Rendon marches into Homestead with confidence

Paul Rendon concluded his first year as a music teacher at the end of the 2018-2019 school year.  On top of directing marching band as they prepared for Grand Nationals in Indianapolis last year, Rendon also conducted the Concert Band, Symphonic B and Wind Symphonies 1 and 2.

​

As Rendon dove into HHS’s world of music, he said he had one main goal in mind: the welfare of his students.  

​

“My door [is] always open” Rendon said. “And I feel like I'm very aware of what students need or what they have going on [in] their lives. I always make sure that they're always in a good place [and] in a good state of mind: mentally [and] physically. So, I'm always looking after their well-being.”

Rendon has done an amazing job making sure students know he is available whenever they need to talk, junior Kathleen Petcu said.  

​

“He always tells us his doors are open if we ever need to talk to him” Petcu, who is in marching band, said.

Rendon said marching band is well-respected and widely known throughout California, and he was taken aback by the support the music program receives in contrast to his previous school in North San Diego County.

​

“My other school was title one [meaning that most students were from low income families],” Rendon said. “Most, if not all of the kids had free/reduced lunch. So something to get used to [here] was [that] there's a lot more support for the students down here. Not that it was wrong or different; it was just the financial area I was seeing was different.”

​

Rendon said his primary goal is to acclimate to HHS’s ways as well as to focus on the unity connection between students.  Rendon said he knows HHS students are driven by their goals and he loves that the kids really want direction.

​

“I'm very fortunate to be here” Rendon said. “The kids are amazing. They work extremely hard … And when you watch them perform, you can see it; you can see the proof - they love working together and it's so infectious.”