Middle Schools In West Seattle

[luckymom30]

Just found out that if 10+ families call Denny needing bus transportation a rep from the school can petition for a school bus for the Arbor Heights area.

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[luckymom30]

Problem solved! Such a relief. Orca card provided by the district and a numbre of Arbor Heights area kids ride Metro so our child will have plenty of company.

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[mom3]

I have to chime in here. I know this thread is about Middle school as a whole, but I see quite a deal of discussion concerning the Denny band. This leaves the impression that Madison doesn’t have a band program – which is not the case.

West Seattle is blessed to have two very talented middle school band teachers. I have had kids at both middle schools and just cannot say enough about both band programs.

Madison has Clark Bathum, a very cool, excellent band teacher. Their program is extreemly viable and features a beginning band, advanced band, jazz band, orchestra and maybe even a Latin Jazz (don’t know if this after school program is still going on.) Mr. Bathum does an amazing job of music appreciation as well as teaching kids to play musically – what the composer means and intends the music to sound like. The kids just love him (he is young and hip.) His kids grow and perform quality, high level pieces. The band program, like Denny’s, is quite large and a good deal of the school participates.

Marcus Pimpleton (another young, hip guy) is at Denny. Denny has a vibrant program – which gets a little more publicity due to the Marching Band exposure. He, too, is a gift to West Seattle and we are lucky to have him. The Denny program features a Marching Band, Advanced Band, Beginning Band, Mariachi, Jazz, Steel Drums and Orchestra. He works to get as many students involved in music and also trains them up to march in the Seattle School’s summer ‘All City Band’ which proudly cheer during the summer parade season. Marcus keeps his band busy!

Both schools hire a strings coach/teacher for the orchestra. Both are building their orchestra programs. We are fortunate to have this as a resource and I hope this program isn’t a victim of funding cuts.

Both programs attend a year end competition, either in Idaho, Federal Way and this year Denny is going to Disneyland. Usually the also attend a district wide festival at Washington middle school where everyone plays a piece or two.

I have had kids attend both schools, and can truthfully say that there are things that each school excells at, but as a whole, both offer good programs. Both offer after school programs Monday through Thursday.

Visit the schools, sit in some of the classes if you would like and support those music programs (I am a band mother!)

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[luckymom30]

Thanks mom3 for speaking about the Madison band, wish they had more information on their school website.

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