Plano East bands beat the heat

March-a-Thon fundraiser brings Plano East middle school, high school and senior high bands together

(Plano) It would be a stretch to say even a hint of fall was in the air, but at least it was early enough that it wasn’t blazing hot for the Plano East Cluster March-a-Thon at Kimbrough Stadium in Murphy Saturday, Sept. 10. All the bands and color guards that feed into Plano East Senior High were present, including Armstrong, Bowman, Murphy and Otto Middle Schools; Clark, McMillen and Williams High Schools; and Plano East.

Students solicited pledges and donations based on the number of laps they would march around the quarter-mile track. All the bands completed four complete laps to reach their goals of marching a mile for the fundraiser. Don’t worry. The band directors made sure they took a water break after each lap. Once they finished their laps, the bands combined to spell “EAST” in giant block letters on the football field. Then the Plano East Band invited the younger band members to stand alongside a Plano East band member playing the same instrument while the Panther band entertained the crowd.

The annual fundraiser provides money for performance contest entry fees, transportation to extra-curricular events and financial aid for students to pursue private music lessons.

Find more info on the Plano ISD secondary music programs here.