Cottonwood West Jr. High band makes cut

Like the trump of Gabriel, music once more fills the halls of West Cottonwood Jr. High as the school's threatened band program returns.

Tension built up during the summer months as a heated argument regarding the eventual fate of the band program was continued board meeting after board meeting.

"I didn't receive any notice about the program returning until about two weeks before school started, and at that point they were still only 95 percent sure about the program's return," states a relieved Alice Bailey.

"I believe that the last article of this sort put a lot of pressure on the board, and I think that it aided to the return of the program," explained Bailey. "It was only a week ago that I got the full assurance that the band would be back for at least another year. The kids would be missing out on a great opportunity should it have gotten removed."

Mrs. Bailey was not the only person that was excited about the program's return.

Nicole Smith, an eighth grader at West Cottonwood Junior High and an avid music player, commented, "I was upset that the program was being considered for cancellation. We have so many sports teams, it is nice for those of us who don't play sports to have a place to come and enjoy playing music. It is like a big family."

"Music is a great form of expression," said Bailey. "I'm thrilled that we got to keep the band program, I love working with these kids, though the eighth graders sometimes test my patience."

Band having just started back up, most band students are now hard at work preparing for the upcoming Winter Concert that they play every year.