Mountain View High Band Gets A Little Help From Faraway Friends
EL PASO, TX. – Band students at Mountain View High School in Clint have received an uplifting promise from a group of perfect strangers.
It’s almost hard to believe the band students at Mountain View High are able to make such graceful and beautiful sounds using instruments and equipment that are anything but beautiful. One student uses duct tape on his french horn, just to hold it together.
But that’s all about to change. “We’re speechless, I’m speechless. It’s a blessing,” saidJessica Ramirez, a member of the high school’s marching band.The blessingcame from an unexpected place they said.
After witnessing the band’s needs during a trip to El Paso, Cinco RanchHighSchool’s band director in Houston inspired his students to help. “Our thought is the more instruments we can give to Mountain View the more opportunity for students to be part of an extracurricular activity,” said Mike Oullette.
Mountain View students say unlike Cinco Ranch they just don’t have many resources. “We don’t have luxuries, our families can’t afford some of tluxuries they have. They cannot afford our private insturments,” said young Jessica.
Teachers here say one of the resources they just do not have is extra contributions from the parents; the say because of the socio-economics of these neighborhoods, which is of ablue-collar typemoney is just not in abundance. “In years past, we’ve never had a band reach out to us and say we want to help you guys, we’ve always had to do it on our own through the district, and with little parent involvement,” said Alyssa Olivas, another band member.
“These kids are high quality, they’re great students. They’re just the best, and sometimes that isn’t enough to convince people that this is a good program,” said Mountain View’s band director, Alma Beach. Band members say the loudest message they would like to send is symphony of gratitude.
“Thank you so much, if we could run over and give them each a hug for what they’re doing we would. We’re appreciative of what they are doing for us,” added Lorenza Contreras. Mountain View band students say they are now motivated to one day pay the gift forward to another needy school.
