Grapevine Middle School
Pony Band
January 22, 2020
Dear GMS Band Families,
Monday is the big day for our Fan-pledge fundraiser!! Here are a couple of reminders:
Donations and Contacts
The actual Fan-pledge website we will be using is here: https://event.fan-pledge.com/22889
Donors will be able to select an amount to donate and choose the student they are contributing towards during the donation process. Have your child log onto the fan-pledge website and enter any contacts that haven't been entered as well! Fan-pledge will run about 3 weeks- that's one exciting day of calling followed by about 3 weeks for pledges to be collected online.
Calling
Monday in class, we will be calling the contacts your child has entered online! If you are not comfortable with your child calling during the school day, your child doesn't have a phone, OR you'd rather be there to help, please call this weekend! Any students not calling during class will be given an alternate assignment to work on while we call. A script to help you with your conversations will be available on canvas under a module link called "Fan Pledge Fundraiser". Keep track of who says they might like to donate, and we'll help your child know what the next steps are during class!
Fundraiser Opt-Out
We have received this question- "How can my family help raise funds without participating in the calling portion of the fundraiser?" We're happy to accept ANY financial contributions to the Band program either through donation on the Fan-pledge website OR check made out to "GMS Band". The average amount we need to raise to meet our goals is just over $100 per student- we would happily accept that or any other contribution you would like to make in place of participating in the fundraiser :)
Please know that whether your family raises $0 or $10,000- we still appreciate you for keeping your children engaged in school and music this year! Most questions about the fundraiser will be answered in the Fan-pledge module on your child's canvas page; please do not hesitate to email if anything comes up :)
8th Grade Band Parents, please read the Important Information below from CHHS and GHS Band Directors.
We have dates for our Ensemble Contest! Please mark your calendar! Saturday, February 6th will be our Percussion Ensemble Contest and Friday, February 26th will be our Brass and Woodwind Ensemble Contest. The event will be held at GMS and each ensemble will be provided a performance time. We are excited for this opportunity!
Advanced Band Sectionals begin on Monday! Virtual Learners will need to let us know if they can attend so we can meet them to let them in the.building. We ask that they arrive before 3:45pm. Afternoon sectionals will end at 4:30pm. For morning sectionals, students can meet us at side door closest to the band hall beginning at 6:50am.
Honors Band
Tuesdays:
7am - Flute, Oboe, Clarinet
3:30pm - Trumpet
Wednesdays:
3:30pm - Saxophone, Horn
Thursdays:
3:30pm - Trombone
Fridays:
7am - Euphonium, Tuba
Symphonic Band
Mondays:
3:30pm - Flute, Clarinet
Tuesdays:
3:30pm - Trumpet
Wednesday:
3:30pm - Euphonium
Thursday:
3:30pm - Trombone
Friday:
3:30pm - Horn
ALL STUDENTS: Instruments and Band Binders need to go home every day to practice and for cleaning purposes. It is imperative that all students practice as much as they can. They need a lot of repetition and we do not want to lose the momentum, so please remind your student to keep up with their practice routine (posted in Canvas modules). Here is a practice guide for parents to help your student at home.
As always, it is an honor to be your student's band director!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Gish, Mr. Holmes & Mr. Drewry
8th Grade Parents: High School Information
Colleyville-Heritage High school
INCOMING FRESHMEN PARENT Q AND A MEETING
On Thursday, February 4th at 6:30 PM, the CHHS Band Staff will be available for our incoming freshmen parents to share information and answer any questions about our program. We will send out an informational video presentation to help guide discussion, as well as links to the meeting that week. Stay tuned for details...we can’t wait to welcome the newest members of our family! Please reach out Mr. Barnard at gary.barnard@gcisd.net if you have any questions.
Grapevine High School
INCOMING FRESHMEN PARENT Q AND A MEETING
The GHS Band Staff will hold a virtual meeting for all incoming freshman parents and students on Thursday, January 28th at 6:00 PM. This meeting will last about an hour and the webex link will be shared with everyone as we get closer to the date. Please reach out to Mr. Rees at james.rees@gcisd.net if you have any questions.
Curriculum
Honors and Symphonic Band
Click here to see what we are doing. Assignments are posted in Canvas. Advanced Band students are able to earn badges. The badges are: Band Member, Good Band Member, Excellent Band Member, Superior Band Member, Outstanding Band Member, Great Band Member, Incredible Band Member, Exceptional Band Member. Ask your student what badge they are working on. :-) Most students have 4 badges now and some are even working on their 6th and 7th badge!Beginner Band
Beginners have Karate Belt lines to complete. Click here to see the Karate Syllabus.
Daily Practice
Students have access to a Daily Routine (Google Slide) at the top of every Canvas Module to maintain daily practice. Suggested Daily Practice for Advanced Band: 45-60 minutes.Suggested Daily Practice for Beginner Band: 25-30 minutes. Here is a practice guide for parents to help your student at home.
January Birthdays
HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR JANUARY BAND STUDENTS!!!
Ryan Wicker, January 14
Lucy Howard, January 20
Khaleb Johnson Williams, January 20
Nash Spradley, January 25
Elsa Huff, January 29
Best Communities for Music Education Award
The NAMM Foundation has recognized the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Music Department for its commitment to Music Education with a 2020 Best Communities for Music Education Award (BCME). Please thank a Music Teacher in the GCISD Community for all their hard work and dedication to student success!
Amazon Smile
We have an Amazon Smile account set up, so that we can receive donations based on Amazon purchases. Participants need to select "Grapevine-Colleyville Band Booster Club" as your charitable organization on Amazon Smiles and then simply login to www.smile.amazon.com when making your regular Amazon purchases.