"Common Times" Weekly Newsletter 8/29-9/2

Upcoming Events

Greetings Wildcat Band Family,

Week 2 was incredible! We continued to review concepts from last year in 7th grade classes and began to tackle new techniques and skills. We also have our first assignment due this Monday for A Day classes and Tuesday for B Day classes. The assignments turned in so far are outstanding!

Reminder that instruments go home EVERY night. This week we will start documenting instruments left. After the 3rd time an instrument is left students start receiving detention. Emails were sent out on Friday to students who haven't got in the habit of taking their instrument home yet.

All-Region sectionals continue this week. Please remember that these are required for all 8th grade band students. GREAT effort was taken to schedule it around individual student schedules based off of feedback last spring. 8th grade assignments this semester are based off what is taught during the sectionals. 7th graders who would like to be challenged to learn the all-region audition music and more than welcome to attend.

Our online apparel store is open and ready for you! The required t-shirt for all band students was ordered in bulk Friday so there is nothing required for students on the store. Just awesome swag! http://wjhsonlinestore.deco-apparel.com Order deadline is September 7th. Spend $60 get 10% off your order.

8th Grade band kicked off the Dominos Slice the Price Fundraiser on Friday. Every student needs to sell at least 15 cards. That comes out to 1 card per day. Cost is $15/card. Profit is $7.50/card sold. Doing so gives each student a profit of $112.50 which pays for the first 2 payments towards the St. Louis trip AND gives every student a free shirt we will get to design for the trip. More info can be found with the handout given to your band student last week or here: https://slicethepricecard.com/37592. 7th Graders who would like to utilize this fundraiser to help cover band supply fees may participate as well. Use the link above to create your account.

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)

• "A" Day class assignments due before class.

• 8:00am - Band Room opens for student to practice/help setup

• 3:45-4:30 - Clarinet All-Region Sectional (required for 8th graders)

• 4:50pm - Band Room Closes

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

• "B" Day class assignments due before class.

• Natural's Game Performance Tickets go on sale

• 8th Grade Band needs concert instruments (oboe, bassoons, euphoniums, etc)

• Priority time - Trombone Sectional with Mr. Pierce

• 3:45-4:30 - Euphonium Sectional (required for 8th graders

• 4:50pm - Band Room Closes

• Wednesday (A Day - Classes 1-4 and Advisory)

• 8:00am - Band Room opens for student to practice/help setup

• 3:45-4:30 - Saxophone and Tuba All-Region Sectional (required for 8th graders)

• 4:50pm - Band Room Closes

• Thursday (B Day - Classes 5-8 and Advisory)

• 4:00pm - Band Room Closes

• Friday (A Day - Classes 1-4 and Advisory)

• 8:15am - Band Room opens at 8:00 for students to practice and help setup

• 3:45-5:00 - Band Water Party and Kona Ice (bring water balloons, water guns, a towel and change of clothes)

• 3:45-4:15 - Trumpet and French Horn All-Region Sectional (required for 8th graders)

• 5:15pm - Band Room Closes

• Monday, September 5th - No School, Labor Day

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Below is the schedule for required sectionals for 8th grade band for the year that continues THIS WEEK. 7th graders are welcome to attend sectionals first semester if they want to be challenged to learn the all-region honor band audition music. Auditions occur in December and are required for all 8th Grade Band Students and 7th Grade Percussion.

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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! We have set aside $1150 for lessons this year. We can also help pay for additional lessons and offset the cost of lessons for families who need financial assistance in this area.

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 sign up for a free lesson:

• Contact Mr. Jones so he can track who is taking the exploratory lessons

• Contact Arkansas Music Conservatory to setup a lesson 479-268-3307 (call) or 479-430-2226 (text)

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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.

Have a band-tastic week everyone!

Musically Yours,