Dear Editor:
Howdy, my name is Abigail Meador, San Saba High School class of 2019. While in high school, I was a part of the Golden Armadillo band, Dilloettes, varsity tennis team, and other campus organizations. Starting high school marching band in eighth grade, there were roughly 50 people in the band. We fit perfectly in the band hall and still had room left to grow. Fast forward to my junior year; the band had reached well over 120 people. This is what happens when you receive countless awards including going to state. We no longer fit into the band hall, and the building was starting to show its age. During marching season, the few times it rained we could not practice our marching. This put the band behind. Being a Dilloette and an officer for two years was one of the highlights of my high school career. However, trying to find a place to practice every day after school, especially when basketball practice started, was always a problem. As a team, we often found ourselves in the cafeteria or white gym waiting on the junior high to finish. We also had to share space and coordinate with the cheerleaders on practice locations. Overall involvement of the student body increased significantly each year at San Saba High. Many accolades and achievements drove this growth. This was great, but buildings have become overcrowded and difficult to comfortably use. The new buildings being proposed seem like a great answer to these issues.
Abigail Meador
San Saba, Texas
Dear Editor:
I am Courtnee Cash, a recent graduate of San Saba High School. I, along with many students in the class of 2021, participated in a broad spectrum of school events such as cross country, cheer, basketball, band, track, and UIL academics, all of which are outstanding programs. The problem with being so exceptional, though, is that these organizations continue to grow. The setback is not in the growth itself, however; it is that as they progress, it becomes more challenging to find facilities that support such development. One experience I can share of such difficulties is my time as a trumpet player in the Golden Armadillo Band. Every year of being a student in band, the class progressively grew to the point that cramming became an issue. When you have upwards of 90 students, who each have their own instrument stored in its own individual case, the class can get very chaotic, very quickly. That is not even to mention having 90 instruments being played simultaneously in a building that barely holds the students to begin with. The band program is one of the most successful and continuously growing organizations at San Saba High School, and the members deserve a space built to accommodate them and their instruments. That is why I am supporting that the school would pass the bond to build a new band hall and activity center. It helps show community support for our town’s school programs and builds a greater experience for the individuals involved.
Courtnee Cash
San Saba, Texas
Dear Editor:
When we moved from Houston almost 5 years ago, friends there questioned how that would affect Jefferson, our youngest son, and his schooling. “You won’t have the facilities we have (in a 6A district); “You can’t attract the same caliber teacher”, etc. After graduating four other children from that same 6A district, I would disagree. In large school districts, many kids:
• Are not ‘good enough’ to make the high school sports teams due to extreme competition;
• Are encouraged to focus on that ‘one sport’/activity when they do make the team; and
• Lose interest in school, as they don’t have the sense of belonging and pride that comes with participation in extracurricular activities.
SSISD, as a contrast, encourages kids to participate in multiple sports, band, and other activities in parallel. This allows our students to explore a wider range of opportunities, while learning valuable skills like teamwork and resiliency in the process. As for the district staff, we have a dedicated group of educators and administrative staff who work hard daily in training the next generation to be good citizens and leaders.
The upcoming bond election will offer opportunities both for greater student participation in extra curricular activities and improved space for some district staff. Please consider these points when voting.
Reminder on important dates:
• Early voting – 4/25 through 5/3
• Election day – 5/7
Amy Stencil
SSISD Parent and Citizen
Committee Member