Skyview Middle School announced the success of their first quarter with a big bang. In fact, nine perfectly synchronized bangs, thumps and blows.

Jeff Moore led eight students from the drum line in a boisterous, wordless presentation to the Kenai Peninsula Borough School Board at the Oct. 20 meeting in the middle of the assembly chambers of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Administrative Building.

“I hope you will be able to hear the rest of the meeting,” said Skyview Middle School principal Sarge Truesdell.

“The students are using their elective periods to take band,” Moore said. “It is a big commitment.”

Truesdell introduced the drum line as just one of many examples how staff and students have comfortably transitioned into their new space and how smoothly the newly reconfigured institution’s first quarter went. The students have embraced their new colors, Truesdell said.

The drummers performed in front of an almost packed house that evening. Attendees included the staff, students and teachers who made the big move possible.

“That’s a heavy lift, sometimes it felt like we had no summer,” Truesdell said. “When turning a high school into a middle school, you don’t just walk in the door and open it all up.”

Truesdell thanked the Borough Maintenance Department for assisting in the extensive transition process.

The group even brought a taste of their new school before the school board — literally. Sheila Margaret Pothast’s class brought homemade salsa for sampling. Truesdell warned, like the school, it had “a bit of a kick.”

Under the Alaska School Performance Index, Skyview Middle School is rated as a 5-star school, according to the school district’s assessment website. They are one of the top schools on the Kenai Peninsula in terms of how well prepared the students are, and they plan to maintain their reputation, Truesdell said.

Truesdell showed a short film produced by the students of computer electives teacher John Harro, which gave the school board a look into the day-to-day operations of the school. This year, because of the new space and facilities the students have the option of learning welding, Truesdell said. The school also has established the first school CrossFit program with gym facilities in the state of Alaska he said.

“I love going to work and being there everyday,” Truesdell said.

Truesdell called one of the drum line students back into the room to show off their new, casual-style uniforms. He said the new design described the atmosphere that has been established at the new building.

“New year, new look, new attitude,” read the bright-white, bold, capital letters on the back of the black T-shirt.

Reach Kelly Sullivan at kelly.sullivan@peninsulaclarion.com