ODESSA, Texas (KOSA) -Now that Ector Middle School is part of ECISD the fine arts program is getting a fresh start.
Students at Ector Middle School are getting the opportunity to try something new this school year.
The school is now offering fine arts programs, such as mariachi, band, dance, choir, and a visual arts program.
This is something that these students weren’t getting when the school was part of the Third Future charter school network.
Ector Middle School was a part of the Third Future Charter School Network for several years to focus on improving the school’s academics.
It only offered a couple of fine art classes to fulfill state requirements. Now, ECISD students can participate in full music and visual arts programs.
“The difference here is we are bringing back programs. The kids will be involved for multiple years if they choose to do so and there will be performances they will go out to the public. So it is a lot more visible than what the charter campus was doing,” said ECISD Executive Director Fine Arts Aaron Hawley.
Before Ector Middle School was a part of the Third Future Charter School Network, the school band was well known for winning awards in band competitions.
The school band director says it will take them 2 or 3 years to fully establish the fine arts program.
“It’s kind of a beginner because we didn’t have a band program last year so even our 8th graders this is their first time touching an instrument, so they are having to quickly learn and try to get them ready as possible when they go to high school,” said Ector Middle School Head Band Director, Chris Munoz.
The fine arts program is fully staffed and with 350 students enrolled in the program, the fine arts teachers are aiming to make sure students have all the equipment they need like instruments.
“It has been a journey. We started from zero and we are slowly getting instruments, so the kids are happy to have an instrument in their hands. We still have some students who don’t have an instrument in their hands, but we are working on it.” said Ector Middle School Assistant Band Director Flor Leyva.
“Our biggest goal right now is getting enough instruments in every student’s hand and that is going to be a big pressure for us this year and next year,” said Ector Middle School Assistant Band Director Benjamin Griffin
Odessa High School has two feeder middle schools and now with the addition of Ector Middle School. Odessa High School will have more students trained in fine arts.
“When Ector Middle School was a charter almost none of those students were being trained in fine arts in a way that prepared them for OHS and there are twelve-hundred plus students who are not being trained in fine arts and that was a significant disadvantage to Odessa High School because instead of starting in 6th grade they were starting in 9th grade and is not quite the same,” said Aaron Hawley.
Ector Middle School band is planning to have concerts in the Spring.
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