Broward Schools Magnet Programs News Archives

Dillard's double: Band wins Ellington competition twice in a row

2012-05-08T00:00:00-04:00

By Robert Nolin and Ariel Barkhurst, Sun Sentinel
May 6, 2012

The Dillard Center for the Arts Jazz Ensemble is quickly becoming a melodious force to be reckoned with in the competitive world of high school jazz.

And that ain’t just whistlin’ Dixie. The band on Sunday won the Essentially Ellington Jazz Band Competition and Festival, which has been called the “Super Bowl” of high school jazz.

That makes two wins in a row for the 26-member band, made up of high school students from across Broward County at the competition that is closely watched by scouts from top-tier music schools such as the venerable Juilliard School.

This year, Dillard performed three pieces, “Sepia Panorama,” “Oop Bop Sh’Bam” and “A Night in Tunisia,” bringing the house to its feet with a rousing standing ovation at no less a storied venue than New York’s Lincoln Center.

Jazz ensemble director Christopher Dorsey huddled with his students like a coach before a championship game and told them, “Win or lose, as long as you can leave that stage and say I enjoyed myself, what more could you want?”

Jazz at Lincoln Center tenor saxophonist Walter Blanding encouraged the students to have fun. “Just enjoy yourselves and let people know who you are because it’s all about expressing yourself and having a good time.”

After their performance Dorsey was very pleased. “They did what I told them to do, and that was go out there and swing, and they did that.”

“It feels awesome. It’s such an incredible experience to be a part of something bigger than yourself,” said bass player Russell Hall, a senior who received a full scholarship to Juilliard where he will be attending in the fall.

“Every time I come to Ellington it’s like a new experience with new challenges and new ways to grow as a musician and a human being,” Hall added.

Last year, the group took home $5,000 and a trophy, a notable addition to Dillard High School’s sports trophy collection.

The previous year, Dillard came in second at the Ellington competition. The ensemble has received superior ratings at district jazz band assessments for six consecutive years, as well as superior ratings on the state level each year it has participated.

Musicians the band has riffed with are among the jazz world’s royalty: Marcus Printup, Terell Stafford, Ted Nash, Vincent Gardner, Ali Jackson and Marcus Roberts to name a few.

“It just lets everyone know that the program is one of the better programs in the country,” Dorsey has said of the ensemble’s growing success.

The Fort Lauderdale school accepts students from grades 9 through 12 who are willing to bebop till they drop. They take classes, meet daily and, of course, rehearse, rehearse, rehearse.

Unlike more affluent schools, which often pay for private lessons and new instruments for band members, the Dillard gang falls squarely on the hardscrabble side of musical competition. They solicit parents, hustle private donations, and play fundraising gigs to amass enough cash for hotels and transportation to national competitions.

The Miami Marlins and Gold Coast Jazz Society have kicked in thousands of dollars so the students can take the stage in out-of-town tourneys. So far they have been able to meet their funding goals.

“Once people see what we do, they get behind us,” Dorsey has said.

This year, the band is one of 15 high school ensembles to compete at the Ellington’s 17th annual contest. They were culled from more than 100 that applied.

Copyright © 2012, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Superintendent Announces Plans For BCPS First Military Academy Program

2012-04-30T00:00:00-04:00

First Public Military Academy Program in South Florida Download Brochure

Broward Schools Superintendent Robert W. Runcie announced at a news conference today (March 29, 2012), plans for Broward County Public Schools first military academy program. The first public military academy in South Florida is scheduled to open this fall at Hollywood Hills High School (5400 Stirling Road, Hollywood), with up to 400 ninth grade students in its first year.

Just five months into his tenure, Superintendent Runcie unveiled plans to utilize a new 36 classroom building addition on the campus of Hollywood Hills High School to house the new military academy program. The classroom building has the capacity to accommodate 900 students. The military academy will open as a magnet program and be known as Hollywood Hills High School Military Academy. Students will be considered for acceptance into the program through an application and interview process.

The application process is similar to the magnet programs process. Students who apply to the military academy must have a grade point average of 2.0 and level 3 or greater FCAT score in reading and math and must reside south of Sunrise Boulevard. There is also an interview process to review the components of the military academy program to ensure that parents and students understand the requirements of the program. If the number of qualified applicants exceeds the first year capacity enrollment, the District will conduct a lottery as also occurs with magnet programs.

“When I began conducting listening tours throughout the county and participating in town hall meetings, parents, students and community members expressed a very strong interest in additional educational opportunities,” said Superintendent Runcie. “The time has come to offer these types of options to our students and their families.”

The military academy offers students the opportunity to engage in rigorous academics, while developing leadership skills and personal discipline guided by a team of teachers, mentors and dedicated retired military instructors who will bring unparalleled experiences to the classroom. The District has partnered with the U.S. Army, which is contributing resources for cadet uniforms, all curriculum needs, program specific equipment, training and half of the salaries for the JROTC faculty members.

While offering this type of innovative program, the District will also seek to minimize costs, where possible. Transportation costs are still being finalized and will depend on student enrollment. The Hollywood Hills High School location was chosen to house the first military academy because of its fairly central location and facility capacity. This plan is consistent with the District’s strategy to utilize space and provide opportunities within existing facilities.

Superintendent Runcie expects to open the Hollywood Hills High School Military Academy in August 2012. A formal proposal will be brought before the School Board for approval in the coming weeks.

Applications will be available beginning early next week through the District’s Innovative Programs Department. A hotline has been established for parents and students who may have questions at 754-321-1881.

Hallandale Magnet High School to compete at the National Leadership Conference

2012-02-25T00:00:00-05:00

Local business students from Hallandale High School attended the 2012 Florida State Leadership Conference of Business Professionals of America on February 10-12, 2012. Business Professionals of America is the national career/technical student organization for students preparing for careers in the business world. Hallandale High School’s local chapter of the organization attended the conference to compete at the state level for an opportunity to advance and compete at the national level, the National Leadership Conference. Also during the conference, Hallandale High School had 14 delegates who won an award and 11 placed to compete at the 2012 National Leadership Conference in Chicago, IL. The chapter was also awarded a plaque for their involvement in Junior Achievement and one for recognition as a chapter in excellent standing.

The 2012 State Leadership Conference is a tremendous opportunity to expose students to the world of business, says Hallandale High School advisor, Marcia Notkin. The students of the Hallandale High School Business Professionals of America chapter want local businesses and Hallandale Beach to know that Business Professionals of America and career/technical education are preparing students as today’s leaders and tomorrow’s business professionals.

For additional information contact:
Ms. Marilyn Santiago
Marcia Notkin
Hallandale High School
720 NW 9th Ave
Hallandale Beach, FL 33009
754-323-0900
Email: marcia.notkin@browardschools.com
Date: 02/18/2012

Parents & Students! Join us for an Open House and Live Web Chat

2011-12-04T00:00:00-05:00

You’re Invited to an Open House at a Magnet School and a Live Web Chat with Magnet Staff during the month of January 2012. Go to the Magnet Schools Live Web Chat Schedule and Magnet Schools Open House Schedule.

Go to the Magnet Schools Live Web Chat Schedule and Magnet Schools Open House Schedule.

View/Change Application

2011-12-01T00:00:00-05:00

You may now track the status and make changes to your child’s application! Activating this feature is fast and simple. Just log on to Parent View, then enter your confirmation number and the student identification number for your child. Changes to the application will be accepted until the deadline date of February 15, 2012. Notification of your child’s application status can be accessed by following the same process.

Log on to Parent View