Heard in the Halls - October 2020

As JROTC Raider Brigade has embarked on another school year at CDH, it is clearly like no other year we have ever experienced. Although the pandemic creates some challenges for us this year, we will not let it derail us from continued success as we continue to maintain excellence in our 103rd year of pride and tradition in the CDH community.

One thing that has not slowed down is the continued increase in enrollment in JROTC. We have averaged 86 new ninth graders every year for the past three years. If the trend continues into the next school year, we will see an opening enrollment in JROTC of over 330 cadets. 

Traditionally in September, we have two big events, the Fall Review Parade and the Camp Ripley adventure training. Unfortunately, we had to cancel both of these events due to the pandemic. Hopefully, we will be able to reschedule the Camp Ripley trip for the spring if all goes well.

October in JROTC is the month of the senior class. The time-honored tradition of promoting our deserving seniors to Diamond Officers will still happen on October 30. After a records review, inspection, peer, and faculty evaluations, the ceremony will still take place, but it will have a very different look. The eligible seniors who make the final cut will be promoted to Major, Lieutenant Colonel, and the top senior will be promoted at the Cadet Colonel and will lead the Raider Brigade for the 2020-2021 school year. We wish all the candidates the best of luck.

We will also move forward in a safe manner to start up some of our co-curricular teams such as color guard, air rifle team, crack drill, and possibly move forward with a JROTC robotics team with equipment that has already been furnished by the US Army Cadet Command.

Members of the Class of 2021 who are considering military scholarships should be working to complete their applications online. Those interested in military service should be getting online to see how to do correct military pushups, pull-ups, and sit-ups, then practice, Practice, PRACTICE by doing more and MORE repetitions. Become comfortable running 2–5 miles.

ROTC scholarships pay for tuition, fees, books, and up to $16,000 in allowances over four years. Institutions such as St. Thomas, St. John’s, and Marquette add room and board to these scholarships to make them “full-rides.” The Academies all provide free tuition, room, board, uniforms, and a generous stipend.

Early application means earlier consideration and notification of results. Please understand that there is a military service obligation as a commissioned officer following graduation from college ROTC or an Academy. Websites with information, including the applications, are easy to find via a keyword search. All the service academies and ROTC have clear checklists on their websites. Follow those and you will succeed. If you have questions, please contact us with questions at (651) 696-3350.

Stay safe and be well.

Choir

By Tyler Berg, Choir Director

Band

By Nick Zahler, Band Director

The year is well underway and the band is making steady, if unusual, progress. By this point in an ordinary year, we would have had summer band camp, marched in a parade or two, gone to the state fair to perform, and had our marching band field show at the homecoming game. Normally, we would be having lots of fun with pep band performances at football games, cheering on the Raiders. We would also be gearing up for other events like our first concert of the year, and the yearly Band-cake Breakfast.

Quite obviously, this year is not an ordinary one! Band has refined its focus for the time being, putting efforts into preparing concert band music, building band community and camaraderie, and keeping everyone safe. Band class takes place outside as often as possible, with students playing twelve feet apart, and each musician and instrument equipped with instrument covers and masks. Professionally-made equipment covers and masks are en route and should be arriving soon to replace the current equipment. 

Despite the adversities associated with rehearsing with all these modifications, the students are doing an excellent job. The band is progressing musically, transition times are decreasing, and students have kept their spirits up. I would simply like to recognize the renewed enthusiasm of the band students in persevering through these unique times. If you have or know a student in the band, congratulate them on their hard work. 

One final note: I am looking for volunteers to help the Band Parent Association! If you have a child in band and can lend a metaphorical hand, we want you to be involved. The work can be as much or little as you want (and not everybody needs to be the president of the board). Whatever your talent is, be it accounting, sewing, woodworking, working with people, or just helping out with a smile, you’re important and we would love to have you on board. 

If you have any questions or thoughts or think you can help out (even an hour a year) with the Band Parent Association, please reach out to me at nzahler@c-dh.org!