Glenn W Levey Road to Pearl Harbor

As proud parents and committee members, we are thrilled to announce that the Levey Middle School Marching Jaguars of Southfield, Michigan have been invited to perform in 2016 at the 75th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. We are 1 of 46 groups that were selected and the only Middle School. In order to attend, we need the help from the community. Our overall goal is to raise approximately $250,000 to cover the cost of Hotel, Air Fare, Food and Transportation while in Hawaii. Although we recognize that these are hard economic times for families and businesses across Michigan, we need your help and support. What a sense of pride it would be for our students to be able to participate in a “Once in a Lifetime Trip” to honor those who fought and/or died while striving to protect American shores.

Since my arrival to Levey Middle School in 2009, we have raised over $80,000 yearly through fundraisers and have developed and maintained a 150 plus piece instrumental music program and a band parent organization. I have 22 years of experience in music instruction, teaching with Detroit Public Schools for 15 years, Director of Bands at Laura F. Osborn High School for 10 years and 5 years at Brenda M. Scott Middle School. I am also a product of Detroit Public Schools, a graduate of Grambling and Wayne State Universities, and a member of various Professional and Fraternal Organizations.  In 2002, I received the Wayne RESA Achievement Award and Wayne RESA “Middle School Teacher of the Year Award in 2005. In 2007, I won the MSBOA District 15 Band Teacher of the Year Award. In 2009, I was one of several that received Southfield Public Schools “Founders Day” Award and in 2012 I received the Middle School Teacher of the Year Award for Southfield Public Schools. In 2014, I was one of many that received the “Detroit Pistons Game Changer Award” for Southfield Public Schools.

The Jaguars Band Program is an “Inclusive Music Program”. We have students with special needs in all of our music ensembles. Over the last 5 years, we have attended the Music Festivals in both Orlando, Florida and Atlanta, Georgia.  In 2010, our first trip was to Orlando which included 97 students. We returned with three first place trophies during this five day trip. In 2011, the Jaguars went to Atlanta where we successfully won first place. In 2012, 2013 and 2014 we returned to Orlando bringing back 26 trophies in various categories. This past April 2015, the Jaguars attended the Atlanta Music Festival returning with three first place trophies in Marching Band, Percussion and Dance Line. 

Performing at least twenty-five times each school year, including participating in MSBOA, Back To School Rallies, Adopt-a-Child (Cobo Hall) and Detroit PAL Football Championship (Ford Field), band students also attend music camps such as the Beverly Thomas Fine Arts Camp, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Starving Artist Camp and other music and academic camps during the summer. In addition, we have other performing groups (Jazz, Symphonic, Solo & Ensemble, and Strings). The Jazz Band performs at more than 8 events per year.

We are honored to have received confirmation as the only middle school selected to participate in the 2015 America’s Thanksgiving Parade. Please look for us on TV on November 26th. We also welcome you to attend any of our performances throughout the year to see what we are all about.

We welcome any support that you are able to provide in order to assist the band in preparing for this trip. As the Director of Bands & Orchestras, the band students, parents and committee members of Levey, a STEAM Middle School as well as “A National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence”, extends a very heartfelt “Thank You” for your time and support. Please consider helping the Glenn W. Levey Instrumental Music Program show the world that we are “World Class”.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey D. Smith, Sr.

Band Director of Bands & Orchestra

Glenn W. Levey Middle School

25300 W. 9 Mile

Southfield, MI 48033