“Our goal for this program was to help bridge the gap between schools, making all incoming students feel welcome and ease the transition to the high school music program.”
Students and music faculty of High School East and West recently performed for the eighth grade music students of Great Hollow, Nesaquake and Accompsett Middle Schools. The high school student musicians were eager to perform for their former middle school teachers and to introduce a preview of the high school music program to the eighth grade students in attendance. Selected students even spoke about their experiences in the music program and offered sage advice to the future high school students. An added benefit was the high school students got a glimpse of their peers performing which nurtured respect and admiration among all students in the department.
“This was a tremendous undertaking to put together and without the support of outstanding administrators like Paul Strader, William Holl, Paul McNeil, John Scomillio and Victoria Hartman, it would not have been possible,” said Joe Cotignola, Instructional Specialist for the High School West Music Department. “I would also like to give a heartfelt thank you to all of the middle school music teachers, who not only prepare students for the high school program, but were integral in the execution and organization of Thursday's assembly. Thank you High School East teachers, Brian McCoy, Jen Leavy, Mark Hegreness, Dave Andres, Nesaquake Middle School teachers,Anthony Dazzo, Rachel Greenblatt, Jen McNeil, Rob Sammarco, Accompsett Middle School teachers Shekinah Brosnan, Eric Arsenicos, Ron Concessi, John Hacker, as well as Great Hollow Middle School teachers Sandy Jurlando, Larry Lippman, Matthew Margolin, Ryan Mcarthy, Taramatie Putnam and Kirk Roth.
Thank you to my fellow colleagues at High School West, James Brosnan, Jasmine Rodriguez, and Frank Scheno, as well as all classroom teachers, security and transportation who aided in helping make the showcase such a success.”
BRAVO!






