Victoria Television Group 3808 N. Navarro
Victoria, TX 77901
Phone: 361 575-2500
Fax: 361 575-2255
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Educator Of The Week
Written by Steve Broussard
Wednesday, 07 May 2008
HE IS THE LEADER OF THE BAND OF THESE 24 STUDENTS AT SAINT JOSEPH HIGH SCHOOL. MICHAEL PETRISKY IS SHARING HIS LOVE FOR MUSIC WITH HIS STUDENTS, AS THEY PRACTICE TOGETHER ON THIS DAY. A TYPICAL BAND PRACTICE MAY BEGIN BRIGHT AND EARLY AT 7 IN THE MORNING. SOMETIMES MARCHING IN THE GRASS BEFORE THE BIRDS BEGIN CHIRPING.
"It's a family type situation. We're all together so much of the year. With marching band practice at 7 in the morning. We're out there with the dew, the mosquitoes and the trains. And everything else that comes by sometimes the dear are out there." said Michael Petrisky
<"Well he's gotten to know us all pretty well. He has a special relationship with each of us. And he's always there trying to help us out and you can really tell he cares about us.">Danielle Foxell\Student
<"He's helped me be a better person. And helped me play my instrument better. I get here early and when I get in, he's always telling me to do things for him. And When I get stuff done, he says thank you for everything.">Timothy Gibson\Student
GETTING THE BAND TO ALL BLEND AND PLAY IN HARMONY CAN BE CHALLENGING AT FIRST. BUT MICHAEL PETRISKY DOES IT ALL WITH A SMILE ON HIS FACE. HIS ENCOURAGING SMILE AND HIGH EXPECTATIONS HELP THE STUDENTS TO HAVE THAT BIG BAND SOUND WITH ONLY 24 PLAYERS. AND WHEN THEY REACH ANOTHER PLATEAU. HE SETS EVEN HIGH CHALLENGES.
<"I have 2 more years with him. So there is so much to learn. He just has a really good connection with us and he's easy to get along with and I've never had a bad day. I can just talk to him about anything.">Hilary Kristynik\Student
BUT WORK IN PREPARING THE BAND FOR CONCERTS AND SPORTS IS A 7 DAY A WEEK JOB. OFTEN HAVING PRACTICE AND PERFORMANCES ON THE WEEKEND. HE WANTS HIS STUDENTS TO LOOK AND SOUND THEIR BEST IN PUBLIC.
<"I';ve been very very blessed here with some students that care and do what I ask them to do, even if they may not agree with it to make the show. And I think thru that cohesiveness, things that go on in the family, disagreements and agreements and play, we try to have a lot of playing with our work too. It's a unique situation.">Michael Petrisky\Educator Of The Week
BUT IT'S THAT COMBINATION OF HARD WORK AND DISCIPLINE THAT PAYS OFF WITH EVERY PERFORMANCE.
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