Upcoming Events
4/26-26 - 8th Grade Band and Advanced Jazz Band St. Louis Trip
4/29-5/2 - BHS Marching Band Auditions
5/1 - Spring Jazz Band Concert
5/21 - Spring Band Concert
5/22 - School Owned Instruments Due Back @WJHS
5/25 - Silver Dollar City Trip
Greetings Wildcat Band Family!
I feel like a broken record at this point but I am diggin' this gorgeous weather! If it will hang around for another 5 or 6 months, that would be splendid! :)
I am INCREDIBLY proud of all of our 8th graders and high school students who turned in band audition recordings this past week! The amount of growth in EVERY. SINGLE. STUDENT. Is truly outstanding! We have NEVER had so many students perform at such a high level. This is the first time in my career where I haven't needed to sit down with a student the day auditions were due and teach them how it goes. They just have the skills and procedures to do it themselves. Which is why my main goal for 7th grade is to help them to become independent musicians. It pays off. Now that the auditions are submitted the REAL hard part comes. Waiting until results are posted! Earliest expected time is 5:00pm, Friday, April 19th. Latest time is 5:00pm on Monday, April 22nd. With over 300 students who submitted 3 recordings each, that's a lot to assess AND make sure students are in a skill level appropriate ensemble (band).
Aria and I saw the WJHS Theater Department's production of the Wizard of Oz Saturday night and the entire cast and crew did an outstanding job!!! Shout outs to band students who are a part of this: Olivia H, Addie P, Emmerson S, Morgan H, Devan B, Penny M, Bridget D,
We are just 12 days away until 8th grade band and advanced jazz band leaves for St. Louis! To say we are excited is an understatement! Please remember that all luggage MUST be brought to school on Thursday, April 25th to be checked by staff according to district policy. Carry-on luggage will be checked by chaperones as we load the buses the morning of Friday, April 26th. Additional details regarding the trip and reminders will be sent out by Wednesday. However, if you have questions, please never hesitate to reach out.
All Grades are up to date in HAC if you want to see how your student is doing.
N=Nothing turned in but it still can be
Z = Wrong thing turned in or not enough completed to earn credit
Sign up for a FREE 20 minute lessons with Mr. Jones. These are not reoccurring lessons. Just a short lesson as you need help. Spots tend to go FAST each week. Sign Up Here if interested.
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
We must to do better on adhering to concert black for the spring concert. PLEASE LET ME HELP YOU find the correct attire if you need assistance.
No shorts.
No Crocks.
No White Shoes.
No shirts with graphics or text.
No Grey pants.
No T-shirts/short sleeve shirts. (a long sleeve black plain shirt would be acceptable)
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.
Band Supply Fee Reminder
Thank you to everyone who has been sending in the band supply fees! We are currently still short $3,042.
These fees are for materials and school provided instrument usage fees that we are able to get in bulk and provide a discount to families that we receive from our partnership with music and office supply dealers since are an education institution and pass those savings on to you. We also do this to ensure every student has exactly what they need without families needing to go to yet another store for back to school shopping to try and find what is needed and possibly getting the wrong thing.
Updated statements will be sent out on Monday morning. Band Supply Fees are all setup in MyPayments Plus and are available if you prefer to pay online for the full amount. If you have had fundraising or free/reduced lunch credits applied to your statement, those cannot be paid in the MPP system and must be sent in via cash/check. 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!!
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
3:45-5:00 - Lessons with Mr. Jones
5:15p - Band Room Closes
Good Luck at Conference TRACK!!!
Tuesday - "B" Day (Classes 5-7, Priority, 8)
7:45a - Band Room Opens
Priority Time - 7th Grade Mini-Band Rehearsal (CHECK RTI TO SEE IF YOU ARE COMING AND BRING YOUR INSTRUMENT. I FORGOT IS NOT A SUFFICIENT EXCUSE)
3:45-5:05 - Lessons with Mr. Jones
5:15pm - Band Room Closes
Wednesday - "A" Day (Classes 1-3, Priority, 4th)
8:30a - Band Room Opens Late due to Faculty Meeting
Priority - Advanced Jazz Band Rehearsal
3:45-5:00p - Advanced Jazz Band Rehearsal
5:15p - Band Room Closes
Thursday - "B" Day (Classes 5-7, Priority, 8)
7:45a - Band Room Opens
Priority Time - Symphonic Orchestra Rehearsal
3:45-5:05 - Lessons with Mr. Jones
5:15pm - Band Room Closes
Friday- "B" Day (Classes 5-7, Clubs, 8th)
7:45a - Band Room Opens
Priority - Advanced Jazz Band Rehearsal
3:45-5:00p - Advanced Jazz Band Rehearsal (Yes. This will happen)
5:30p - Band Room Closes
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
PRIVATE LESSONS ARE AWESOME! They are designed to be fun, engaging, supportive
and focused on the individual 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,
