"Common Times" Weekly Newsletter 11/6-11/11
Upcoming Events
11/18-11/26 - Thanksgiving Break
11/27 - 7th Grade Band After School Rehearsal 3:45-5:00 @WJHS
12/4 - Winter Jazz Dance/Concert @BHS with BHS Jazz Bands
12/5 - 7th Grade Band After School Rehearsal 3:45-5:00 @WJHS
12/6 - 7th and 8th Grade Bands Winter Concert at BHS
12/9 - All-Region Auditions in Harrison (required for 8th grade band and some 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,
Huge congrats to the Bentonville Tigers for winning their final conference game against West. The streak continues! Since they won, we will NOT be playing at a play-off game this coming Friday as it will be a bye-week for the team. Of course, the game we don't go play at is the one where it is forecasted to be BEAUTIFUL!
This week we have a few different events happening. Please please look at the weekly overview at the end of this email to be sure you have your student when and where they need to be. :)
8th Grade band had their first assignment due on Friday evening. HAC is updated to show those who have turned it in. If there is an "N" it means they did not turn it in. If it is blank, they have turned it in, I just haven't gotten their grade transferred over from google classroom yet. We will have another assignment this week and it will be due on Thursday.
7th Grade classes will all have an assignment this week due by Friday evening this week. Please remind your student that it is not the intention for the assignment to be perfect. It's to give me an insight into how each student plays and so I can provide very specific feedback to help them get better. All assignments are easily completed if students are following the practice expectation of at least 20 minutes per day for 5 days a week.
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Special shout out to 4 incredible Wildcat Band Members!
Olivia Hughes for earning 4th Chair Alto at All-Region Choir Auditions and putting on an INCREDIBLE concert yesterday!!
Maggie Peveto and the Wildcat Dance Team for earning 2nd in Jazz and Kick and 3rd in Pom on Saturday! Way to go!
Katie Kelley for pushing through adversity to almost getting a new school record in XC on Saturday!!
Leo Arivett for breaking the school record of 18:12 sat in 2016 with a new SR of 17:45!! Way to go!!!
*I do my very best to recognize all the awesome things our band students do. If I miss something, or there is something your awesome student did, please reach out to Mr. Jones to have added to this next section of the weekly newsletter.
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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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I will be 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. I will be able to give an exact time frame next Friday late evening once prelim awards occur.
Come and go as you like. We need parents to sign up to bring snacks for the kids. Please complete this form if your student or you, are interested in coming or if you are willing to provide some snacks or drinks: https://forms.gle/eNMWS2XxnHTTYvdy9
Let's work together to make this an awesome event for the students!
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Orders DUE NOVEMBER 13TH
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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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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Slim Chickens at U of A Game Opportunity
Parents,
We have an opportunity to join the high school band and work the Razorback football game on 11/11 with Slim Chickens. The game starts at 3pm against Auburn so volunteers are asked to arrive at 12:30pm at Baum stadium and park in free parking there. Then head over to the baseball field to meet Steve (he will be in Slim Chickens gear near gate B at BAUM Stadium). He will direct you to the shuttle which will take you to the stadium where you will meet Maureen. You will only have to work the cash register and hand out food at the booth. They are great at training, they only serve 2 meal options, and no alcohol so it's a super easy gig. You will work the duration of the game and be released when the game is over. You WILL need to wear some type of Bentonville or Band gear with a hat!!! This way they know who we are affiliated with. For those that work you will receive $100 towards your child's band fees for next year! Please ensure you leave yourself enough time to get down to the stadium by 12:30. If you have questions please call or text Rachel Baily at 479-372-2394.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080B4DA8AF29A46-44580594-slim#/
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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
All-Region Jazz Band Auditions
Jazz Band shirt and nice type pants
Bring $$ for concession style dinner
2:40p - Meet in band room
2:45p - Load Buses for BHS
3:00p - Help Setup Auditions
5:00p - Music is Posted
5:30p - Auditions Begin
8:00p - Approximate end time
You may pick your student up after they finish their audition. Message Mr. Jones in the BAND app when you pick them up.
3:45p - Band Room Closes
Tuesday - "B" Day (Classes 5-7, Priority, 8)
7:45am - Band Room Opens
Priority Time - Open Practice
4:30pm - Band Room Closes
Good luck Girls Basketball! Beat Lingle!
Wednesday - "A" Day (Classes 1-3, Priority, 4th)
7:45am - Band Room Opens
Priority Time - 7th Grade Band Leaders Rehearsal
3:45p-5:00 - Advanced Jazz Band Rehearsal
5:00p - Band Room Closes
Thursday - "B" Day (Classes 5-7, Priority, 8th)
6:45am - Band Room Opens for Choose Love Warm-Up (Required for 8th grade. Options for 7th Grade)
Wear grey WJHS Band Shirt (you may wear warm clothes over if you will be cold.)
7:10a - Troop to Apple Glen
7:15a - Perform for Apple Glen Car Rider Line
7:45a - Doughnuts provided by Apple Glen PTO
8:00a- Troop over to WJHS
8:10a - Perform for WJHS Car Rider Line
8:35a - Pack up and go to class
Priority - 8th Grade Sax Quartet Recording Session
4:30p - Band Room Closes
Friday - "A" Day (Classes 1-3, Priority, 4th)
7:45a - Band Room Opens
9:15a - Stream Bentonville Pride's BOA Grand Nats Prelim Performance in Band room. EVERYONE is invited. Parents, if you decide to come, plan to arrive no later than 9 so you have time to check in at the front office before coming down to the band room.
Priority Time - Advanced Jazz Band Rehearsal
3:45-5:00 - Advanced Jazz Band Rehearsal
5:00pm - Band Room Closes
Saturday
BOA Grand Nats Watch Party (Times TBD Friday Night)
Sign Up to bring snacks/drinks/etc.. https://forms.gle/eNMWS2XxnHTTYvdy9
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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,
