"Common Times" Weekly Newsletter 10/30-11/3
Upcoming Events
11/06 - All-Region Jazz Band Auditions (BHS)
11/09 - Choose Love Performances (7:30a at Apple Glen, 8:15a at WJHS)
11/10 - Veterans Day Breakfast Solo Performances. Possible JH Bands performing at BHS Play-Off Game (only if not a bye-week)
11/27 - 7th Grade Band After School Rehearsal
12/4 - Winter Jazz Dance/Concert @BHS with BHS Jazz Bands
12/5 - 7th Grade Band After School Rehearsal
12/6 - 7th and 8th Grade Bands Winter Concert at BHS
12/9 - All-Region Auditions in Harrison (required for 8th grade band and 7th grade percussion. Optional for the rest of 7th grade students)
12/18 - Jazz Band plays for Ruth Barker Lunches
12/19 - Jazz Band plays for Old High Lunches
Greetings Wildcat Band Families,
I greatly appreciate all the emails and BAND app messages checking in on Matthew and my family! We are all making it and hopefully on the downhill slide of it all. I hope you all stay healthy. Hydrate, wash hands regularly, eat well, and get a good sleep every night. Students, sleep is more important than Fortnite or COD....sorry to break it to you. :)
THANK YOU to all you wonderful parents and family members who graciously volunteered your time this past week either helping feed the mass JH Band and/or working in the concession stands!!!! It was for sure a cold night but I hope you made some warm and lasting memories!
I am incredibly PROUD of our students on how they performed and handled themselves on Friday. That was the coldest, yuckiest night we've ever had to perform in. Yet, the students rose above it, took on the challenge and supported the Tigers to a wind over Springdale!! That is just a small taste of the awesomeness of high school band! Next year we will have new band stands that are taller, wider and have a roof! :)
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Due to the rain this weekend, the NICA Mountain Bike Race was postponed ( I believe to Sunday, November 5th) While I was out last week several students said they wanted to play but were late signing up. I THINK we will have enough to do it. Parents, please fill out this form for your student if they are able to go. EVEN if your student completed the form last time, it needs to be completed again so I can get an accurate count. I deleted all previous responses. We would meet at WJHS at 7:00a, load buses and leave around 7:15a. Buses will return to WJHS around 10:00a where we will have some time for fellowship or students can be picked up at that time.
Calendar Reminder
Please be sure to carefully review our calendar for activities in the coming weeks, especially as we get into the holiday season mid-November. I work hard to make a schedule that does not conflict with other WJHS activities. With our incredible students involved in so many, it is not an easy task. :) It is important that there not be any planned/regular appointments during an event as an absence is not excused per district policy. Since the calendar went out in July, that provides ample opportunity to reschedule any possible conflicts fairly easily.
Concert Black Reminder
It is also time to start, if you haven't already, getting concert black for the Winter Concert. We have several concert black outfits available free of charge in the band room. Please let me know if you would like me to get your student one of these outfits. Just tell me who your student is and what sizes they need.
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This past weekend, the Bentonville Pride competed in the Bands of America Super Regional Championship in St. Louis. The Pride earned 2nd place overall and tied for Outstanding General Effect! This is a program first to place so well in Prelims!!! They the had an outstanding performance in finals finishing 4th place with a score of 89.55!! A new school PR and record for Arkansas Bands!!
If you haven't seen the Bentonville Pride Marching Band, what are you waiting for?!? :) This will be something your student will be involved in soon and it's awesome to get to see what they are doing. Not to mention, just to see the incredible, positive culture that is the band world.
There is only ONE more opportunity to see them perform locally:
Saturday, November 4th - Tiger Stadium 4:00pm (arrive early to get good seats)
"The more you put into it, the more you get out of it."
I am considering hosting a watch party for semi-finales for the Grand Nationals Competition on Saturday, November 11th at WJHS . It would be mid-morning through afternoon. Come and go as you like. We would ask parents to sign up to bring snacks for the kids. Is this something you would be interested in participating in? If so, please complete this form: https://forms.gle/eNMWS2XxnHTTYvdy9
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Our Winter Fundraiser for Poinsettias and Candles is NOW online!!
These beautiful Poinsettias were grown locally at Westwood Gardens. Students earn $10 per poinsettia sold towards their band related expenses.
The Annie Dee's Candles are made to order locally in Jane, MO. These are 100% Soy and smell incredible! Students earn $6 per candle sold towards their band related expenses.
The order form is located here: https://form.jotform.com/232875252423153
Online payments are now accepted! No need to send in cash or check. :)
Poinsettias will be delivered the week after Thanksgiving.
Candles will be delivered the first week of December.
Any extra funds raised will roll into next year. 8th grade credits roll into BHS Band.
Order Deadline is November 13th
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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.
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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!!
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9 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.
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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. STUDENTS REALLY NEED TO BE ON THIS APP 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
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Concession Volunteer Opportunities!
Sign up to earn $25 per shift per person (Max 2 people) towards band related expenses.
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Here is our PDF calendar for the 2023-2024 school year.
You can view and subscribe to our Google Calendar of events here.
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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, 4)
7:45a - Band Room Opens
Advisory
4:30p - Band Room Closes
Tuesday - "B" Day (Classes 5-7, Priority, 8)
7:45am - Band Room Opens
Priority Time - Open Practice for Brass, Saxophones and Percussion
4:30pm - Band Room Closes
Wednesday - "A" Day (Classes 1-3, Priority, 4th)
8:25am - Band Room Opens Late due to faculty meeting
Priority Time - Open Practice for Woodwinds
3:45p-5:00 - Advanced Jazz Band Rehearsal
5:00p - Band Room Closes
Thursday - "B" Day (Classes 5-7, Priority, 8th)
7:45am - Band Room Opens
Priority - Open Band Practice
4:30p - Band Room Closes
Good luck Wildcat Football!! BEAT Grimsley!
Friday - "B" Day (Classes 5-7, Priority, 8th)
7:45a - Band Room Opens
Priority Time - 8th Grade Band Leadership
4:30pm - Band Room Closes
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I know we JUST finished the first quarter 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.
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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
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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,
