"Common Times" Weekly Newsletter 5/22-5/30

Upcoming Events

Greetings Wildcat Band Families,

It is hard to believe that this is the LAST "Common Times" Newsletter of the 2022-2023 school year! Please take a few moments to read the end of year details below.

Please remember that all school provided instruments are due back THIS MONDAY. Additionally, any outstanding Band Fees need to be paid as we have 2 more invoices to pay for the year by Friday and we are unable to do so until those supply fees and St. Louis Shirt monies come in. They can all be paid in the mypaymentsplus system provided by Bentonville Schools. Please note these are not assigned to you in the system, you will have to search for them. I will send out an updated financial statement on Tuesday after I finish processing the money turned in this past Friday.

It has been an absolutely incredible year with tremendous growth as musicians and most importantly humans. I want to thank our 8th Grade Band Families for all they have done to support our students the last 3 years as none of this is possible without supportive families. I also want to thank our incredible 8th Grade Band musicians! These students work HARD to be the absolute best they can be and it shows in the numerous awards both individually and as an ensemble (team of musicians) have earned this year. I have NO DOUBT these students will continue to grow and rock the musical scence on a national level!!!! THANK YOU for the memories we've made the last two years and know that I am ALWAYS here for you EVERY.SINGLE.ONE.OF.YOU! Love you all!

7th Grade Band Students, to see I'm proud of your growth this year would be an understatement! The performance you gave two weeks ago was nothing less than incredible!!!! With the 3:35 dismissal bell on Tuesday, May 30th, you will no longer be the WJHS 7th Grade Band, but you ARE the Washington Junior High 8th Grade Wildcat Band!!! With this comes great responsibility but even more fun learning and performing. I am already hard at work picking music to challenge you, to build you up and to just plain have fun! Additionally, we have an expert staff of adjunct instructors who will be in class with us every week doing sectionals (i.e. Alisha Patillo, professional saxophonist, taking just saxophones out to a secondary location to work on just making you even more amazing saxophonists as a section or as individuals for lessons. This will occur for every instrument, every student during our class period.) We have a couple of MAJOR recording projects we are going to participate in to get the band recognized on a national level. Why? Because you should be! :)

7th Grade Families, PLEASE please please, be sure you have the summer band dates on your calendar when finalizing camp and vacation plans. July 31st-August 4th are required dates for 8th grade band students to prepare for the new year. These dates were shared continually in our newsletters since November. :) These sectionals and rehearsals have been carefully planned to not conflict with any school sponsored activity that also has practices this week including: Volleyball, Cheer, Dance, Football, Basketball, Cross Country and the Wildcat Welcome. I was assured by all of the leaders of these groups that they would not have any practices during the band times of 12:00-3:30 back in mid-April. This will be the ONLY time we learn the pep music (8-12 songs) we will play at pep rallies, the Natural's Game, 2 Friday Night Football Games, Middle School Tours, Choose Love for Apple Glen and more.

7th Grade Families - I NEED you to sign up for the new BAND Group via this link: https://band.us/n/a3a692a1A4d5w. Students and parents/guardians should both sign up. This is the BEST way for me to communicate with you. You will NOT receive many messages from me via this. You can expect an email and message the last week of June and last full week of July with reminders for the summer band dates.

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.

There is STILL time to enroll your band studend in the INAGURAL Bentonville Schools All City 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)

• INSTRUMENTS DUE BACK!!

• Band Room opens at 7:45am

• Band Room closes at 4:00pm

• Tuesday - B Day (Classes 5-8 and Priority)

• Band Room opens at 7:45am

• Band Room closes at 4:00pm

• 7:30pm - Volunteer Group to play the fight song/pep tunes for the WJHS Girls Soccer Championship Game

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

• Band Room opens at 7:45a

• 8th Grade Awards Ceremony 8:45am

• Band Room closes at 4:00pm

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

• Band Room opens at 7:45

• 7th Grade Awards Ceremony 8:45am

• Band Room closes at 4:00pm

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

• Band Room opens at 7:45a

• WJHS Talent Show 8:45am

• Band Room closes at 4:00pm

Monday - NO SCHOOL MEMORIAL DAY

Taps Across America

What: Play Taps on your trumpet (or any instrument)

When: Memorial Day, Monday, May 29

Time: 3:00 Central Time

Where: Anywhere you want; front yard, local cemetery, living room...you pick it.

Have your parents film you playing Taps (Send the video to Mr. Cowart too). Go to the FAQ link below to show you how to get your video to the Taps Across America organization. Have your parents help you with this.

You DO NOT have to film yourself playing or send it to the organization. You can just play at 3:00 out of respect to all veterans.

Why: To show a sign of respect to veterans and because you're a trumpet player and you can!

Taps Across America homepage: https://www.tapsacrossamerica.org/

• Tuesday - LAST Day of School

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There are several GREAT ways to keep your student growing and involved in music over the summer!

Paid Options:

University of Central Arkansas Dixie Band Camp June 5th-10th in Conway

Bentonville All-City Band Camp (1/2 Day) June 12th-16th at BHS

Bands Alive Band Camp at Missouri State University in Springfield, MO June 27th-29th

University of Arkansas Band Camp July 9th-14th in Fayetteville

Private Lessons with an expert on your student's instrument via Arkansas Musicworks (information below)

Free Options:

Practicing Pep Music

Practicing All-Region Music

Volunteer to Rehearse and perform with our Jazz Band - Various Dates. Downtown Bentonville

Online Music Composition Course

Performing with the Bella Vista Community Concert Band

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,