"Common Times" Weekly Newsletter 8/21-8/25
Upcoming Events
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
9/4 - Fall Mums Fundraiser Kick Off
9/18 - Mum Fundraiser Online Orders and Money Due
STARTING NEXT WEEK THIS WILL BE COLLAPSED TO TAKE UP LESS SPACE WHEN YOU OPEN THE NEWSLETTER. TO VIEW THIS LIST, YOU WILL NEED TO CLICK THE ARROW NEXT TO "UPCOMING EVENTS".
Greetings Wildcat Band Families,
We had an absolutely INCREDIBLE first 3 days of school!! To say I am excited for the potential of all of the students and the growth the bands will experience this year would be an understatement.
Huge thank you to the parents and guardians who got your students to school early on the first day to perform as students were arriving. I know it wasn't easy but it was so worth it! Be sure to check out some of the pics on our Instagram and Facebook pages. Not to mention the several seconds of being highlighted in the district's first day video posted Friday afternoon.
This week EVERY band student will bring instruments to class the day they have class. Please review the daily schedule below to confirm which day your student has class.
Please help me remind your students that instruments will NEVER stay at school overnight. They ALWAYS need to go home (unless they have a football game, volleyball game, XC meet, etc... In that instance the student should leave their instrument safe at school and pick up the next day). Each time an instrument is left parents will be contacted and after the third time a detention will be issued.
Thank you to everyone who has been sending in the band supply fees! That is a huge help! We will have the option for online payments via MyPaymentsPlus after Labor Day. In the meantime you can send in cash or check made out to "WJHS Band." Thank you for your help!!
Â
We have almost all of our families signed up for the app and it is already being utilized well! If you haven't signed up, please do so. It is also important for students to be a part of the app. Students without a phone should still sign up as they can receive notifications by keeping a tab open on their computer and can also set their settings to receive email notifications.
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
Concession Volunteer Opportunities!
Sign up to earn $25 per shift per person (Max 2 people) towards band related expenses.
Friday Shifts (REALLY NEED HELP OCT 27)
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 - "A" Day (Classes 1-3, Advisory, 4th)
Band Classes that Meet on "A" Days
7th Grade Trombones (Low Brass)
Jazz Band
7th Grade Flutes and Saxophones (High Winds)
7th Grade Clarinets
7:45am - Band Room Opens
Good luck Volleyball!!
4:30pm - Band Room Closes
Tuesday - "B" Day (Classes 5-7, Advisory, 8th)
Band Classes that Meet on "B" Days
8th Grade Band
7th Grade Trumpets (High Brass)
7:45am - Band Room Opens
Natural's Game Performance Ticket Form, Money and Permission Form Due
Forms all handed out last week.
If your student is going and need a hard copy of the forms they can pick it up in the band room on Monday.
Forms are also linked above
Required for all 8th grade band students
Optional for 7th grade band students who came to the August Band Rehearsals and learned the pep music
Wasn't able to attend? No problem! We will begin handing out the pep packets to all classes this week so students can work on the music and join us in the future!
Good luck Volleyball!!!
4:30pm - Band Room Closes
Wednesday - "A" Day (Classes 1-3, Advisory, 4th)
Band Classes that Meet on "A" Days
7th Grade Trombones (Low Brass)
Jazz Band
7th Grade Flutes and Saxophones
7th Grade Clarinets
7:45am - Band Room Opens
4:30pm - Band Room Closes
Thursday - "B" Day (Classes 5-7, Advisory, 8th)
Band Classes that Meet on "B" Days
8th Grade Band
7th Grade Trumpets (High Brass)
7:45am - Band Room Opens
4:30pm - Band Room Closes
Good Luck Football!!!!
Friday - "A" Day (Classes 1-3, Advisory, 4th)
Band Classes that Meet on "A" Days
7th Grade Trombones (Low Brass)
Jazz Band
7th Grade Flutes and Saxophones
7th Grade Clarinets
7:45am - Band Room Opens
3:35pm - NEW TRADITION - Sign the board when you come pick up your instrument for the weekend.
4:30pm - Band Room Closes
Â
I know we JUST started the school year 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,
