goals for their future. I’d like to see us return to being a school that inspires these students to reach for more -- a school that offers excellence in education, music, art, drama, sports and so much more.
A
Anonymous
9 years ago
These programs are what make Woodland Park High School the school that it is. As a former graduate I can honestly say that sports were never our strong point. Forensics, drama, choir, band, and art, now these are our strong points. They are positive outlets for teenagers to make friends and sometimes unlikely friends. They help to strip away the stereotypical high school clicks. People communicate more, people support one another more, people actually understand the idea of community. Strip these away and strip away the chances of success. As some have already said stripping away things like this also forces Woodland Park High School to have a smaller population because many will find what they need in another school that actually has it. This school has already proven that sports are not it's niche. Students transfer to Manitou Springs to continue on with sports constantly. Sometimes they transfer to Coronado as well. You'll force more to leave if this occurs.
D
Donna Richards
9 years ago
The music program has been a shining star of our district. To not revitalize it is unthinkable.
H
Hermine Stearman
9 years ago
There is clear scientific evidence that music and the arts stimulate learning in other academic areas. As a former educator in the public schools, I urge the school district to not sacrifice this critical learning and social development tool for our kids!
P
Phyllis Burton
9 years ago
Really WPHS and RE-2. This is just the reason why parents send their kids to COS.
B
Barbara Smith
9 years ago
It is imperative WP have both a full time band teacher and a full time choir teacher.
A
Anonymous
9 years ago
Ok to respond to this email, but please do not share my email address. Thank you.
A
Anonymous
9 years ago
Open up the penny purse and pay for a second position.
S
Shelby Pawlus
9 years ago
As an alumni having been very active in the performing arts, this is an outrage.
K
Kenneth
9 years ago
Idk if theater is a music program but my friends like and so...
J
Jeanette Myers
9 years ago
I hope the School District will see the light and realize how important music is to the students and to Woodland Park. Find away to keep music in the school.
D
David Rubin
9 years ago
As an alumnus of WPHS, I know that the music programs were once a pride of the school. That combining the instrumental and vocal music programs is even a consideration concerns me greatly. I have great respect for the skills involved in teaching positions generally and music instruction specifically, and cannot imagine the same quality of instruction that instilled that respect in me coming from a teacher taxed by multiple curriculae and ill trained in one discipline. I urge the school board to reject this proposal in favor of some alternative.
R
Russell Patterson
9 years ago
As a student at Woodland Park High School, I got a firsthand look at what each of the music programs involved. The choral director position alone seemed to require so much time and dedication that the idea of combining this role with the added responsibility of maintaining an instrumental music program strikes me as ridiculous. Many of my friends spoke very highly of the music programs during our time in school together, and I would be very sad to see these programs continue to diminish in depth or quality.
L
Laura magnuson
9 years ago
Please don't cut these very important programs! There is a huge deficit in pro social activities for kids in this county and a t the same time, a huge drug epidemic. Our kids need opportunities like these programs in schools.
D
Daniela Pompeu
9 years ago
This is such an important part of the students education. It must be preserved.
B
Barbara hauber
9 years ago
These. programs are necessary for those who wish to further study in these areas, music also develops an important part of the brain that maes it more balanced. My experience in hi school music was incredible so I took it further. I would never sung later in life if it wasn't for high school chorus.
A
Amy Bissell
9 years ago
Music is so important in school. To take it away would be taking something in which everyone could participate that teaches discipline, concentration, working together, etc. Please keep it in our schools.
So very glad to hear the decision of school district at Woodland Park High School! Bravo!
Band was my life. We need to keep this going. With a separate teacher who is only committed to band. ❤ Go Panthers!
We need to make the music programs great again for not long ago in 2014 Woodland Park School District RE2 was one of two in Colorado who were named amoung the "Best Communities for Music Education in the United States". Music is important in our community. I have two teens in music one in Men's Ensemble and one in Concert Band and they are both committed and love it. It was their teachers Ms Connie Campbell and Miss Simpson who helped my two to appreciate music. In college the music degrees go either instrumental or vocal not both. Each needs it's own teacher to accomplish excellence.
I am relieved that the school board has decided to return to two full-time music positions, but I feel the problem in the Woodland Park School District is much larger than just this one issue. For years, our schools have offered an excellent education and a balanced variety of activities. As a district, we had created several niches where we excelled, causing us to draw students that were looking for strengths in specific areas such as music, art, special education, and honors/gifted programs. Unfortunately, over the last few years, we have seen the administration cut back on these very areas that have been our strengths. Because there was so much public out-cry, the school district has agreed to return to two full-time music teachers for the high school, but are you aware that cuts are already in place for the visual arts for next school year? The speech and debate team, which used to have a classroom and computer lab available to them for after-school practice, was told this last fall they can no longer have those rooms. The drama department has already been cut back. And similar cuts have been happening in our elementary and middle schools. I understand that finances are tight, but I disagree with the district on how to respond to reduced funding. I feel that our district has decided to simply appeal to the mediocre students that just want to get through school and have few goals for their future. I’d like to see us return to being a school that inspires these students to reach for more -- a school that offers excellence in education, music, art, drama, sports and so much more.
These programs are what make Woodland Park High School the school that it is. As a former graduate I can honestly say that sports were never our strong point. Forensics, drama, choir, band, and art, now these are our strong points. They are positive outlets for teenagers to make friends and sometimes unlikely friends. They help to strip away the stereotypical high school clicks. People communicate more, people support one another more, people actually understand the idea of community. Strip these away and strip away the chances of success. As some have already said stripping away things like this also forces Woodland Park High School to have a smaller population because many will find what they need in another school that actually has it. This school has already proven that sports are not it's niche. Students transfer to Manitou Springs to continue on with sports constantly. Sometimes they transfer to Coronado as well. You'll force more to leave if this occurs.
The music program has been a shining star of our district. To not revitalize it is unthinkable.
There is clear scientific evidence that music and the arts stimulate learning in other academic areas. As a former educator in the public schools, I urge the school district to not sacrifice this critical learning and social development tool for our kids!
Really WPHS and RE-2. This is just the reason why parents send their kids to COS.
It is imperative WP have both a full time band teacher and a full time choir teacher.
Ok to respond to this email, but please do not share my email address. Thank you.
Open up the penny purse and pay for a second position.
As an alumni having been very active in the performing arts, this is an outrage.
Idk if theater is a music program but my friends like and so...
I hope the School District will see the light and realize how important music is to the students and to Woodland Park. Find away to keep music in the school.
As an alumnus of WPHS, I know that the music programs were once a pride of the school. That combining the instrumental and vocal music programs is even a consideration concerns me greatly. I have great respect for the skills involved in teaching positions generally and music instruction specifically, and cannot imagine the same quality of instruction that instilled that respect in me coming from a teacher taxed by multiple curriculae and ill trained in one discipline. I urge the school board to reject this proposal in favor of some alternative.
As a student at Woodland Park High School, I got a firsthand look at what each of the music programs involved. The choral director position alone seemed to require so much time and dedication that the idea of combining this role with the added responsibility of maintaining an instrumental music program strikes me as ridiculous. Many of my friends spoke very highly of the music programs during our time in school together, and I would be very sad to see these programs continue to diminish in depth or quality.
Please don't cut these very important programs! There is a huge deficit in pro social activities for kids in this county and a t the same time, a huge drug epidemic. Our kids need opportunities like these programs in schools.
This is such an important part of the students education. It must be preserved.
These. programs are necessary for those who wish to further study in these areas, music also develops an important part of the brain that maes it more balanced. My experience in hi school music was incredible so I took it further. I would never sung later in life if it wasn't for high school chorus.
Music is so important in school. To take it away would be taking something in which everyone could participate that teaches discipline, concentration, working together, etc. Please keep it in our schools.