To the Editor:

I had the extreme honor of taking 131 students and 12 chaperones on a trip to the East Coast, specifically the areas of Washington, D.C., New York and Boston from June 27 through July 6.

We performed on the North Senate Park of the U.S. Capitol, on the flight deck of the USS Intrepid aircraft carrier and at the energy-packed 231st Fourth of July parade in Bristol, Rhode Island.

We were able to see and experience everything from the nostalgic memorials and monuments of our nation’s Capitol, the beautiful and historic Boston Commons, to the incredible Broadway musical “Wicked.”

It’s the fifth such trip I have had the privilege of leading with a young group of musicians. Students were praised for their behavior everywhere we went. Chaperones smiled out of pride for our young people. And, every time it gets more and more exciting.

To be able to offer this kind of an opportunity to our young people is like no other. That’s why I feel it is necessary to THANK YOU, Fairmont.

Thank you for continuously supporting our fundraising efforts. Thank you for your many donations toward our scholarship fund and our water fund. Thank you for your support by attending our many performances and for understanding the value of the performing arts in our community, and for our children. This trip was simply the “icing on the cake,” and for many a “trip of a lifetime,” for our well-rounded students who are so fortunate to live in a community as supportive as ours.

I’m so proud to be an alumna of Fairmont Area Schools, and to have the opportunity to raise my children here. Go Cards!

Kate Kallenbach

director of Bands,

Fairmont Jr./Sr. High School