Brewster High School (Brewster, New York)

Brewster High School is a comprehensive public secondary school in Brewster, New York, for grades 9 – 12 with an enrollment of approximately 1,100 students and over 110 teachers and support personnel.

It was built in 1971, and was the fourth building added to the Brewster Central School District. The building grew in size with the addition of music, math, and science wings due to a major bond issue in 1999.

NJROTC Unit
The NJROTC is a program of academic courses, co-curricular activities involving field trips to naval and military bases and extracurricular opportunities, including interschool exhibition drill and athletics. Periodic opportunities for cruises on naval ships will be offered. Chances for selection for advanced leadership training at service sponsored leadership academies exist while the cadet is in high school. There is no requirement for affiliation with the armed forces after graduation. The emphasis is on citizenship development and practical leadership experience. The academic portion of the program is functionally divided into three non-sequential courses; NJROTC 1R through NJROTC 3R and covers various disciplines including: career planning, study skills, early naval history and current naval ships and aircraft. Instruction is provided in military drill, leadership skills, naval tradition, navigation, 19th century naval history, nautical rules of the road, and oceanography. The NJROTC 4R course for seniors is structured as a seminar course with emphasis is placed on performance in various duties in the cadet company based upon previous experience, if any, in the program.

Since around 2010, the high school has maintained a company sized Naval Junior Reserve Officer's Training Corps, currently led by Commander Earl Waidelech, who will be retiring by 2022.

The corps is currently organised into the following:


 * Corps High Staff (Commander, Chief, and Civilian Assistant)
 * Corps Staff (Students, elected by the corps)
 * A Company (1-3 Platoons)
 * B Company (4-6 Platoons)
 * Armed Drill Platoon (equipped with M1 Garand, all formerly used in active-duty)
 * Unarmed Senior Drill Platoon (Juniors & Seniors, only Petty Officer 1st Class +)
 * Unarmed Junior Drill Platoon (Freshmen & Sophomores)
 * (2016–2017) Corps Band
 * (2017–2018 season) Trick Elite Team

Marching Band
Since before 2007, the high school has maintained a marching band known as the Brewster High School Marching Band, commonly referred to as the "Marching Bears". Members of the marching band are volunteers and can join from grades 8–12, and students aren't required to part of the performing arts to take part. From 2007 to 2016, the band leader was Mr. George Velucci, also led the high school's orchestra and jazz band, he was replaced by Chief Christopher Valangas, who was replaced in 2017 after he was arrested for having an affair with another student. The current band leader, since 2017, is Mr. Brian Sanyshyn, who also leads the C. V. Starr Intermediate School band. The band's assistant director in 2018 and 2019 was Mrs. Andrea Perdicho, who leads the high school band.


 * Band Director
 * ????–2017 Mr. George Viglucchi
 * 2017–2017 Chief Christopher Valangas (arrested and subsequently removed)
 * 2018–Present Mr. Brian Sanyshyn
 * Band Assistant
 * 2016–2017 Chief Christopher Valangas
 * 2017–2017 Mr. Brian Sanyshyn
 * 2018–2020 Mrs. Andrea Perdicho
 * Yearly Focus
 * 2011–2012 Wizard of Oz
 * 2017–2018, Ocean & Navies (Pirates of the Caribbean (dead man's chest), Russian Sailor's Dance, and Come Sail Away)
 * 2018–2019, John Williams (Summon the Heroes Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Jurassic Park)
 * 2020–2021 Queen (We Will Rock You, Another One Bites the Dust, We Are the Champions, Somebody to Love, Bohemian Rhapsody)

The band has performed at many high-profile events, including a wedding proposal on the USS Intrepid (CV-11) in New York City (see:Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum). Each year the band performs at the New York City Saint Patrick's Day Parade (since 2008), and Brewster's Memorial Day parade. The period between band camp in August till Thanksgiving is referred to as the "Football Season", when the band performs their half time show during the home games for football. The later period between the end of winter break (end of February) and June is referred to as the "Marching Season".

The band has performed at many events including:


 * Philadelphia Saint Patrick's Day Parade
 * On the deck of the USS Intrepid (CV-11)
 * Edison Pageant of Light Parade in Fort Myers, Florida
 * Walt Disney World
 * Busch Gardens
 * Canada's Wonderland
 * Shea Stadium/Citi Field
 * On the Today Show

In 2013 the band performed at the Saint Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin and Limerick in the Republic of Ireland.

In 2017, the band started annually performing at Madison Square Garden during the 2K Empire Classic if a college/university's pep band can't perform themselves. In 2017, this was for Texas A&M University, 2018 for Cal Berkeley, and again in 2019 for Berkley. In 2018 the band started to perform annually during the June Relay for Life.

In 2021 the band was due to go to Rome with the NJROTC colour guard (which normally accompany them to events), but this was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.

The current organisation of the band includes:


 * Band Staff
 * Percussion Section
 * Brass Section
 * Low Brass Section
 * Woodwind Section
 * Color Guard (non-NJROTC)
 * Supporting Staff & Boosters (non-band members who help the band during events)

Notable Events
In October 2017 the NJROTC leader, Christopher L. Vlangas, was charged with one count of criminal sexual act and two counts of rape in the third degree. These charges came about after his relationship with a 16-year-old student were reported to a high school staff member.

The morning Brew was created in September 2021, it is a morning show that airs biweekly. The episodes contain information about school events and changes. There is also a sports segment.

Notable alumni

 * Michael Imperioli (1983), actor
 * Jason Dellaero, Major League Baseball player for the Chicago White Sox