Staff reporter joins Appen ► PAGE 3
J a n u a r y 1 5 , 2 0 2 6 | A p p e n M e d i a . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 3 0 , N o . 3
Local students march in band at Rose Parade
JOHNS CREEK HIGH SCHOOL/PROVIDED
New Johns Creek High School head football coach Jason Tester stands with his wife and three children.
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Three Johns Creek High School students were selected to be members of the Bands of America Honor Band. Amelie Roy, Aaron Rogalski and Chloe Clouser joined hundreds of performers from across the nation during the 2026 Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif, on New Year’s Day. The honor band is a national ensemble with more than 250 wind, percussion and color guard performers. The Johns Creek students spent a week in southern California, rehearsing, performing at the Tournament of Roses Bandfest, participating in special activities and appearing in the parade. Themed “The Magic in Teamwork.” The 5.5-mile parade was televised worldwide. The two-hour event featured floral floats, marching bands and equestrian units along Pasadena’s famed Colorado Boulevard. Director Richard Saucedo described the parade as a “oncein-a-lifetime opportunity” for students and a testimony to their dedication to music. “The Rose Parade is one of our country’s national pageantry treasures,” Saucedo said. “The 2026 Honor Band members are ambassadors of America’s scholastic music and arts programs, as well as their schools and communities.” Bands of America is a program of Music for All, a national nonprofit dedicated to supporting active music making. — Jon Wilcox
Gladiators hire new football coach By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Johns Creek High School has named Jason Tester its new head football coach placing its faith in the Michigan native to revive a program that has not posted a win since 2023. Tester arrives after serving one year as defensive coordinator at Eastside High School in Covington. Before that, he spent three years as head coach at Flowery Branch High School with a record
of 12-20. His coaching career includes stints on the staff at Grayson, St. Pius X and Brookwood high schools. He was announced as the new Gladiators coach Jan. 7, and a community meet-and-greet was held Jan. 11 at the high school auditorium. Team members met with Tester Jan. 9 to get acquainted and learn standards set for spring workouts and the May 15 scrimmage.
See TESTER, Page 21
MUSIC FOR ALL/PROVIDED
From left, Aaron Rogalski, Chloe Clouser and Amelia Roy visit Pasadena, Calif, to perform in the 2026 Rose Parade on New Year’s Day.
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