Winter Guard Becomes School-Sponsored

By Larissa Lytwyn

Newtown High School’s Winter Guard, a bridge between competitive fall and spring seasons, recently became a school-sponsored activity and will begin practice next month in Reed Intermediate School’s cafetorium.

“I think because the Winter Guard’s advisor, Kurt Eckhardt, is a [music] teacher at Newtown High School and the fact that the students involved all attend public school makes this [decision] pretty straightforward,” said Superintendent of Schools Evan Pitkoff.

Uniforms and equipment are all purchased through fundraisers organized by Band Parents, making administrative costs minimal. Reed Intermediate School was sought because its high ceilings are ideal for flag-using Winter Guard members.

The move to become school-sponsored stemmed from the Winter Guard’s difficulty in finding adequate space to practice this season.

While, as a community organization, Winter Guard had been able to find space in the past, this year’s search proved considerably more competitive.

The town’s Parks and Recreation Department schedules meeting places for different organizations. School-sponsored functions generally take priority over community groups.

Although Reed Intermediate School still holds a temporary code of occupancy due to still-forming vegetation and a still-to-be-completed canopy installation, Assistant Superintendent of Schools Alice Jackson explained that it was legal for the school to be occupied in all areas that were not being blocked by construction.

Reed Intermediate School is expected to have an official Certificate of Occupancy by the end of the month.