CEHS earns honors at Berklee Jazz Festival

The Cape Elizabeth High School concert jazz band won second place in its division at the Berklee College of Music Jazz festival Feb. 10 in Boston.

In addition to the ensemble award, Alex Hansen, sophomore pianist, received the superior musicianship award. This distinction was earned by only one musician in each of the 13 divisions across the entire competition.

The ensemble included 19 CEHS students and featured saxophone, flute, trombone and trumpet, as well as a rhythm section of piano, drum set, bass and guitar. The competition featured more than 200 jazz ensembles from across the country watched by more than 5,000 attendees. The annual Berklee festival is the nation’s largest high school jazz festival.

The concert jazz band will also be performing at the CEHS Jazz Cabaret on March 23. For more information see www.capemusicboosters.org.

The band’s members include: Nathaniel Clay, Alice Kenny, Ryan Oberholtzer, Caleb Weinstein-Zenner, Henry Rutty and Tony Inhorn on saxophones; flautist Sydney MacFarland; Preston Stewart, Zach Merrill, Jack Sands and Dylan Foote on trombones; trumpeters Fiona Simpson, Sam Berman, Ben Payson and Hunter Grimes; Harry Baker on guitar; pianist Alex Hansen; Grace Roberts on bass; and drummer Christie Gillies. The band was directed by Tom Lizotte. The band premiered three arrangements written for them by former Cape Elizabeth Middle School band teacher Terry White: “Bright Mississippi,” by Thelonious Monk; “Pulsacion #1,” by Astor Piazzolla; and “Beautiful Love,” by Victor Young.

Aucocisco School to host storytelling, advocacy workshop

Aucocisco School, in partnership with Understood.org and the Learning Disabilities Association of Maine, is planning to host Story of Self, a tool for promoting advocacy and acceptance. The event will take place 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, March 24 at the school, 126 Spurwink Ave., Cape Elizabeth.

In the workshop, educator and advocate Amanda Morin, a Maine resident and a nationally known author on special education, will help parents, middle and high school students tap the potential of their personal stories in order to become effective advocates for their needs.

Through personal narrative, the program seeks to empower parents and students to use their experiences to create a more inclusive classroom for children.

The Story of Self workshop is free and open to the public. Those interested can RSVP on the school’s Facebook event page or by phone at 773-READ.

Aucocisco School is a private special purpose school that serves elementary, middle and high school students who learn differently.

Preschool open house events planned in S. Portland

Open houses for preschool programs at Skillin, Brown and Kaler elementary schools in South Portland will be held this month.

An informational meeting and preregistration for 4-year-olds living in the Skillin/Brown school neighborhoods will be held 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, March 28 at Skillin Elementary School, 180 Westcott Road St.

Those who live in the Kaler neighborhood are invited to drop-in at the same time and date to the school at 65 South Kelsey St., where pre-registration and information will also be available.

The concert jazz band at Cape Elizabeth High School came in second place in their division at the Berklee College of Music Jazz Festival in Boston on Feb. 10.

The combined Cape Elizabeth, South Portland and Waynflete girls high school ice hockey team celebrated at their banquet March 12 after being awarded a Sportsmanship Award for the season by the Maine Principals Association.