Digging Up The Boys

Zeke flexed his thespian muscles with a southern drawl for the part of Paul, a coal miner from the 1950s.

Digging Up The Boys was a very heavy piece that they brought to UIL competition.

"The Appalachian coal mine where Floyd, Paul, and Jack work is old, nearly picked clean and about to be closed, when part of it collapses, trapping them. Their family members left above race to the foreman, only to receive the company line: Go home and pray; we'll handle it. Though the men are seen as 'no-counts' in a class-conscious South, to Addie, May and Ruth they are beloved fathers, husbands, and brothers. The above and below are left to whistle in the dark, desperate for a miracle."

*as described by the play rite 

Paul is left blinded by the explosion.

Zeke did a fabulous job of portraying the fear and desperation that Paul felt.

For the first time in seven years, Hills advanced at UIL! 

Here they are accepting their award:

And here they are, bursting with joy and pride:

After UIL was finished, they performed at the Black Box (the name of Hills theatre room). The seniors received a gift and a note from Mata.

Boys who scout together stay together.

One day Eli came with us to watch,

and the other day Daisy came with us to watch.

Of course we had our celebratory potato, this time in the form of hash browns in a breakfast burrito.

[half of March and into April]

The 'Dozer

Daisy completed season 2 of soccer.

She was a starter on defense.

She was not shy getting in there and throwing her body around. Her father and I dubbed her The Dozer. As in Daisy the BullDozer. 

DanFam5, showing support!

She showed a lot of improvement this year. She was confident on the field and wasn't afraid to get in there and throw some 'bows.

She loves soccer and we're proud of our Dozer.

[winter/spring season]

Band UILs

We have been blessed with two fantastic band teachers. I love both the middle school and high school teachers. They are respectful of the students and encourage them to do their best.

May is band UIL season. The University Interscholastic League is an organization that creates rules for and administers almost all athletic, musical, and academic contests for public schools in the state of Texas. The music program of the UIL is designed to support and enrich the teaching of music as an integral component of the public school curriculum. More than one half million middle and high school students participate in UIL each year.

There are opportunities for solo, small ensemble and whole-band competitions in the spring. Earlier this spring Eli competed in the solo UIL and earned a I rating, which is superior.

They also went as a group.

Here is the view from the back row looking out.

They did very well. The band earned a superior rating for their concert pieces! This is the first year that the symphonic band, or the non-varsity band, attended UIL. Ms. Brandt was very pleased that they earned a I rating.

Zeke's band attended UIL as well.

This is Zeke's best percussion friend that I love, Maddy.

After performing concert pieces, they have maybe 7 minutes to sight read a new piece of music and then perform it.

They earned a superior rating in sight reading!

Zekers with the seniors.

[April 4 and April 10]