School News

On Saturday March 5th, the Winamac Community High School Robotics Team won the Jay County Vex Robotics Tournament. The team finished the qualifying rounds 9-0 then won the elimination rounds. Members of the team are Eric Sass, Alex Gudas, Natasha Daugherty, Eric Newman, Brett Beach, Kohl Hoover, and Greg Zellers.

(L to R) David Elliott, Drew Shearin and Craige Pihpps. Photo provided.

Lafayette Jefferson World Premiere of “Uncertainty”, composed by Knox High School Student Andrew “Drew” Shearin, occurred on March 2nd, 2011. The Lafayette Jefferson High School Annual Concerto Concert was the forum for this special performance. Drew was represented with his plaque signifying winning the IMEA (Indiana Music Educators Association) Young Composers Competition Concert Band Class which he received at the IMEA State Convention. Drew was asked to introduce the piece that was performed by Lafayette Jefferson’s top Wind Ensemble with a short speech. “Uncertainty” was wonderfully performed and both the piece and Drew received a 2 minute standing ovation. After the concert was concluded, Drew was greeted and congratulated by many of the concert goers and the various attending directors as well as the Knox School Corporation instrumental music staff.

The Knox Tomahawk Jazz Ensemble performed at the ISSMA Jazz Festival in LaPorte on Friday evening and recieved a Gold award.  The Knox Middle School Band also played and received a Silver award.

The Knox Winterguard participated in their last competition of the season at the Indiana High School Color Gaurd Association Divisional Finals at Mooresville and was one of 11 teams in the competition to receive a Gold. There were 37 teams who participated.

The North Judson-San Pierre Jazz Combos participated in the annual ISSMA Jazz Festival at LaPorte High School this past Friday night. Both Jazz Combos earned Gold Performance Ratings. Jazz Combo I performed “Designated Swing” and “Put ‘Em Up” while Jazz Combo II performed “It Ain’t Over ‘Til The Fat Lady Swings” and “All The Blues That’s Fit To Print”. Members of the Jazz Combos are Matt Godsey, Carter Tucker, Connor McBride, Austin Stacy, AJ Garay, Katie Farler, and Katelyn Miller.

The Plymouth High School Jazz Band competed in the ISSMA Jazz Competition at LaPorte H.S. on Friday evening and came out with the top award rating (Gold Award)! The band was also able to see a clinic performance by the University of Missouri Jazz Ensemble. This Gold rating completed the third of four phases for the instrumental music department to receive the prestigious ISSMA “All Music Award” given to groups that receive only Gold Awards at every ISSMA event during a school year.

The PHS Winter Guard competed in the IHSCGA Divisional State Finals on Saturday at Mooresville H.S. After winning the Class 3A State Championship last winter, they moved up to Class 2A for a higher level of competition against larger schools. Although Penn H.S. won the state championship, Bryan Ames reported that Plymouth was BY FAR the crowd’s favorite group of the day and the gym came alive with applause during their performance.

The PHS Winter Drumline (currently ranked 5th in the state – out of 30 schools going into the state prelims) will compete for their second state finals performance this coming weekend. The group made state finals for the first time last winter in Class 2A. The group will compete at Avon H.S. this coming Saturday at the I.P.A. State Prelims. Only 10 schools will advance to the state finals and Plymouth is seated in the 5th position.