Fund-raising pupils came ready to rock

Band members from Harlem and Grovetown rocked all night - or at least until they fell asleep.

"We had some sleeping, but it was a lot of fun for them," said Steve Whitaker, Grovetown Middle School's band director.

More than 50 pupils from Grovetown and Harlem's middle schools and Harlem High School brought rocking chairs to Harlem High School on Sept. 12 to raise funds for the Harlem and Grovetown Band Booster Club.

Pupils collected pledges to just sit and rock from 11 p.m. Friday to 9 a.m. Saturday, said Bob Willing, Harlem High's band director. They raised more than $2,000 for the single booster club that supports all three schools' band programs.

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"We have a really good bunch of band parents this year," Willing said. "We are real excited."

The funds will go toward the needs of each band program, including uniforms or trips, Willing said.

Most pupils brought in front-porch rockers, but a few wanted to spend a cozy night in their La-Z-Boy recliners, Whitaker said.

This is not the first time Whitaker has participated in this type of fund-raiser. He also rocked as a Harlem Middle band pupil under the supervision of Willing, who was then band director there.

But Willing said even rocking gets better with age.

"This is the first time we have done it on this scale," he said.