"Common Times" Weekly Newsletter 5/1-5/5

Upcoming Events

Greetings Wildcat Band Families,

It was such an INCREDIBLE weekend in St. Louis! Not only did we bring home some hardware:

8th Grade Band - Superior Rating 1st Over All for JH/MS Concert Bands

8th Grade Band -1st Place in class 1A

Jazz Band - Excellent Rating and 1st Place

Advanced Men's Choir -1st Place in 1A

Advanced Women's Choir -1st Place in 1A

8th Grade Orchestra - Best Over All JH/MS Orchestra

8th Grade Orchestra - 1st Place in class 1A

BUT, on top of that they were FANTASTIC HUMANS all weekend! Everywhere we went we received multiple comments from servers, general public audience members, staff members, parents, and other directors. Even after a long day on Saturday, the students' behavior at the symphony was impeccable! I could NOT be more proud of these students. Please congratulate them and give them some extra hugs. They deserve it!

I want to shout out our indespensible chaperones. Lucia Alvarado, Elizabeth Hendricks, Angela Hopkins, Jennifer Knaup, Shannon Miller, and Lucretia Nesbitt. These wonderful humans went above and beyond taking care of your kids this weekend and the trip would NOT have been possible without them. Thank you thank you THANK YOU!!

I also want to shout out Brandi Peters and Amanda Lantz! They drove up and did a lot of prep work to make the weekend a huge success! They checked us in at the hotel early in the afternoon Friday, organized room keys, picked up and helped serve dinner on Saturday, organized breakfast on Sunday, handed out breakfast and cleaned up as we all headed out.

I don't say this lightly, band parents and band kids are the ABSOLUTE BEST!!! We love you!!

There is a mandatory parent meeting for all BHS Band Students (including our current 8th graders who will be in band at BHS) TONIGHT, MONDAY at 7:00pm in the Arend Arts Center.

There are also rehearsals Tuesday and Thursday 4:30-6:00pm at BHS. We were not able to get transportation secured for these events. Please work with one another to carpool as needed.

Students need to wear a white shirt (can have words/graphics), athletic type shorts/pants (no jeans) , athletic type shoes, sunscreen, hat/sunglasses (if desired) and bring a bottle of water each day. Students will meet in the BHS Band Room first each day. If you aren't taking the bu over, please plan ahead to BE ON TIME (meaning arrive by 4:20 at the latest). Construction on 'J' street definetely slows down traffic this time of day. *Side note. I'm beginning the process to get a CDL so I can drive a bus to shuttle our students to BHS for events when needed next year.*

Please be sure to review our calendar for the rest of the semester located here.

7th Grade Families, here is our initial calendar for the 2023-2024 school year. Please be sure you get the July 31st-August 4th dates on your calendar for summer band rehearsals. These are timed carefully to not overlap with other WJHS Summer Activities and are required for band students. You will see several events on the calendar without dates. These are events we typically participate in but we do not have dates yet. As they come available I will update it.

This quarter the band room will open at 7:45am each day. All students should enter the school through the main doors. The back band room door will not be used as an entrance; it is exit only. Students in the room before school have 2 options: 1) practice current music or 2) work on homework/study/read. Fridays are open for students to just hang out. Students will be reminded once of the procedure. The second time they will be required to go to the commons until the 8:28 bell.

Winter band photos are AVAILABLE for purchase from: https://snapped4u.com/galleries/18912. They are $10 each and will be available for you to download immediately after purchase.

I am excited to announce a BRAND NEW offering for this June. The Junior High Bands are offering a 1/2 day All-City Summer Band Camp June 12th-16th 8:30a-11:30a. Cost is $75 and includes a camp shirt, daily snack, instruction and a concert at the end of the week. Students who are CURRENTLY in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade are welcome to attend. More information will be available from the district on how to sign up soon! Registration is now OPEN!

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 1-4 and Advisory)

• Band Room opens at 7:45am

• We will be organizing and cleaning up from the trip. Be prepared to assist. :)

• Band Room closes at 4:00pm

• Mandatory Band Parent Meeting for those going to be in the BHS Bands

• 7:00pm

• Arend Arts Center

• If you have a conflict, please communicate with Mr. Tim Hendrix, Director of Bands. thendrix@bentonvillek12.org

• Tuesday - B Day (Classes 5-8 and Priority) - Composer Randall Standridge in Residency. Students - wear a WJHS shirt, preferebly a band shirt.

• Band Room opens at 7:45

• 7th Grade Band Rehearsal during Priority time

• 7th Grade Band Rehearsal 3:45-5:00pm

• Marching Band Spring Rehearsal 4:30-6:00 @BHS

• White shirt, athletic type pants/shorts, sunscreen, hat/sunglasses (if desired), bottle of water

• Drumline Final Auditions

• Wednesday - A Day (Classes 1st-4th and Priority)

• Band Room opens at 8:30 due to Faculty Meeting

• Band Room closes at 4:00pm

• Jazz Band Spring Concert

• Attire: Concert Black with splash of color

• Old High Middle School

• 5:45p - Arrive at Old High to setup

• 6:00p - Warm-up/Sound Check

• 6:30p - Concert Begins (we will stay to watch both BHS Jazz Bands)

• 8:30p - Approximate end of concert. Help strike equipment and load

• Thursday - B Day (Classes 5th-8th and Priority)

• Band Room opens at 7:45

• Band Room closes at 4:00pm

• Marching Band Spring Rehearsal 4:30-6:00 @BHS

• White shirt, athletic type pants/shorts, sunscreen, hat/sunglasses (if desired), bottle of water

• Friday -A Day (Classes 1st-4th and Engagement Friday)

• Band Room opens at 7:45a

• Concessions during Priority

• Band Room closes at 4:00pm

• Theater Fundamentals Showcase - break a leg!

Upcoming!

Friday, May 12th - Spring Concert for 7th and 8th grade bands

Attire: Concert Black

• 6:15p - 7th Grade band arrives in BHS Band Room

• 6:30p - 7th Grade Warm-Up begins

• 6:45p - 8th Grade Band Arrives to uncase in BHS band room

• 7:15p - 7th Grade Concert Begins

• All 7th grade will stay to watch 8th grade concert and help strike the stage and put away equipment post concert

• 7:45p - 8th Grade Concert Begins

• 8:25p - ALL band students will help strike the stage and return equipment to appropriate areas. DO NOT LEAVE UNTIL MR. JONES SENDS A MESSAGE ON THE BAND APP THAT YOU MAY GO. Lots of hands make quick work.

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Current 7th Grade Band Members	Current 8th Grade Band Members
Times will be determined once speaking with XC, Cheer, Dance, Volleyball and Football Coaches so that there aren't any conflicts. Typically, these are 12:30-3:30. For those planning to attend Camp War Eagle, please plan to do one of the early sessions.	July 17th -21st - Mandatory Pride Band Members Music Sectional 1:00p-5:00pm For full calendar, please see www.bentonvillepride.com
​July 31st- Low Brass and Low Reeds Sectional (Bass Clarinets, Saxophone, French Horns, Trombones, Euphoniums and Tubas)	July 24th-August 4th - Mandatory Pride Band Members Rehearsal 8:00am-5:00pm For full calendar, please see www.bentonvillepride.com
August 1st - High Woodwinds and High Brass Sectional (Flutes, Clarinets and Trumpets)	August 7th-15th - Mandatory Pride Band Members Evening Rehearsals Beginning at 5:00pm. End time varies depending on day. For full calendar, please see www.bentonvillepride.com
August 2nd - Percussion Sectional
August 3rd - Full Band Rehearsal
August 4th - Full Band Rehearsal

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You can find a complete copy of this year's calendar of events here.

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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,