Students perform at Root Chaffee concert; district announces Summer Band Academy at Newington High School

A Newington School District staff member told the audience at a Root Chaffee fourth-grade concert that the district will offer a Summer Band Academy in two one-week sessions in July at Newington High School, and that registration information was sent through the district's parent communication system.

The staff member said the academy is open to the students present. "All of the children here are eligible. It's at Newington High School. There's two one-week sessions in July," the staff member said, adding that they had sent a registration link via the district's parent messaging system (recorded in the transcript as "Parentswear").

The announcement came during a concert in which the Root Chaffee fourth-grade orchestra performed pieces including "Twinkle Twinkle" (referred to in the program as "Mozart Melody"), "Boil Them Cabbage Down," a rendition of the Can-Can and a closing encore. The staff member praised students for improving over the year and encouraged families to continue supporting music participation: "playing an instrument is a great bridge to middle school to get them involved with an ensemble," the staff member said.

The staff member also noted logistics for parents seeking more information: they said they had posted a link through the parent messaging system and invited parents to send a message or email with questions. No dates beyond the July sessions, fees, or registration deadlines were specified in the meeting transcript.

Several students were named during the program, including LJ Rodriguez and Orvis Judd, who were identified by the staff member in comments about the performance.

The concert and announcement provide a next-step option for elementary students interested in continuing music into middle school; the staff member encouraged families to consider keeping children on the same instrument when possible to ease the transition.