by 
Remy Pepper, the Ray District High School Band Director, drills the band on marching techniques for the upcoming school year.
The 2016-17 school year will commence for Cooper Corridor high school on varying dates during the next week. Superior, Ray, Hayden and San Manuel high schools will begin classes as soon as Aug. 3.
Synonymous with the start of each school year is football season, which for some area schools is Aug. 19 and for others Aug. 26.
Below are the 2016 schedules for the aforementioned schools:
SAN MANUEL
Aug. 26 Tanque Verde p.m.
Sept. 2 @ Veritas Prep 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 Miami 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 @ Globe 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 @ Tombstone 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 Benson 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 Willcox 7 p.m.
Oct. 21 @ Bisbee 7 p.m.
Oct. 28 @ Santa Cruz Valley 7 p.m.
SUPERIOR
Aug. 26 North Phoenix Prep 7 p.m.
Sept. 2 @ Valley Lutheran 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 St. David 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 @ NFL Yet HS 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 Ft. Thomas 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 @ Duncan 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 @ Hayden 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 Ray 7 p.m.
RAY
Aug. 19 @ St. David 7 p.m.
Aug. 26 @ NFL Yet HS 7 p.m.
Sept. 2 @ Ft. Thomas 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 Baboquivari 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 @ Telesis Prep 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 Duncan 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 Hayden 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 North Phoenix Prep 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 @ Superior 7 p.m.
HAYDEN
Aug. 26 Williams 7 p.m.
Sept. 2 NFL Yet HS 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 @ Ft. Thomas 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 @ Duncan 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 Valley Lutheran 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 @ Ray 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 Superior 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 @ North Phx Prep 7 p.m.
Andrew Luberda began writing for Copper Area News Publishers (CANP) in February 2013 after working 15 years in Healthcare Financial Management. Andy covers sports for 11 high schools. His stories are published in Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner and Superior Sun, in addition to the San Tan Valley Daily PRSS and CopperArea websites. Additionally, he has written human interest stories and business profiles. In May 2012, he earned an AAS in Sports Management at Central Arizona College before graduating with a BS in Communication from Arizona State University in 2014. He and his wife, Kelli, have three sons – AJ, Kyle, and Kade.
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