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The choir and band students are thrilled for the changes
St. Dominic High School is undergoing some exciting changes, particularly for its band and choir program. According to Mr. Cissel, the school’s music director, one of the biggest updates involves a significant reshaping of space within the building.
The current music room is set to be transformed into classrooms, and the band and choir program will be relocated to the area currently housing the fitness center. This move will allow for a fresh layout that caters specifically to the needs of the growing music program.
Mr. Cissel is deeply involved in the planning of this new space, particularly with the design and organization of the room. One of the key elements Mr. Cissel is looking forward to most is the acoustics. These are set to be a top priority in the new space, ensuring that students will have an optimal environment for both practice and performance.
“We’re going to have people who know how to do that, just like when we built the Performing Arts Center (PAC),” Mr. Cissel said.
The changes don’t stop there. The fitness center, which will be vacated for the band and choir program, is relocating to the building for the industrial arts. This building will be made to house the new fitness center, alongside a practice gym that will primarily serve the needs of the dance and cheerleading teams.
This new initiative will make St. Dominic one of the few private, co-educational schools in the region to offer a dedicated on-campus curriculum in construction trades. As with courses in engineering, biomedical sciences, and business, this program will give students the opportunity to explore potential career paths while still in high school.
The Building Trades Program will be available to juniors and seniors as a Practical Art elective. It will cover four core areas of construction: carpentry, electrical, plumbing/pipefitting, and HVAC. These hands-on courses are designed to provide in-depth learning through semester-long classes that meet in two-block periods, totaling 160 minutes of instruction.
This new initiative is part of St. Dominic’s continued commitment to evolving and meeting the needs of its students and community. The school is excited about the opportunities this program will provide, allowing students to explore new areas of interest and potential career paths while contributing to the growth and development of the campus.