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"Common Times" Weekly Newsletter 10/2-10/6



Upcoming Events


Greetings Wildcat Band Families,


What happened to fall? The temps this weekend were definitely more June like than end of September. Looking forward to a little rain and cooler temps later this week though!

All grades are currently up-to date in HAC for your review. If there is a 'blank' it means the student was absent that day and needs to complete it as soon as possible. An "N" means the student was there but nothing was turned in. A "Z" means the student turned something in but it was incomplete or well below the minimum expectation for the assignment. Students can STILL turn in assignments if they earned an "N" or a "Z". Students should also take my feedback to help them practice any assignments in which they scored below 20/25 and retake it. This Friday, "A" day classes will be provided time in class to retake any assignment they have worked. Next Friday, "B" day classes will be provided a makeup day as well.

8th Grade Band Night on Oct. 6th. We will NOT be playing with the BHS band but WILL be continuing with a modified experience for the students. The growth of the BHS band is such that there is NO ROOM for us in the stands with them. So, we are:

  • Bussing student to BHS after school (wear your new band shirt that you'll get this week)

  • NJHS students who want to work Applefest at Apple Glen can absolutely do so since it ends at 6:30. Those students will just need to get a ride/carpool to BHS afterwards to meet up with the rest of the band. Most likely in the North Commons at BHS.

  • Eating together as a junior high band Fam (LJHS and FJHS will also be there!)

  • Pizza and water will be provided

  • Due to the nature of the weekend, our boosters are stretched thin and unable to provide dietary alternatives. Please plan to drop off or send something to school for your student if they need something other than pizza.

  • Meet and greet with BHS Band Members

  • JH Hang Out

  • 2nd Quarter - Walk to the stadium and watch the various groups warm up before halftime

  • VIP view of the halftime show

  • Walk ALL JH students back to BHS North Building to collect their instruments and belongings. Parents MUST pick up your student at this time (around 8:20p) even if you are wanting to watch the remainder of the game. Because student belongings will be stored in the north building, we will not release students to parents at the stadium

 

Oct. 11th is the Fall Concert for 8th Grade, Jazz and Advanced Jazz Bands.


Location - WJHS Gym

Attire is band t-shirt and nice pants/jeans/leggings with close toe shoes.

3:45p - Setup Crew will begin moving equipment to setup the gym (pizza will be ordered for them or send something for your student to eat). Other students who wish to stay to help may but they will need to bring money to have pizza ordered.

Setup Crew: Carson Rodgers (Co-Lead), Leah Holliday (Co-Lead), Lily Johnston, Ronan Barns, Harvey Calix, and Grace Hycrun

4:4p - Band students can enter from back band room door

5:00p - Families can enter Cafeteria via Gym/Activity Door on the front of the building

5:15p - Jazz Band Sound Check (in seat, in gym ready to play. Not walking in the doors)

5:30p - 8th Grade Band Warm-ups Up

5:45p - Gym Doors open for families to enter

6:00p - Concert Begins

7:15p - Approximate end time of concert

7:40p - Approximate student dismissal time (all students must help properly return and put away all equipment after the concert. More folks who help the quicker this will go. Families are more than welcome to help with stacking chairs, racking stands and moving them back to where the belong. Setup Crew will help steer everyone in the right direction and ensure all is put away correctly)

 

We really really need YOUR help on Friday, October 27th to work in the BHS Concession Stands while the Bentonville Pride is in St. Louis at Bands of America Super Regional Contest. The junior high bands will already be there performing so it's a great time to volunteer. You can sign up in the following link. Just be sure to scroll down to the 27th. Each student can have up to 2 adults volunteering earning them up to $50 toward band related expenses. These funds can be applied DIRECTLY to the St. Louis Trip. If a family work 10 shifts, this season that would fully pay for the trip. :) https://www.signupgenius.com/index.cfm?go=s.signup&urlid=10c0f4daaab2fa7fbc25-friday&useFullSite=true#/

Please remember that the junior high bands will be performing in the stands all night on this date. All 7th grade band members who feel comfortable with the pep music are welcome to join us! All 8th grade students will be participating. Here is the itinerary for the evening.

 

If you wanna get reminders, weekly overviews and inside scoop on what's happening in our classes, be sure to check out some of the pics on our Instagram and Facebook pages.

 

Thank you to everyone who has been sending in the band supply fees! That is a huge help! Band Supply Fees are all setup in MyPayments Plus and are available if you prefer to pay online. If you do this, you will have to search for 'WJHS Band' and find the appropriate fee. Fees SHOULD be modified accordingly for students on free or reduced lunch. If that is not that case, please email me so I can look into it as we have had a couple of coding issues in the system to show you the correct fee. You can still send in cash or check made out to "WJHS Band." Thank you for your help!!

 

5 weeks ago we sent home copies of the BSD Junior High Band Handbook Signature Form most of our classes. Please take a few minutes to scan the QR codes on the handbook and calendar to review the information. Then sign and return the form with your student to school. Every student must have this signed and returned. You can review our handbook here. Our calendar can be found here in spreadsheet form.

 

ATTENTION 8TH GRADE BAND AND JAZZ BAND STUDENTS

HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who has registered here! We have all students registered or in the final stage of being confirmed.

Please remember that fundraising credits can go towards the cost of the trip. Once a fundraiser ends, we will send a spreadsheet and check from the school to cover the amount to your student's travel account. Please let us know if you do NOT want fundraising applied to it.


Please create your account by going here: https://bobrogerstravel.groupcollect.com/admin/trips/7438

TRIP ID: WASHINGTON0065

Full payment due by January 15th

Need financial assistance in addition to the fundraisers? Please contact Mr. Jones ASAP. We will make it possible for every student who wants to attend to be able to .


If your family, business or you know a business owner who is able to make a tax deductible donation to help students attend this incredible trip, please contact Mr. Jones.


Additional documents and information about the trip can be found here.

 

I greatly appreciate everyone getting signed up for your group the last couple of weeks. Right now we are missing quite a few 8th grade and jazz band students who need to sign up. Parents have signed up but students with phone access need to sign up as well.


Click the appropriate link(s) to download the app and join our groups (Bands).

8th Grade Families - https://band.us/n/aba79ez9XbYfi

7th Grade Families - https://band.us/n/acae96z4X2Y47

Jazz Band Families - https://band.us/n/a7ab96zbYaJeY

 

Concession Volunteer Opportunities!

Sign up to earn $25 per shift per person (Max 2 people) towards band related expenses.


 

Here is our PDF calendar for the 2023-2024 school year.

You can view and subscribe to our Google Calendar of events here.



 


Please take a few moment to review the information below so you are fully prepared for the week ahead.




This week:

  • Monday - "A" Day (Classes 1-3, Advisory, 4th)

  • Band Classes that Meet on "A" Days

  • 7:45am - Band Room Opens

  • 8th Grade Band recording assignment past due

  • 4:30pm - Band Room Closes

  • Good luck Volleyball!! Beat Fulbright!

  • 7:30pm - BHS Bands Fall Concert at Arend Arts Center

  • Tuesday - "B" Day (Classes 5-8, Priority) - special schedule for multicultural performance

  • 7:45am - Band Room Opens

  • Priority Time - Open Band Practice

  • 3:42pm - Band Room Closes

  • Good luck Volleyball!! Beat Elmwood!!!

  • Wednesday - "A" Day (Classes 1-3, Priority, 4th)

  • 8:28am - Band Room Opens due to Faculty Meeting

  • Priority Time - Advanced Jazz Band Rehearsal

  • 3:45-5:00 - Advanced Jazz Band Rehearsal

  • Thursday - "B" Day (Classes 5-7, Priority, 8th)

  • 7:45am - Band Room Opens

  • Priority - Closed - Mr. Jones out to meeting

  • 4:30pm - Band Room Closes

  • Good Luck Football!!!! Beat Ramsey!

  • Friday - "B" Day (Classes 5-7, Clubs, 8th)

  • 7:45a - Band Room Opens

  • Priority Time - Band Leadership Meeting

  • 8th Grade Band Night @BHS

  • Saturday

  • Good luck XC at Springdale!!

  • Forensics, break a leg at BHS!!!

 

I know we JUST started the school year but I want to put a few AWESOME summer band camps on your radar as it seems we all begin planning and booking vacations earlier and earlier each year. :)


Typically 2nd Week of June - University of Central Arkansas Dixie Band Camp in Conway

June 10th-14th - Bentonville All-City Band Camp (1/2 Day in the morning) at BHS

June 10th-14th - Bentonville All-City Jazz Band Camp (1/2 Day in the afternoon) at BHS

July 7th-12th - University of Arkansas Band Camp in Fayetteville


Also, for our 7th grade families to plan, we will have required summer band rehearsals approximately 2 weeks before school begins. I will be able to give exact dates once the 2024-2025 calendar is approved later this semester; usually around October. The past several years it has been the first week of August.

 

PRIVATE LESSONS ARE AWESOME! They are designed to be fun, engaging, supportive and focused on the individual student.


We have an awesome partnership with Arkansas Music Conservatory where your student can take a lesson or two on US to see what private lessons can do for your band student!


Who should take private lessons:

  • Advanced students who need to be pushed and challenged

  • Students who need some 1-on-1 assistance to learn and master concepts covered in class

  • Students who missed substantial class time due to illness

  • Students who just began playing this year

  • Students who want to get better

  • EVERYONE

 

To stay in the know be sure to follow us on your social media platform of choice: Facebook or Instagram - @wjhswildcatband and/or at www.wjhswildcatband.com


If you have any questions or concerns, please never hesitate to reach out. We are partners in your student's growth and need to work together for them to be as successful as possible.


Musically Yours,







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