WF Band Weekly: January 8-12, 2018

This week, all students should return their 2018 expectations contract and pre-scheduling form. These are forms requiring a parent signature that should have been brought home by your student after their first day back in class (packet copied on pink-colored paper). I hope they also asked you to read the New Year letter at the front of the packet. Electronic copies to each of these documents is linked in the announcement section below.

Thank you for your commitment to your students and our program. I appreciate you encouraging their musicality, creating space for them to practice outside of school, and promoting the good citizenship that helps our program be successful. I know our students can be the model for the best our school and community have to offer.

This week’s schedule and announcements are below.

Band Schedule – January 8 - 12, 2018

Monday, January 8
A-Day Forms Due
Band Booster Meeting – 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, January 9
B-Day Forms Due
Thursday, January 11
Jazz Band – 3:45-5:00 p.m.

Announcements, Updates, Information

January – May 2018 calendar revision is available online. Please refer to this announcement about the spring semester calendar. Hard copies were distributed in class last week.
Pre-Scheduling Forms and Expectation Contracts have been distributed in a pink packet with an introductory letter. These forms should be returned this week for a grade.
The expectations contract is a reminder of the policies and procedures used every day in our band program. It is available here.
The pre-scheduling form is designed to provide important information that will help ensure your student can continue their band classes in the next academic year. It is available here.
Report cards for the second 9-weeks and first semester will be distributed soon. All band students have received this comment: Please encourage at-home practice and no use of cell phones during 2nd semester.
We want to continue the superior work that occurred in the first semester. Collective progress only occurs with individual commitments.
Students, remember that rehearsal occurs in the band room. To be prepared for rehearsal, you must practice outside of class! This is your standing homework assignment for band. Increases in outside practice WILL help us improve.
Parents, please help our program grow in quality by encouraging practice at home and engaged rehearsals at school (this means no cell phones). It is not always easy to listen to a student practice, but creating the expectation and opportunity for this to occur regularly at home is an important show of support for your child’s musical education. Forced practice can result in hating music. However, encouragement is a healthy way to show students you support their efforts to improve natural abilities.
I appreciate everyone’s commitment as we work for excellence in our musical development that enables us to be proud of our organization.
Please make sure you are receiving all band updates. Schedule changes are most likely during winter months. Emails, website blog, Facebook posts, and Remind texts are all important ways to stay connected.
A tentative 2018 Spring Trip is on the revised calendar. At the beginning of the year, a trip was initially planned later in April. However, that date will not work due to proximity to SOL testing. We are working hard to make the revised option work. If it cannot occur, we will plan some type of Spring Trip and will do our best to see that the itinerary contains and overnight stay. Thank you for your patience and please stay tuned.
Jazz Band
A GREAT way to play lots of fun music and get better on your instrument! Open to everyone!
Rehearsals occur after-school on Thursdays.
First rehearsal: Thursday, January 11, 2018 – 3:45-5:00 PM