Creekland Middle School Band Blog

YES!!! We are still having the Rock-A-Thon!!!  We have received many concerned e-mails about the Rock-A-Thon, talent show, and the basketball tournament.   Truthfully, we wish we didn’t have so many missing days from school, but when plans change, we change.  We need everyone to turn in their permission form on Tuesday.  If you are missing your permission form, please print a new one from the handouts section of charms.  We need all forms whether you are attending or not.  We need to know exactly who is coming.  We also need to know what the teams are for the 3 on 3 tournament.  Lastly, we are going to listen to our talent show participants during class on Tuesday.  We need to know who is going to participate in the talent show and who is participating with someone in orchestra or chorus.  If you are participating in the talent show with someone that is not in your class, let’s arrange a time following school on Tuesday.

We appreciate all of the great efforts that everyone is doing to make this Rock-A-Thon great.  We are still encouraging everyone participating to each raise 100 dollars.  I know that the required amount is 25, but we really want the lockers for our students.  These expensive lockers are acoustically designed for band rooms.  This will allow a safe, permanent storage compartment for the students’ instruments.  We could easily raise enough money if everyone participates.  The Rock-A-Thon, hopefully, will raise enough money to replace our fall fundraiser.  We only want to have one fundraiser per year.  If everyone works hard, this can be completed.
Don’t forget…
Wednesday – Chair Drop off immediately following school.  Don’t forget to bring your prizes.
If you have large prizes donated from businesses, please bring them at this time also.  You will need to bring them to the small band room.  If you want, you can come through the bus lanes starting at 4:30.  Our buses should be clear by then.  If you still know of big items that can be donated, please contact our officers.  If you need their contact information, please contact myself or Ms. Schaps.

FYI:  For those of you that have Bellsouth.net , for some reason I am getting many e-mails to bounce back.  Please contact them and let them know that you are not able to receive e-mails from your child’s teachers.   If you know of someone with a Bellsouth.net that is a member of the band, please forward this message.  I want to make sure everyone in the band program receives this message.

Reminder:
Pep Band Rehearsal Wednesday morning at 8:00 am and Pep Band Game on Thursday immediately following school.

Just discovered this product that is designed to shield the entire row of braces from lips. Check out this link:

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Wow!  How quickly time flies!  We blinked and it is almost December.  There are lots of events going on these next 2 weeks:

6th Grade (and Jazz Band) Concert is TOMORROW, November 30.  The initial date on the calendar from the beginning of school is incorrect, but it has been corrected in Charms since the beginning of the school year, and it has been on every weekly report that has gone home in the past month.  The performance will be in the cafeteria and begins at 6:30, and students should arrive at 6:00.  Although the t-shirts were scheduled to be here before break, of course they had not arrived as of class time today, but they were delivered after class and will be handed out tomorrow.  The 6th grade uniform is the aforementioned t-shirt, jeans (no holes!), and sneakers.

8th Grade Concert is THURSDAY, December 2.  The initial date on the calendar from the beginning of school is incorrect, but it has been corrected in Charms since the beginning of the school year, and students were notified months ago of the change.  This performance will be at Collins Hill HS, and we just found out today that the performance will begin at 7 and report time will be 6:30.  This concert is shared with all CHHS bands, and we encourage all students to stay through the entire event.

7th Grade Concert is MONDAY, December 6, has not changed since the beginning of the school year.  The performance will be in the cafeteria at 6:30, and students must report at 6.  The uniform is the tux shirt, bowtie, and cummerbund (which were purchased through the band program, and all students who have paid have received them), and black pants and black dress shoes (which are not provided by CMS).

In addition, since the last post we have sent home all fundraiser items and fundraiser prizes.  Many thanks to Molly Gautreaux for helping the events go so smoothly!

Also, 7th and 8th grade students should have turned in their quarterly pass-offs the Friday before Thanksgiving break.  Pass-off projects are worth 30% of a student’s grade in band, and also determine honor band status for the next quarter.  Students now have a week to resubmit items that need fixing, and the second deadline is this coming Friday the 3rd.

District band auditions are this coming Saturday!  Audition times were sent out weeks ago via email, and will be sent again this week.  Auditions will be at A.C. Crews Middle School (1000 Old Snellville Highway Lawrenceville, GA 30044), and students should plan to arrive 30 minutes prior to their audition time to allow for registration and warm-up.

Busy times in the CMS Band!  Please contact us with questions!

Today is the official kick-off of our fall band fundraiser!  Students received information packets in their classes today.  This year we are selling candy, flower bulbs, candles, and chocolates.  Our fundraising goals now are purchasing new instruments, repairing old instruments, hiring guest clinicians and performers, and eventually purchasing Wenger instrument lockers for each student!

We make 40% profit from each item sold, and we will credit every student’s individual band account 25% of proceeds of individual sales.   For instance, if a student sells one $10 item we receive $4 in profit, and $1 will be credited to the student’s band account.  Band accounts can be used to pay for miscellaneous band expenses (books, binders, t-shirts, “Band Packets,” etc.) or can be saved up for big purchases (i.e. step-up instruments).

The text of the letter we sent home says the following:

We are delighted to have the opportunity to conduct a Band and Orchestra fundraiser to provide funds for curriculum materials, enrichment materials, and equipment for our programs.  Since all band and orchestra students will benefit from the proceeds of this sale, every student in one of these programs is encouraged to participate in this fundraiser in some way.

Our Fall Fundraiser will begin on Wednesday, October 13 and will run until Friday, October 22.  Students can start turning in money and orders immediately.  We will need parent help on Friday, October 22 and Monday, October 25 to assist on counting the money to make sure it matches the orders received.   Items ordered will be sent home with the students on early release days in November (Wednesday and Thursday November 10 and 11), and we will also need parent help as we distribute the items.  We appreciate any volunteer help you can give us!  Please see the volunteer slip on the letter or sign up on Charms.

We encourage you and your child to sell these products to family, friends, coworkers, and other acquaintances.  Students should not to go door-to-door to solicit sales from people they do not know. If you choose, it is also permissible to make a donation to the band program in lieu of participating in the fundraiser. The absolute final turn in day is Friday, October 22!!

***PLEASE MAKE ALL FUNDRAISER CHECKS PAYABLE TO CREEKLAND BAND BOOSTERS***

Thank you in advance for your support of this FUNdraiser!  We look forward to the financial  opportunities this fundraiser will provide!

(***please note – there was a typo on the form sent home today regarding pick-up dates for fundraising items.  Pick-up days are the early release days in November – the 10th and 11th, NOT the 11th and 12th as listed on the form!***)

Honor band students received a reminder handout today about the upcoming concert this Thursday 9/30 at 6:30.

Students need to report to their assigned area at 6:00:

• 7th Grade in the cafeteria (leave cases in large band room)
• 8th Grade in small band room

Students are required to attend both halves of the concert, and parents are encouraged to stay as well.  We do not anticipate it being a long event.

The required uniform is:

• Black dress pants, black dress shoes, and black socks
• White tuxedo shirt
• Cummerbund and Bowtie

7th Grade uniform issues (and a back-up plan):

Although we placed the order for 7th grade uniforms 3 weeks ago, the theme of this year seems to be orders not getting filled on time.  I spoke to the company this morning and they said our order will hopefully be here by Thursday, but just in case we are creating a back-up uniform.  7th Grade please show up on Thursday in black bottoms as listed above, and a plain white t-shirt on top.  (No designs please!) This way, if the uniforms arrive we can put them on, and if not we will still look uniform.

*Keep your fingers crossed!*  See you Thursday for a great evening of music making!

We are happy to announce the officer board for the 2010-2011 Creekland Band Booster program:

President: Jeff Reinhard
Vice President: Molly Gautreaux*
Secretary: Shelly Pine
Treasurer: Becky Drescher

The booster board and the band directors met on Wednesday to draft an official set of by-laws for the organization as part of our application process for a 501 c 3.  Be on the lookout for an upcoming publication and vote on those by-laws and announcements about future meetings.

Thanks again to all the parents who will be participating in our booster organization!  We are looking forward to a great year!

*Although Rachel Pinard was originally on the ballot (and in the minutes), she respectfully declined her nomination and Molly, who was a nominee for secretary,  agreed to step in as vice president.

Minutes for Band Booster Meeting 9/13/2010

o   Welcome-Mr. Jacob Sevier started the meeting at 7:05 pm.  Mr. Sevier went over the purpose of this meeting with the parents in attendance.  The purpose of this meeting was to give parents tools to help their children be successful in band, and get a booster organization started.  Mr. Sevier introduced Mr. Richard Irby from CHHS Band booster club.

• Mr. Richard Irby from CHHS

o   Mr. Irby explained that an important role of a booster club is to provide additional monies for the classroom and for additional items, such as additional instruments, money for trips and to help with lessons and expenses when there is a child in need that could benefit.  He advised the school does not give the band money for this and what the district provides is minimal.  He also explained that parental involvement is key-we can support our children not only in fundraising, but by being involved and by being there to witness the child’s successes in their musical education.  They want their parents to see them being successful!

• Officer Duties-Ms. Schaps went over each of the following officer duties and opened the floor for nominations.

o   President – lead meetings, keep close communication with band directors, spearhead and delegate projects and committees

§  Nominees: Jeff Reinhard, Rachel Pinard

o   Vice President – volunteer coordinator for band needs and functions, Rockathon Committee chair, lead meetings when president is absent

§  Nominees: Rachel Pinard

o   Secretary – take minutes at meetings, assist vice president with volunteer communication,  assist band directors with communication

§  Nominees: Shelly Pine, Molly Gautreaux

o   Treasurer – in charge of all money collected and dispersed

§  Nominees: Becky Drescher

• Officer nominations and elections-Ms. Schaps asked the parents in attendance to vote on the ballots provided and collected the ballots.
• Charms tutorial-Mr. Sevier and Ms. Schaps went over some of the features of Charms including public entry (creeklandmsband-then the students school id).  Once you get in charms, you can send emails to the teachers, look for handouts by grade and subject, play pass offs and save them to be graded.  Another feature of Charms is a calendar of all band events.  If you see a hand print on the date, please click on it and volunteer to help!  Also, parents were encouraged to go to their students page and verify the information we have  on file is valid.  Our band directors are working with
  CHHS to see if we have the capability to link with them so that the information transfers with the students as well as any monies raised.
• Blog overview-Ms.Schaps went over the benefits and uses of  our band blog.  It can be accessed by entering creeklandbands.edublogs.org.  There are categories listed on information tags to make it easy to find what you are looking for, including search engine links.  You can download into Audacity, mp3 players and disc resources as another way to hand in pass offs.  Note flight allows a student to enter music and it will play it back to them.
• SmartMusic

o   Student demonstration was provided by Abigail Collins.  She was provided with a song and played along with the music.  Mr. Sevier also asked her to play incorrect notes to show how a child will know how to go back and where to correct their mistakes.  The band boosters have paid $135 for the rights to the music on Smart Music and so our directors have the ability to assign music, help students and to receive pass offs.  The cost of a yearly student subscription is $36.  Smart Music helps the children with sight reading and preparing their requirements for pass offs and even District Band.

• Classroom grading

o   At home practice records are to be turned in any way shape or form at any time.  Mr. Sevier would just like a parent signature to confirm time spent at home with their instrument. Not only does home practice help with strengthening of mouth muscles, it makes the child a better instrument player. Pass-offs and class participation (coming to class with their instruments, binders and any other assigned activities) are also included in their grading requirements.

• Tips for home practice

o   Recording for self-evaluation purposes helps the student hear their mistakes and gives them the opportunity to fix them.

o   Practicing in front of a mirror helps students be aware of their bodies’ relationship with the instrument and can fix lots of issues.

o   Private Lessons are not required but highly encouraged for ANY student to enrich their learning experience!!!

• Additional recommended supplies

o   Metronome, tuner-helps the student with the beat/time of the music and the tuner helps them check their instruments to see if they are in tune.

• Nametags are on order!  All over the country people are waiting on them!  The children will get theirs as soon as the directors receive them!
• The meeting was adjourned by Ms. Schaps at approximately 8:10pm.

Progress Reports are going home today and tomorrow in all classes. Many students turned in late work today and there was no time to update their grades, so please check the GCPS Portal for your student’s most current grade.

Because band is mostly a participation class, we consider any student whose grade is below an A to be performing under par. Any student who practices his or her instrument regularly (and turns in the practice record), brings his or her materials to class every day, and shows up to required events should receive an A in band.

Students are responsible for turning in their own assignments at all times.

We are currently having difficulties with SmartMusic and posting pictures on this blog…we’ll keep you posted on whether we can get it working. SmartMusic is not letting us connect to the internet to make new assignments for students to access, making it difficult to set up pass-offs. We’re working on it, and hope to have the kinks worked out soon!