Arlington School & Family Magazine June/July 2015

Campus News Arlington High School By Olivia Williams, senior Photos by Hannah Flenniken, junior Competition hangs in the air due to the tireless talents of four Arlington High School teams: band, orchestra, theater and choir. Over the past few months, these groups have put in weeks of effort in order to compete and win at various levels of UIL competition. The company includes junior Caitlin McMasters, who played the star role and won the award for best actress at the UIL District level. “Everyone felt really prepared because we had been working on this for three months,” McMasters said. “It has taught me to be a lot more responsible and plan ahead.” In January, the theater team began work on their one-act play The Miss Firecracker Contest. For three hours every day, the company prepared for this big event. Their hard work and dedication paid off when they were selected as one of three teams to advance from District to Bi-District before advancing to the Area round of competition. “We’ve actually been working on some of our UIL pieces since the fall, which is pretty strategic,” junior Hannah Flenniken added. “We’re held to such high standards,” senior Baylee Higginbotham said. “It has taught me discipline and motivation.” 22 Arlington School & Family - June/July 2015 Recently, all five of the AHS orchestras won superior sweepstakes at the UIL competition. “We’re held to such high standards,” senior Baylee Higginbotham said. “It has taught me discipline and motivation.” Band in particular has put in a lot of effort because they have two UIL competitions each year. The band rehearsal schedule starts during summer vacation and requires practice nearly every day after school. “My life has been 70 percent school and 30 percent band,” percussion player and sophomore Jack Driscoll said. “My time is pretty dedicated.” Although each of these programs is highly differentiated in its skills and goals, they are united by hard work, fervor and dedication to excellence. †

Arlington School & Family Magazine June/July 2015 | Page 24