Winning would fill them with ‘Glee’

Here’s what you missed on “Glee”: Marine View Middle School is the middle school with the highest voting scores nationwide in the Glee Give a Note contest.

“Glee,” the musical television show, commissioned a contest with a $1-million price tag to benefit at-risk music programs, said the school’s principal, Roni Ellis.

“Glee” asked schools at all levels to make two-minute YouTube videos about their needs and do it in a musical and creative way.

That’s exactly what Marine View did.

Eighth-grader Josh Behrems filmed the video of the students showing the damage done to the multipurpose room last year by heavy rain and explaining the reasons the school deserves funds to keep its music program going, all while singing Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing.”

Schools that win the contest can receive up to $50,000, Ellis said.

So far, Marine View’s video has more than 9,500 votes and is leading all middle schools nationwide, but more is needed to survive the next round of elimination, said music teacher Lynn Silver.

“Our school should win because music and the arts is a passion at Marine View, and we have tremendous, talented staff who give kids opportunities that I have never before seen in 25 years,” Ellis said.

Parker Obert, 12, transferred from a Los Alamitos school district to Marine View for two reasons: the school’s music program and because he can ride his bike to school.

“I get my music department, and I get a close school that I can ride my bike to,” said the seventh-grader, who aspires to partner with Josh and have their own empire like Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.

Bradon Oconnell said having the music program at Marine View is integral to building kids’ confidence.

He said it allows music students who get picked on to shrug off bullying because they’re involved with something much bigger.

To view the video and vote for Marine View, visit https://www.gleegiveanote.com.

mona.shadia@latimes.com

Twitter: @MonaShadia