Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma
Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma
The Fallbrook High School Marching Band is ready to march in London’s New Year's Day Parade 2016.
Taking an up close look at a London phone booth are, from left outside, Mason Genduso, Jenna Juras, and Patrick Roybal; inside the booth are Shannon Gaines-Emory, Taylor Frazier, Jonathan Reyes, Isaac Hostetler and Elizabeth Jones.
Warrior Max Alperstein stands in front of a tower at the Palace of Westminster on New Year's Day.
Warriors waiting for the parade to begin are, from left, Julian Maynard, Isaac Hostetler, Russell Ortega, Samantha Saple, Javier Rojo, George Monasterio and Jonathan Reyes.
On tour in the London area are, from left, Andrae Cerrato, Julian Maynard-Brown, Isaac Hostetler, Javier Rojo and Patrick Roybal.
Members of the Fallbrook group take the tube on one of their sight-seeing trips while in London.
Touring the River Thames are, from left, Jonathan Reyes, George Monasterio, Max Alperstein, Andrew Dominguez and Kevin Alcaraz during the Marching Warriors' trip to London.
Santana Lopez and alumna Lucia Montiano visit Tower Bridge on one of the London tours.
The Marching Warrior Color Guards are Courtney Moore and alumna Makayla Bradford ready for the London parade on Jan. 1.
FHS London travelers
Students
Max Alperstein
Kevin Alcaraz
Ashton Audet
Andrae Cerrato
Andrew Dominguez
Taylor Frazier
Shannon Gaines-Emory
Mason Genduso
Andrea Hoffman
Isaac Hostetler
Ixlaly Jasa
Elizabeth Jones
Jenna Jurras
Santana Lopez
Julianna Magos
Julian Maynard-Brown
George Monasterio
Courtney Moore
Russell Ortega
Jonathan Reyes
Javier Rojo Flores
Patrick Roybal
Samantha Saple
Administration
Stephanie Osowski (FHS Ass't. Principal)
Victor Torres (Band Director)
Matthew Williams (Drumline Coach)
Alumni
Linda Flood
Makayla Bradford
David Philippi
Amanda Vetch
Lucia Montiano
Olivia Montiano
Parents, guardians, family members
Jill Alperstein
Mary Bradford
Maria Elena Dominguez
Richard Hirasuna
Amy Hoffman
Emmanuel Magos
Michelle Maynard
Tamara Monasterio
Marissa Monasterio
Sally Montiano
Eric Ortega
Isabel Ortega
Delia Ramirez-Lopez
Andy Reed
Debra Woodbury
FALLBROOK – The Fallbrook High School Marching Warriors returned from their London trip with fresh views of the world and new experiences. A little over a year ago, the Lord Mayor of Westminster, with her red-velvet cape and plumed hat, strode out onto the Fallbrook High football field during halftime and eloquently invited the Marching Warriors to participate in the 30th anniversary of the London’s New Year's Day Parade 2016.
The students fundraised for a year to make this trip a reality and the Fallbrook community rallied behind them. Through letter writing, a motorcycle drawing, fashion show, concert, rummage sales, and car washes, 23 current high school students and two recent graduates funded their trip. Additionally, eight past graduates participated in the parade, one of whom is the mother of a current student!
From Dec. 28 to Jan. 3, the students had many firsts. For some, it was their first air travel or first time away from home. For all, it was the ride on a double-decker bus and having to rely on maps and clocks, as they had limited phone use. (Imagine that!) They walked endless kilometers every day, figured out the bus system and became experts at navigating the tube and remembering to "mind the gap."
While visiting Hampton Court, they negotiated the ancient hedge maze and learned about the life of Henry VIII. At Windsor Castle, the students witnessed opulent rooms with extravagantly decorated Christmas trees, rooms of armor, and the famed Queen Mary’s Doll House.
One early morning tour began on a boat, riding up the River Thames to the National Observatory where they stood on the historic Median Line in Greenwich. Their charming guide was a lively source of savory London political commentary and British humor as she led them through the week of tours, teaching them the nicknames for the tall modern buildings, like the Gherkin, the Walkie-talkie, the Cheese Grater, and the Shard.
In Covent Gardens, they bought souvenirs with their pounds (British money), watched street musicians and magicians, saw Mounted Police and even went to Starbucks. One evening, the students visited St. John’s Church (c.1728) for an amazing choral and music concert of other U.S. schools participating in the parade. In addition to the tours, students soaked up as much London as possible on the last day from the National Gallery and the London Eye to roller-skating.
The parade was the highlight of the trip on New Year’s Day. Led by band director Victor Torres, the representatives from Fallbrook played beautifully to the cheering crowds through the 2.2 miles of narrow roads ending in Parliament Square. In-between songs, they ran to the crowd with huge California smiles and enthusiasm, high-fiving the spectators, posing for selfies, and shouting "Happy New Year" while the drumline continued their cadence, delighting the tens of thousands lining the historic parade route.
It was the trip of a lifetime that will be remembered fondly by our local students, and for which they have the community of Fallbrook to thank for supporting their experience!
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