Band Spectacular

 taken from the program November 7, 2012

A Bit of History

Excellence in music in the district began in the early 1920's when Joshua Williams came to Anaheim High School.  During the 30 years at that school he gave free lessons to his high school students as to make a complete orchestra, then he encouraged the elementary schools to develop music programs.  The next important champion in Anaheim was William (Bill) Cook, who came to Anaheim High School while he was still a senior at Redlands College.  With the retirement of Williams in 1950, Bill Cook spearheaded the development of music throughout the new schools that were being  built in the district.

Loara has been blessed with only 3 band directors in our 50 year history,

1. Rick Moreno
2. Bill Schroeder
3. Scott Domingues

The first Spectacular was held at La Palma Stadium in 1963.  The show moved to the newly opened Anaheim Stadium in 1967 and back to Glover Stadium in 1984.  During the enrollment high of the district, and prior to the high schools becoming four year institutions, the Spectacular drew crowds of over 25,000 and featured 26 AUHSD schools (17 junior high schools and 9 high schools).

The Band and Pageantry Spectacular was never intended to be a competition, but rather a "show." The basic rationale of the "show" was to show off the excellence of the Anaheim Union High School District music program and to help the progression of young musicians from the junior high school programs through the high school band programs.

The All District Junior High School Band is composed of 120 musicians represent the eight junior high schools in the Anaheim Union High School District.  The members are selected by their directors to join in this opportunity to introduce them to the high school band program.  The goals of this group are to promote high expectations, outstanding achievement, motivation, and involve junior high school students in the large scope of music education.

The All District High School Band is also chose by the band directors.  They chose an equal amount of students so the band is a overall representation of the best of the best when it comes to High School music.  Over the years some of the best musicians in the nation played in the all district band.

Since the early 90's Loara's ASB has agreed to attend each and every band spectacular and since then other ASB's have been seen there supporting their bands ... of course Loara High School is always the loudest.

Once a Saxon, Always a Saxon.

50th Anniversary / Birthday Rally 11.1.12

On November 1, 2012 Loara High School celebrated their 50th year in existence.  Covered in an earlier blog, Loara Beginnings - 80's you'll remember the school opened on November 1, 1962.  We have been planning this day for quite some time but with the help of David Sporn (class of 1990) Chuck McCance (class of 1974), Susan Nicholas (class of 1965) and alumni teachers Gary and Jeanette Cleaveland we were able to pull this off in full Saxon fashion.  Of course the main players were in place, asb, the band, the choir, jrotc, the cheerleaders and the color guard ready to perform to put on a great show.  We also had help from the PTSA bringing in over 2000 cupcakes for our kids, our new Principal John Briquelet as our emcee, the Superintendent Elizabeth Novack as our guest speaker and several alumni, alumni teachers and staff along with board members and other district officials.  It was an afternoon to remember.

50th Anniversary Celebration

Other Loara Dignitaries were;

1. Alden Esping (Health and Activities Director / Also at Ball Jr. High 30 years)
2. Carol Cook 
3. Dr. Jan Billings (taught in AUHSD and former Superintendent)
4. Shirley Miller (Ball Junior High's Cafeteria)
5. Dr. Agnes Meck (AP)
6. Mike Greenwood and his wife (Math)
7. Don Budd (Math)
8. Dave Hurlburt (taught Drivers Ed and Math - the longest at Loara)
9. Luis Ruiz (one of the first teachers at Loara)
10. Beverly Nicholas (school nurse)
11. Dave Strauht (custodian in the 60's and 70's)
12. Chuck Darrington
13. Bob Gardener (Principal at Clara Barton)

I can't explain the feeling of the campus by students and teachers alike, they were more complimentary than I've ever seen them in recent memory.

That morning during the video announcements, Gwen Stefani wished the Saxons a Happy 50th Anniversary (a video we also showed those in attendance of the Homecoming Assembly.)

Gwen Stefani's Congrats

"Back on November 1st, 1962, Loara High School first opened its doors to the public. Over the intervening 50 years, it has been an outstanding public high school, one with a rich history of academic and athletic successes and one that is still cherished by its students, staff, alumni, and the local community. Because this Thursday marks the actual 50th Anniversary of the Saxons, we will be celebrating with a pep-rally and ribbon-cutting ceremony during our students’ lunch period. In addition to our own students and staff, dignitaries from AUHSD, and Loara’s storied past have been invited to attend. We are looking forward to a wonderful event that will help all of us memorialize this important date."

Mr. John Briquelet - Principal 2012

Homecoming Assemblies

1962 - 1970

Traditional Assemblies were held and the alumni returned to support their team, their school and their community.  It was a true Homecoming where the alumni were allowed to come to the dance for free and helped performed in the Assemblies.

1970 - 1985

Boom Boom (John Dahlem) 1983 HC

Bubbles (Rick Martens) 1985 HC

The Legend of Boom Boom (John Dahlem) was well known at Loara High School during the 1970 - 1985 school years.  Boom Boom performed at all Homecoming Assemblies (until Homecoming 1984) and helped the faculty start the annual tradition of entertaining the Loara community.  Although "political correctness" would not support Boom Boom today, many Saxons fondly remember her dances and cheers for the football team.  For awhile Boom Boom's little sister Bubbles the Ballerina (Rick Martens, class of 75) came to perform but was short lived (1984 - 1987) as the Loara community changed.  Bubbles was initiated in 1985 and it was also the year they began the teachers Lip Sync, which is the tradition that is carried on today.

Seaxe 1985 Farewell to Boom Boom

1985 to the present

The all teacher lip sync came out of need.  Boom Boom retired her wig to become a Principal at Ball Junior High School, Loara's feeder school.  There was a concern to what came next after Boom Boom but with numbers like LMFAO and Psy and the teachers willingness to participate, we really solidified the next era of Homecoming Assemblies.  Our audience this year was filled with alumni and they were treated to a spectacle of cheers and spirit.  Along with the all teacher lip sync we have a 35 minute student assembly with performances from Cheer, Color Guard and Student Groups ... Loara's assemblies are legendary.

Assembly Slide Show Video Shown to the Students (Click Here)

Saxon Shield / First Edition

I thought about waiting to release the first "Saxon Shield" in a blog because we are working hard at getting together an editor and staff listing of all the Shields that ever were.  But as I look at the calendar I see time is a ticking.

Although I don't see a print date on this first edition of the "Saxon Shield" I'm dating it From October 17, 1962 to November 1, 1962, maybe a 65' alum has clear memories to print date.  You'll notice that this Shield was hand typed and formatted.  It was printed prior to the Student Government elections which are held on November 8, 1962 and you'll notice that the editor in chief happens to be Bob Adler who becomes the first ASB President of the school.

Other staff members on this copy I can read are:

Bob Adler Editor in Chief

Brent Romney: Sports Editor

Steve Milner: Art Editor

Debi Murdoch: Feature Editor

Margaret LaPierre Co editor

Linda Bernard: Social Editor

Let me pull out a few of the articles so you can read them a little better:

SAXONS IN THE SPOTLIGHT

By Debi Murdoch

Debby Arnhardt

Doing a terrific job of leading cheers this year is Debby Arnhardt.  Debby along with being the former head cheerleader, keeps a high scholastic average. Among her favorites Debby names: blue, "Close to Cathy" and Johnny Mathis.  When asked about her favorite food, Debby quickly replied, "Anything." It sounds like she really likes to eat! Debby's most embarrassing moment occurred earlier this year when she walked into the boys' gym by intake.  Since then, though, she seems to have found her way around campus much better. Debby's classes this your include English, Geometry, Gym (of course), Office Practice, Drivers Ed. and French.  She doesn't have a favorite class or teacher. For an ambition, Debby in interested in becoming an English teacher.  This should be quite a chance --- instead of telling us Saxons to yell louder she'll probably have her hands full keeping her class down to a low roar.  Unfortunately, Debby's family is moving to Borneo in about two months.  We'll sure be sorry to see such a loyal and outstanding Saxon leaving.  We all, I'm sure, wish Debby all the luck and happiness in the world.

BANNER CARRIERS CHOSEN

Tuesday, October 16 four banner girls and one baton twirler were picked.  These girls were chosen from twenty other girls to represent our school in parades.  The judges, Miss Malucky and Mr. Marino, decided on these four girls:  Janet Clark, Carol Shaw, Mickey Smith and Carolyn Young.  All girls participating were judged on poise, posture and ability to march to music.  Our only baton twirler, Pat Nannes, was chosen from two other girls on the basis of poise and routine.

(Note: in the 1962 yearbook there appears to be a Marcia Young carrying the letter A, also they list Margery Jo Black as the Drum Majorette.  Many claim this is a picture of Pat Nannes.  As I graduated in 1982 I cannot confirm not deny this claim.  Maybe a member of the original Seaxe can clear up any claims.  Yet another mystery)

Academic Rally

Part of the 400 students that were honored

 In the 2011 -2012 school year we realized that we were missing out on recognizing an entire group of students for their talents and gifts in education.  These kids have high academic achievement and great attendance records and nothing was done to recognize them.  Being the Activities Director for the school for 23 years I knew better but I was so overwhelmed by everything else that it was hard to do yet another thing. I remember when I was a student that we received certificates when we hit high academic honors, and that alone was pretty cool to receive.  But why not recognize them in the same manner as the athletes?  The idea isn't a new one, many schools have begun to change cultures and create a positive spin on getting great grades.  A company called Jostens started a Renaissance Program that showed schools how to put on great rallies and how to recognize students differently.  This program is nationwide, and should be applauded for it's efforts.  Many schools have Renaissance Classes and Officers that work just in the academic part of the schools inner workings.

Color Guard before Assembly

At Loara we have taken that idea and made it our own.  For many years Loara has had an Educations Officer in Student Government and that role has morphed into a Renaissance type role.  We do student of the month, read birthdays on announcements and some other minor things but we never hit them all at once in a public setting. On September 28, 2012 we held an assembly to change the culture, and stepped up what we have been talking about ... recognizing high achievers in all they do.  The assembly is very similar to a spirit assembly.

Sammy pumping up the crowd

The kids with 3.5 and higher walk through the sports tunnel as the band and drum-line play them in, the cheerleaders cheer, the color-guard twirls and the band plays the Alma Mater.  The only difference is, we have keynote speakers, the Principal speaks about education and an Honors Teacher talks about how proud they are of all the hard work and accomplishments put in by these students.  The video we show doesn't show how we did at a football game but shows images of the students working toward education and the clubs they are involved in.  Watch the video "What makes you beautiful" 

(spoiler alert) there is one grammar error in the video, I left it there on purpose to see if people were truly watching, I recall hearing that  Disney does things like this so in Disney n  style they always put in some kind of thing just for the people that made the film.