In typical style, the end of the 2016-17 school year for the Greene County School District was marked by the Breakfast with the Band performance.

Middle school students proudly played the school’s fight song while marching to the downtown square from the school. For band instructor Chad Schmertmann it was his first experience with the long-standing event and he was excited to be apart of it.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite like this. The middle school marching aspect is a good thing I think. You don’t see a lot of middle schools (marching) and to add this on the last day, it kind of gets them back in the groove, especially the eighth graders going into high school (and) getting their marching fundamentals back for next year.”

At the end of the performance, the students also get free donuts from Bunkers Dunkers. Randy Bunkers told Raccoon Valley Radio what he thought about carrying on a tradition as long as Breakfast with the Band has been.

“This is our, I believe, our 19th year and we just like the kids and we like bringing the square alive just for a little bit anyway. You get that music going and it just sounds great up here.”

The middle school band consists of seventh and eighth graders.