Please see the link to the calendars page above for specific times as far as the Awards Ceremony and final concert of the year. (Click the event title for specific details)
There will be NO car wash tomorrow as originally scheduled.
There will be no silent auction but for a $5 donation to the Band Booster, you will receive a ticket that might be drawn for a prize! More details on what prizes we will have will be available soon.
These are all on the calendar but wanted to list them here in a summary:
April 24 – Car Wash at Hilltop Auto Zone from 7:30a – 12 noon.
May 14 – Year end award banquet. Band students and siblings grades 3 and under eat for free; all others will be $5.00 each (includes drink). Tickets will be sold, more info will be made available ASAP.
May 20 – Year End Concert. A silent auction will be held that evening. Please email Christy if you have any items you would like to donate or ideas for donations.
May 25 – Band will play at graduation.
Again, all events are on the calendar. Emails will be sent and the online calendar updated as more details become available.
I am not writing this as a congratulations from me to the band; I have done that in person. I am writing this so that you may congratulate the band students. The band earned an Excellent (Level 2 on a 5 level scale with Level 1 being the best) rating at our regional assessment on Saturday. Of the 32 students who went, 30 had never been before. The 2 who had been went to other schools last year. The last time the band attended this event was 2003 at which they received a “Good” (Level 3) rating.
Of the 32 who were part of the band assessment, three are 7th grade beginners having only played their instrument since January, nine are second year band students in the 8th grade, and seven are freshmen. Only two are seniors, five were juniors and six were sophomores. They were all playing and being assessed on a SENIOR high level. To put it in perspective, imagine your 7th and 8th graders taking 10th grade End of Course exams and getting 90%.
The band meets in FOUR different class periods. As a result they have rehearsed for this performance in combined form only FOUR times; three of those requiring them to stay after school. As for the fourth time, Dearest Junior High teachers, and Mrs. Keller and Mr. Bell, I love you for not complaining when I needed to get the kids out of your class 5th period on Friday for one last group rehearsal! Nearly every other band at the regional assessment meets as one class period. To put that in perspective, imagine the football, basketball, or volleyball team practicing as a team once a week for four weeks.
Finally, we could not have done this unless the KIDS chose to do well. The kids chose.
I am proud to be their teacher.
Congratulations to the Junior and Senior High All Region Band Members:
Jacob Perkins, Junior High Second Band Alto Sax
Dillan Lawrence, Junior High Second Band Tenor Sax
Perri Wright, Junior High Second Band Tuba
Michael Baxter, Senior High Second Band Oboe
Destany LaFerney, Senior High Second Band Clarinet
Jozee Mobbs, Senior High Second Band Clarinet
Bobby Shipman, Senior High Second Band Bari Sax
Austin Baxter, Senior High Second Band Percussion
Dylan Forrester, Senior High Second Band Percussion
ASBOA/ASBA Arkansas All-Star Band Members 2010:
Oboe – Michael Baxter, 1st chair;
Clarinet – Destany LaFerney, 4th Chair; Jozee Mobbs, 6th Chair;
Baritone Sax – Bobby Shipman, 1st Chair
French Horn – Ariel Bowen, 5th chair
Trombone – Wesley Perkins, 2nd chair; CeJae Hanke, 7th chair
Percussion – Austin Baxter, 2nd chair; Dylan Forrester, 3rd chair
