Bulldog Bark 10-4-16

THS Band Headed To Houston
by Ron Franklin, THS Principal
I would like to use this week’s Bulldog Bark as an opportunity to inform the Trenton community of some upcoming opportunities and actually brag on Tim Gilham and the Trenton High School Golden Bulldog Marching Band. This year the marching band schedule will be extended a few weeks because they have been accepted as a participant in the H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade in Houston, TX.
The Thanksgiving Day Parade in Houston is a 67-year-old holiday tradition showcasing the Houston community and entertaining parade-goers lining the streets on Thanksgiving morning. The estimated figures are 200,000 spectators along the mile long route in downtown Houston. There is an expected syndicated television viewing audience of about 1.65 million. The biggest problem for those of left back in Trenton is that we will not be able to view the performance because we are out of the regional syndicated area. Mr. Gilham is having the performance taped allowing the people back home to view it at a later date.
The annual H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade is produced by the Houston mayor’s Office of Special Events and the application/selection process was developed by Susan Christian, drector and parade producer, along with the parade selection committee. The Golden Bulldog band director, Tim Gilham, completed the application which included two auditions videos, sent them off to Houston, and the selection committee did the rest. On Sept. 8 Mr. Gilham was contacted by the Houston mayoral office and given a confirmed invitation to participate. Which he accepted and an opportunity was created for the Golden Bulldog Marching Band to showcase their talent on a very large stage. Trenton High School and the Trenton community should be proud of the hard work and talent of our students and the opportunity to show other communities what our students can do.
Mr. Gilham, with the support of the Trenton Band Boosters and the school district, developed a cost and time efficient itinerary for the Golden Bulldog Marching Band’s trip to Houston. The goal of the trip was to make it reasonably affordable for all students to participate if they were able to. The band is the largest single class that we have at the high school with 67 students add to that group the colorguard the number pushes to 77 students. The actual trip is over the Thanksgiving break which does create some conflicts with family gatherings. All those factors considered THS is preparing to send a large contingent to Houston to show case their talent. The band will leave Trenton early Wednesday morning, Nov. 23 by two motor coaches and arrive in Houston by 8 p.m. The parade is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day. The group will then spend the afternoon at the beaches in Galveston. Friday will be a day spent in Houston with a trip to the Space Center and the Kemah Boardwalk. Saturday, Nov. 26 will be a travel day back to Trenton where they should arrive back home about 9 p.m.
In order to defray some of the cost from the students the band boosters along with Mr. Gilham have been organizing some fund raisers and in this month you maybe begin hearing about a few more. These will be an opportunity for the Trenton community to come out and show support for the Golden Bulldog Marching Band. The group will be having events such as a spaghetti supper, potato bar dinner, car wash, and are putting together a scavenger hunt. These will be planned and organized by the students and will be carried out throughout the month of October. Look for announcements of these events throughout the month, come out break bread with the students get a meal and show your support for a group of kids that will be representing the community of Trenton in the Lone Star State.
When given the opportunity, take the time to congratulate members of the band and wish them luck. The work of the students, Mr. Gilham, and the band booster is another example of how the Trenton community actively seeks to fulfill the district’s mission to prepare students to be capable, contributing, caring participates in an ever-changing world.