Silver Creek High School   May 2011
BY KAREY ROBINSON
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Finnestead Is Next Principal

With the retirement of Sherri Schumann, Erick Finnestead will be Silver Creek’s next principal. Finnestead is currently the principal at The Manning School in Golden, with 11 years of educational experience and six years of administrative experience. He lives in Erie with his wife and two daughters.

Finnestead is impressed with the well-rounded, all-inclusive nature of Silver Creek’s program. “They’re doing a lot of things great. They have some great programming in AP (Advanced Placement) and next year we’re going to have an autism program. It speaks volumes to me that we’re meeting every kid’s needs, whether it be the Boettcher scholar in AP classes, or the student who wants to go to the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, or the special needs kid.”
He is looking forward to being involved in the school’s Leadership Academy. “There’s a strong knack for progressive nature being one of the first in the state to have a comprehensive leadership program from freshman through senior year.”

Finnestead sees a strong sense of community at the school. He recently attended a basketball game and was moved by the supportive nature of the students towards not only the basketball players, but also towards the cheerleaders and dance team.
“Whether it’s the basketball game or the drum line winning at the state competition, the students know there’s something special going on. There’s a strong sense of community with the kids, and they support one another. It’s a collective effort on the part of everyone to make that school great.”

During a recent visit to the school, he went into every classroom to speak with the students. “I told them they are so fortunate to have such wonderful teachers from all over the nation, that they have great resources when it comes to technology and textbooks and the school facility, and they have such wonderful kids. One kid came up and said, ‘Man, that was inspirational.’ I just laughed to myself. School should be a place of inspiration. Kids should come there every day knowing they’re going to be empowered to change their lives and have the best go of it.”

“It’s a great school, it’s going to be one of the best,” said Finnestead. “A strong foundation has been laid, and we’re going to take it to the next level and we’re going to do it together.”

Musical Groups Represent In Orlando

Over 100 students in choir, orchestra and jazz band spent a week in Orlando over spring break. All groups participated in workshops where they worked with Disney clinicians and recorded soundtracks to popular Disney movies.

The choir and orchestra performed at a new stage in Downtown Disney and the marching band performed down Main Street USA in Disneyworld. The jazz band participated in Orlandofest, a music festival and performance competition, and took best in class at the event.

Drum Line Three-peat Champions

For the third year in a row, the winter drum line, or percussion ensemble, earned the state championship in the scholastic A class at the Rocky Mountain Percussion Association Championships in Broomfield.

“They had a rough year, with lots of students dropping and a lot of changes being made. But they really pulled it off at the end and had a great show,” said band director Jay Clanin.

Three St. Vrain schools placed in the top six this year. Longmont High School took third, and Skyline took sixth.

Photo courtesy of Jay Clanin
The Silver Creek Marching Band performed down Main Street USA in Disney World over spring break.