"Common Times" Weekly Newsletter 8/14-8/18
Upcoming Events
8/14 - WJHS Open House. Band Parent Meeting in Little Theater 6:00p-6:45p
8/16 - First Day of School (A Day - Pep Rally before school)
8/18 - Pep Rally at 3:00pm
8/21 - Natural's Tickets Order Forms and Money Due
8/30 - Arkansas Natural's Game Performance at Arvest Ballpark
9/1 - Band Water Party after school until 5:00pm
Greetings Wildcat Band Families,
Welcome back to the BEST year yet!!! After the week of sectionals and rehearsals the first week of August, I am more than excited for this year! We are setup to have the best year of band we've ever had at WJHS!!!
Monday (Tomorrow Night) is the WJHS Open House 4:30-6:30pm. I am looking forward to meeting all of our new families and reconnecting with all of our returning families.
To get the year started off all on the same page, we will have a band family (guardians and students) meeting 6:00-6:45p in the WJHS Little Theater the same night as Open House. This is for any family with a student in the 7th grade, 8th grade or jazz band.
We will cover:
Expectations
Concert Attire
School Instrument Usage Fees
Band Supply Fees
Private Lessons
Fundraising
Parent-> Parent Talk
Spring Trips
St. Louis for Music in the Parks
8th Grade Band and Advanced Jazz Band
7th graders in the advanced jazz band are welcome to go
Silver Dollar City
I would love for students to join the meeting if at all possible. However, if they have another activity to get to or are a part of during this time, that it completely understandable.
Â
Once again, we will utilize the BAND app for important communications and reminders. This is app is completely free and allows two-way communication. One thing I LOVE about this app is that parents/students can ask a question to everyone in our group and anyone can respond. This is great when parents ask a question and I'm in class and unable to respond. Often times another parent is able to answer the question lickety-split. You can also create a private chat with me to send a message if you don't want it broadcast to everyone.
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
Â
Here is our PDF calendar for the 2023-2024 school year.
You can view and subscribe to our Google Calendar of events here.
Please take a few moment to review the information below so you are fully prepared for the week ahead.
This week:
Monday - NO SCHOOL
Open House 4:30p-6:30p
Band Parent/Student Meeting 6:00-6:45p
Tuesday - NO SCHOOL
Wednesday - A Day (Classes 1-3, Advisory, 4th)
First Day of School!!
Jazz Band, 8th Grade Band and 7th graders who want to play in the pep rally bring instruments.
Band Room opens at 7:15a
Enter from doors at end of 400 hallway by REC
Pep Rally
Attire: New Black WJHS T-Shirt
7:30a - Warm-up/rehearsal in band room
8:00a-8:30a - Perform in front of school
Band Room closes at 4:00pm
Thursday - B Day (Classes 5-7, Advisory, 8)
Band Room opens at 7:45
8th Grade Band brings instruments
7th Grade will NOT bring instruments today
Band Room closes at 4:00pm
Friday -A Day (Classes 1-3, Advisory, 4)
Band Room opens at 7:45a
All "A" Day Classes bring instruments
7th Grade Trombone
Jazz Band
7th Grade Flutes and Saxophones
7th Grade Clarinets
Pep Rally
Attire: New Black WJHS T-shirt
2:30pm - Band Dismissed to prepare
3:10-3:30 - Pep Rally
3:30 - Band Dismissed to pack-up
Band Room closes at 4:00pm
Â
I know school isn't even in session yet 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) 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.
Â
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
Â
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,
