So, I just read in the paper that Mr. Holmes is leaving the Easthampton School System to work at South Hadley Middle School. I'm not surprised by this information though. I heard rumors about this a little while ago, and let's face it, the administration was never really all that supportive of the band program to begin with. I had to fight to get my classes done and be able to stay in band, because they weren't very accomodating. The only year they were was my senior year because there were a handful of us who wanted to stay in band and take "enriched" english. It's a shame that Easthampton is going to lose him, because he was a great teacher who actually cared about the students, but I can also say that I hope he gets a lot more (deserved) respect at South Hadley. Many students were complete assholes about band (and it got much worse after I graduated and after Anna as well). Which was REALLY dumb, because come on, I hate to say it, but it was an easy A, as long as you did what little you were required to, you got an A, but whatever. I can honestly say now that I'm glad I did not quit in middle school when I wanted to, and I'm glad I stuck with it. I was a proud band geek :).
Anyway, as disappointed as this makes me, I hope he does well in South Hadley.