Moscow student hits the right notes
May 28—MOSCOW — Paradise Creek Regional High School principal Brian Smith pushed Stormy Bymers Blodgett to do more because he knew she could handle it.
"Stormy never, ever quits," Smith said.
Her tenacity, he said, is why she was able to complete her courses at PCRHS, perform in the Moscow High School and University of Idaho bands, work full-time jobs and graduate on time.
The road to her graduation, which takes place June 4, was not an easy one.
Bymers Blodgett was supposed to attend Moscow High School, but the large class sizes and the difficulties of online classes during the COVID-19 pandemic made learning a struggle for her.
A family member suggested she apply to PCRHS. Where Moscow High School can have classes with up to 30 students, courses at PCRHS often have fewer than 20 and sometimes as little as two. Her graduating class will have 11 students.
With the smaller classes, teachers can provide more individual attention to students, Bymers Blodgett said.
"They can kind of help you more if you're struggling," she said.
Her grades improved, and she was able to take a variety of classes like journalism, entomology and health.
Music remained her passion, however. She continued performing with the Moscow High School concert band and eventually learned how to play a dozen instruments.
"If you know one instrument, you can slowly start learning more," she said.
Seeing her potential, PCRHS asked Bymers Blodgett to be the first student to participate in the school's new partnership with UI's Lionel Hampton School of Music. As part of that program, she began taking dual credits as a junior and senior. She participated in UI's jazz choir program, the Vandal Marching Band and the UI concert band.
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