Arcadia High School's Marching Band, Tall Flags, and Tom Tom Drill Team took the Sweepstakes Award for street competition at the Mt. Carmel Invitational Tournament of Bands, October 24.
The Arcadia High School Apache Marching Band won the Sweepstakes Award at the annual state championship All-Western Band Review for the third consecutive year which earns them the perpetual trophy. This makes the third time they have won the perpetual trophy which goes to a school that has won the Sweepstakes Award three times in a row. This is a "first" in the All-Western Band Review.
The Arcadia Apache Marching Band created a new record in competition in the All Western Band Review. They scored the highest points in the parade for the fourth consecutive year establishing themselves as the state champion band.
Arcadia High School students accepted a third-place trophy for their performance in the 40th Los Angeles County Academic Decathlon. The third-place award is for the North Los Angeles County region. Countywide, Arcadia ranked ninth, compared with its fourth-place finish in 1988.
The drill team from Dana Junior High School marched off with the sweepstakes award at the 43rd annual Camellia Festival Parade in Temple City, while the band, tall flags and drum major (military) all captured first place trophies.
The Arcadia High School Apache Marching Band will travel to Arcadia's sister city, Newcastle, Australia, in late June. Parents have agreed to make up the difference, if the $37,000 still needed cannot be raised. Besides Newcastle, where they will perform for 5,000 high school students, the band will sight-see and perform in Canberra and Sydney.
Members of the 1956-57 Arcadia High School Band remember the thrill of marching in the Inaugural Day Parade in Washington D.C. Raymond Bowman, pictured, was the band's director.
Arcadia High School had a ceremony unveiling a new semi-truck & tailer which has been purchased by the Arcadia Unified School District to carry the instruments of the Arcadia High Marching Band.
Twelve seniors out of 783 were denied diplomas because of their failure to pass a battery of state-mandated basic skills tests. They are the first to be denied diplomas under the Pupil Proficiency Law of 1976. Arcadia's test requires ninth grade level competency.
In honor of the high school marching band traveling to Newcastle, Australia, a film crew from "Down Under" arrived in Arcadia to shoot scenes around the city. Mayor Don Pellegrino served as tour guide. A second article tells of the preparations made by Jack and Barbara Saelid, and numerous others, as the Saelids prepare to lead 164 teenagers and chaperones plus 30 others on the trip to Australia.
The West Arcadia Invitational Band Review, which celebrates its 35th year, may be in its last year unless a new sponsor can be found to support the event.