Just to clarify this petition and all opinions on here are not affiliated with Ms Byler, or any OHS staff. These are just parents and students needing support for their dreams. Save the arts in public schools!
I created this petition on behalf of the students “Pirate Players” in theater “The Thespian Society” I included their digital art and a paragraph they wrote. This was a collaboration.

This is a public High school in Southern California it is not a performing Arts school and does not have the funding let alone the employees to fulfill the requirements for Two adult Tech Directors which is why they are tragically canceling the “Encore” show for these very hard working under privileged students that rely on this theater group for support and staying out of trouble. They have to sign a contract to keep up their grades not be involved in illegal activities. Please help these kids get their last very deserved encore show which will help fund the department as tickets are $20.00 per adult guest and $15 students. 

Written letter by multiple students a student collaborating : After 7 months of hard work and dedication, the Pirate Players looked forward showcasing off their production of West Side Story to thousands of people in a 2 week period. After a successful run and sold out closing night, the Pirate Players so gleefully looked forward to one last encore performance on the 15th for any community members unable to watch. However, the admin took this opportunity away when revoking the theatre program’s ability to showcase the encore show, due to the lack of adult tech. This seemed unfair as the student tech, alongside the director, was able to successfully run the 3 hour show without any adult involvement numerous times throughout these past couple of weeks. Please sign the petition to let the OUSD and OHS admin know who is affected by their action of taking this great opportunity away from students.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Written by a Mother, and volunteering theater photographer: this is only my opinion and perspective. A letter from a fellow thespian and mother coming from my heart. 

These high school students have performed sold out shows from the 4 days open to public at night 1st - 2nd & 8th - 9th, not counting for many local ousd schools as a field trip in daytime during school. Almost a dozen shows including the 8th they did a total of 3 shows ( from getting to school at 8am for a 9am curtain, two day shows and one night show making these kids be non stop from 8am to 11pm) Friday the 9th was their closing show that they worked really hard to make it to, it started late due to beyond sold out and having to find room for everyone filling the house to the max. Because of this they didn’t get to do recognition at end of night with cast crew and everyone their because it was already 11:15pm due to late start for packed house. Families friends and school staff had to pack up, so no time for speeches, gifts, flowers, awards with Shirts “ Director” no ability to say goodbyes for Ms Natalie Byler to her students graduating that were with her for 3-1/2 to 4years changing after Covid. These seniors started on outside risers performing adams family in freezing weather for family in October 2021 “Spooktacular”, they did mutiple short performances in fact west side story “America” was done for welcoming freshman, to Hades Town. Drama and deserts had mini performances with one song from either Adams family, West side story, Hades Town. Then last year they ventured to a full length play Tobey Show “ not another Cinderell story” last year did as many shows for night time to field trips for elementary schools they were featured in the news and Oceanside TV along with had many little fans who ended up coming to this show this year full length musical. Toby show was double casted but this WSS musical was only one cast they lost a lot of graduating seniors last year so it was a small class/ club this year. But none the less we performed with a skeleton crew since 2021, I myself have volunteered my time and skills since 2021 to now including photography and my son who graduated last year “Chase Stapleton” was the videographer and edited the movie fir Toby show also helped this year even though he is going to mira costa and adult transitioning school ( iep disabled students). Even though we in our family have had multiple deaths and tragedies, I know of many other students in main cast whom also have suffered multiple deaths in their families and many unfortunate tragedies. These kids put all their love into their performances. They had a safe place to go and have peers who supported them while grieving and or surviving hard times. These kids I have got to know by photography if them anc helping when I could have stolen my heart they have become such amazing human beings, some have despite the crazy schedule have become better in school and home life besides mentally more stable. They feel included they are staying out of the trouble teenagers tend to have a hard time avoiding especially if they don’t have a lot of support at home or don’t feel like they belong. I myself was a drama/ speech geek in high school which OHS is my school I’m a pirate through and through before the theater was built and school was redone besides the funding. We still were a family and I owe my staying out of trouble becoming successful to the performing arts at OHS Mrs Strong was my mentor and I’ll never forget her. She is still involved even after retirement. She is trying to help us and so is new theater Teacher Ms Byler who came from huge performing arts schools in L.A and even went to ECHS before becoming a pirate. She dedicated her life like Mrs Strong did back in the day. Maybe even more with her own money. She believed in my kid, so does Mrs strong and I can’t imagine having their chance to tell these kids how proud they are of them in front of the last audience on last “encore” night giving out flowers awards and speeches showing the parents families and friends how much they believe in these kids how successful they can be with great guidance. I could go on and on with how important performing arts are for these kids going through such stress, anxiety, peer pressure, mental breakdowns, hormones, changing and growing pains. The thing I know is these kids will not survive this ordeal it will be burned into their brain and can be the catalyst to bad decisions a domino effect. Most of these kids this is all they look up to look forward to. 90% of them don’t do sports this is their activity their extracurricular. They have community service in this theater “Thespian Society” they did more than 100hrs and have paid into it. It’s on their college applications. This means the world to these kids. I know to everyone it’s one performance why get upset? Well it’s their “Swan Song” most of these kids want to go into the “BIZ” on Broadway in movies on TV this is their dream. My daughter kept her GPA up is in Girard prep had 2-3AP classes while being Vice President sophomore year, Co-President Junior year, not counting in charge of make up “crew” helping everyone with everything “ director” and main parts as Toby in the Toby Show “crew” and graduating with honors. She kept it all up and signed a strict contract about grades, drugs, commitments. She never missed a rehearsal or was late unless it was due to dentist, doctors and or injured or had Covid. These kids dedicate more to this theater then having a paying job, and they have to keep up in school to be a part of it. Please know this all is from everything other parents, these students, family friends and OUSD Staff has expressed to me. I’m just one parent but I witnessed first hand through my child and volunteering always behind the scenes seeing how much it takes to have such a great successful high school musical”theater group”! 

 

Thank you for your time in reading my rambling on and on with how great these kids are and how devastating this is. 

A OHS pirate players biggest fan… sincerely… just one of the many supportive concern parents… I’m just one Mom and official photographer for the theater group for 3yrs.