Good morning,

Here are some reminders for the week:

Revtrak website to pay for items online!

District Honor Band: 

Timeline and Calendar:

Each school in Georgia is zoned to a district, ours is in district seven.  Each district is given audition materials to distribute to our students and an audition is held, two large bands are picked from the highest scoring students at the auction to make up the district honor band event which is held during the second semester.  We will work on audition materials in class and it is my hope that your child will audition for the DHB. District Honor Band participation and All-State Band Participation is looked at very highly by colleges and employers because of the extra time and the personal responsibility it takes to successfully audition and make one of these prestigious bands.

September 20th – All forms and Fees are due. $5 for DHB or $25 for DHB and All-State Fees.

After school help sessions: Every Wednesday after school until 4:15 (with the help of our high school band members) 

December 2nd – District Honor Band Auditions.  We will be taking a bus up to the audition and having dinner afterwards together as a group.  (More info TBA)

Cookie Dough:

Our cookie dough fundraiser has one week left! It is due on the 11th of September and it will assist our program in so many ways. Keep in mind that for 8th graders each box sold earns them $3 off of their Carowinds trip. Every ten boxes sold earns you a free box that you can sell and put towards your trip as well. Many of us get sick of fundraisers but they are vital to keeping our program running. Thank you for your help.

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Carowinds Info:

Our Carowinds trip for 8th grade is going to be an exciting one! We have our totals for the trip (estimated depending on our numbers) and our dates for our deposits. The dates are posted below. Students will get a handout tomorrow with more detailed information about the trip. A copy of that form has been attached: Carowinds Information 2016 – 2017.doc

Trip Date:  Friday, May 4th – Sunday May 6th

Trip Cost:  $220 per person (add $85 if you would like a single room.)

Chaperone Cost: $150 per person (add $85 if you would like a single room.)

Payment Schedule: (Checks can be made out to CJHS Band or CJHS Chorus)

• Friday November 17thth – $50 Non-refundable Deposit for all students and chaperones DUE.
• December 15th:  $50
• January 31st : $50
• February 28th:  $50

We will need a deposit to know how many students and parents to plan on.  We would like to have all students attend, as well as 15 – 20 chaperones.  The more chaperones we have the better we can keep our kids supervised and safe.   I have your sign-ups from our forms that were turned in. Your $50 payment will serve as your commitment.

8th Grade Night!

October 6th Home Game against Villa Rica!!

I am extremely excited for our 8th grade night because the high school band program is ready to spoil our 8th graders. 8th grade night is a requirement for all 8th graders and is a night where they join the high school band for a football game, play in the stands with them and watch them perform their half time show. We feed the students, play games and give them a t shirt to help them remember the night of fun. This will not cost your student a penny! We want for them to get a preview of what high school band is all about. Please mark this on your calendar and let me know if you have any questions. More info to be handed out in late September. 

Please notify me with any questions that you may have. SELL COOKIE DOUGH!!

M. Menendez

Good evening,

You may watch the video below or read the text.

8th Grade Carowinds trip has been scheduled: May 4th-6th Carowinds. Price is around $220. Ways to offset costs include cookie dough fundraiser, AYP fundraiser, and the chili cook-off in November.

District Honor Band: All students may audition. Paper work to go home soon with info on what all that entails (video above already has an explanation). Have your student let me know if they are interested in auditioning for District Honor Band. This helps our students and our band program in so many ways! Please consider pushing your student because the entire process will be a great learning opportunity for them. Etudes are here: District Honor Band Music

Calendar Updated: The calendar on our website is finally updated! This has all Trojan Band Games, trips that I have approved, rehearsals and concerts. As I add events to the calendar I will notify you through a post so that you do not miss it.

Cookie Dough Fundraiser: Beings Monday August the 27th (tomorrow) $3 earned towards band program for 7th graders and $3 earned towards 8th grade fees for their Carowinds trip. Cookie dough fundraiser ends two weeks from then on September 11th.

Legacy of Champions Marching Band Competition: Any students or parents that are willing to volunteer at this event may contact me! We can use a lot of help and this is a great way for you to get to know the high school band parents and for your kids to know other students and bands as well. If your student has service hours that they are trying to complete then they can earn those on this day.

Chili Cook-Off: If you have any ideas for our Chili Cook-Off fundraiser in November please let me know. I am in the planning process for that now and could use your creative ideas.

Let me know if you have any questions and SELL COOKIE DOUGH!

-M. Menendez

Good morning,

A little more information on Trojan Band here at the Junior High School. Trojan Band is an ensemble that plays for the JH football team during their home games. It is completely optional but is highly recommended because it is an absolute blast. The students play cheers in the stands and at half time go inside to eat some pizza and hang out with their fellow band members. After they finish eating they are picked up and go home with you. We only play for the first half of the game. Below are a few reminders:

1. If your 8th grader was in it last year have them remind me so that I can add them to the roster.
2. If you need a replacement shirt OR hat it is $10. That is due by Friday. If you are missing both then please pay the full fee so that I can order those for you.
3. We have ONE after school rehearsal and it is the 12th of September from 3:30-4:30.
4. If your child participates in other activities that is okay. They can come to however many games they can make. Any game is better than no games in my eyes. I want for as many kids as possible to be able to have a blast with their peers cheering on our school and pumping up the crowd.
5. I will need volunteers each and every game. If you did not fill that out on our volunteer form then please shoot me an email or respond to this post.

Beginners: If your child is adding in for the first time this year then please consider bringing them to our Jump Start Camp at the Middle School this Saturday from 9AM- Noon. This is a camp that we do for beginners each year that gives them a basic run down of their instrument and how to make a great sound. We hire professionals to teach them and to get them started on reading their music on their instrument and playing a few notes. I highly recommend it.

For those beginners we will begin having optional Wednesday after school rehearsals until 4. That will allow me to give them the attention that they need to catch up.

District Honor Band Information: District honor band is an ensemble that students can audition for. Students who make the ensemble will sit amongst the top students in our district and play challenging music with a guest conductor for a weekend. DHB begins on a Thursday night in February and ends with a wonderful concert on Saturday. It is one of the experiences that molded me as a band student and opened my eyes to what other band students sounded like around our district. Your students would be exposed to high quality teaching, music and fun! The link to the required music is here:

https://www.gmea.org/ms-scales-etudes

Students who score high enough on their DHB audition are offered the option to audition for the state level honor band called All State. If you feel that your student is hard working, loves a challenge, and would like to add a wonderful bump to their resume/college application then please make sure that they receive an etude from me. All students have been given the scales required for the audition but only those auditioning will need the etude.

Sorry for the long post! Enjoy the rest of your week and let me know if you have any questions!

Sincerely,

M. Menendez

Good evening,

I will have the 8th grade chair test results out tomorrow unless I am missing a test from someone. 7th grade results will hopefully be out Tuesday. With two recording stations and 180 kids it takes a long time to listen to each recording and give each student an in-depth listen. I hope that students are happy with their results but that every single student will feel motivated to practice more efficiently, ask for help from me, or consider taking private lessons as we continue on through the year. I love watching students set goals and work diligently to reach them, even for something as simple as a chair placement. Learning to set goals and map out the steps to reach them is an important skill that they need for the future.

All forms for band are due this Friday. I can be lenient on the fees for a week or two but I at least need the handbook sign off and Trojan Band info (so I can order shirts and hats) by Friday. The parent volunteer form is optional but the band fees need to be paid as soon as you can please. Please let me know if you have any questions about anything on the financial side. If you are writing a check you may fill out ONE check for Trojan Band and the Band Fees if you would like. All checks should be made out to CJHS Band.

I have attached the four forms below in case you have misplaced your copy. I will tell students on Monday which forms they are missing.

Behavior and Important Forms

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

Sincerely,

Ms. Menendez

 

Good afternoon,

A few quick notes:

If you would like a receipt for anything paid for on the RevTrack cite then let me know. I can print of my receipt and send it home or just email a copy to your email.

We have our first playing test a week from today on August the 17th for 7th and 8th grade.

7th grade: all four scales

8th Brass: Concert Eb scale and Concert Ab scale (both one octave)

8th Woodwinds/Percussion: Lip Slur 1

All 8th grade: A will also site read a four measure piece. 

This is just a simple chair test to get my students in chair order as I begin passing out music. We will have a more intricate chair test in September as we prepare for our concert in November.

Please remember that all forms and money are due by August 25th for band. This is for a grade. Extra copies that you can print out are located on our website under “Forms”.

Sincerely,

M. Menendez

Good evening,

Below is a calendar that shows our rehearsals and concerts scheduled for the year. There will be additional things added to our calendar and I will add them as the events are created/approved. At least get these concert dates and rehearsals in!

Let me know if you find any errors please.

CJHS Band Schedule  2017 – 2018

August

August 25th – Band Forms and Fees Due

September

Sept 12th  – TROJAN BAND GAME AFTER SCHOOL PRACTICE 3:30-4:30

Sept 14th  – TROJAN BAND GAME

Sept 21st  – TROJAN BAND GAME

October

Oct 5th  – TROJAN BAND GAME

Oct 19th  – TROJAN BAND GAME (First round of playoffs)

Oct 26th  – TROJAN BAND GAME (Championship)

Oct 24th – 7th Grade Band After School Rehearsal 3:30 – 5pm at CJHS

Oct 26th – 8th Grade Band After School Rehearsal 3:30 – 5pm at CJHS

November

*Nov 2nd – Fall Concert     7 – 8pm in the MAC

Nov  28th – 7th Grade Band After School Rehearsal 3:30 – 5pm at CJHS

Nov  30th – 8th Grade Band After School Rehearsal 3:30 – 5pm at CJHS

December

*Dec 5th – Christmas Concert, 7-8pm in the MAC  

January

Jan 16th   – 7th Grade Band After School Rehearsal 3:30 – 5pm at CJHS

Jan 18th  – 8th Grade Band After School Rehearsal 3:30 – 5pm at CJHS

Jan 23rd – 7th Grade Band After School Rehearsal 3:30 – 5pm at CJHS

Jan 25th – 8th Grade Band After School Rehearsal 3:30 – 5pm at CJHS

Jan 30th – 7th Grade Band After School Rehearsal 3:30 – 5pm at CJHS

February    

Feb 1st – 8th Grade Band After School Rehearsal 3:30 – 5pm at CJHS

Feb 6th – 7th Grade Band After School Rehearsal 3:30 – 5pm at CJHS

Feb 8th – 8th Grade Band After School Rehearsal 3:30 – 5pm at CJHS

Feb 13th – 7th Grade Band After School Rehearsal 3:30 – 5pm at CJHS

Feb 15th  – 8th Grade Band After School Rehearsal 3:30 – 5pm at CJHS

Feb 20th – 7th Grade Band After School Rehearsal 3:30 – 5pm at CJHS

Feb 22nd  – 8th Grade Band After School Rehearsal 3:30 – 5pm at CJHS

*February 27th –  Pre-Festival Concert  from 7 – 8:15 pm at the MAC  

May

May 8th  – 7th Grade Band After School Rehearsal 3:30 – 5pm at CJHS

May 10th – 8th Grade Band After School Rehearsal 3:30 – 5pm at CJHS

*May 15th – Spring Concert. 7 – 8:15pm at the MAC

-M. Menendez

Video Attached Below for those who do not want to read: (Video Update will not be included with every email, but occasionally when I feel it is necessary) *Enjoy the flattering thumbnail 🙂 *

 

Band Forms and $ Due: August 25th. Due for a grade!

Carowinds is getting finalized for 8th grade. A chili cook-off is a fundraiser idea that I have come up with in the Fall to lower those fees. We would charge admission and people would donate their chili in hopes of winning a prize. Jazz bands from the Junior High and High School would perform and perhaps even our marching band. If you have any more ideas, please let me know!

Calendar is ALMOST ready. I will publish what I have in regards to concerts and rehearsals tomorrow. Specific dates that are not settled will be added as soon as possible. Please aim to have all of your students at rehearsals. Each member counts!

We have a fantastic Revtrak site for our school that allows for you to pay online. Our band has a page there that is great for paying band fees, District Honor Band fees, replacing your performance polo and many other things.

Donations: There is a donation link on our Revtrak site that you may choose to give to. Any little bit counts. If you have a specific need that you would like to donate to please let me know. We are in a great need for reeds for our woodwind players. Having four working reeds allows for a better sounding instrument and cycling out reeds will make them last longer and save you money in the long run. I encourage all students to buy a box of reeds at the beginning of the year. Below is a link to Amazon.com and the specific reeds that we use if you are willing to donate or if you have yet to purchase yours for the year: Please make sure that all reeds that you purchase are strength 3

 

(Vandoren Strength 3 Clarinet Reeds)

(Vandoren Strength 3 Saxophone Reeds)

(Vandoren Strength 3 Tenor Sax Reeds) *Donations of these would really help!*

(Vandoren Strength 3 Bass Clarinet Reeds) *Donations of these would really help!*

Thank you for your support of your child and our band program. Have a fantastic rest of your Sunday!

Sincerely,

Ms. Menendez

 

 

Happy first day of school!

We have had a fantastic first day here at the Junior High School. Tomorrow all band students will play their instruments. If they play a school instrument than one will be assigned to them at that time. Please look for a form that will go home that you will need to sign if your student is playing a school instrument.

Important forms will go home tomorrow. Please read through this carefully and make sure that your student returns in as soon as possible. There are some fees that will be collected as stated in  your handbook. The handbook should be read through with your student. I have posted it on our website as well as right here for you to read: HANDBOOK 2017 – 2018.doc

All fees and forms are due on August 25th. Copies of these forms are found under “FORMS” on our band website. 

I promised to have the dates ready to go by Friday but will need a little bit more time. I need to finalize the Carowinds Trip for 8th Grade and lay out the Trojan Band Schedule. On Monday you will have a sheet with all of our dates of concerts and rehearsals. Our band website Calendar will also be updated at that point so that you can sync. it up with your personal calendar.

Please do not hesitate to ask me any questions. I look forward to hearing some beautiful sounds tomorrow in class!

Sincerely,

Ms. Menendez

Good afternoon,

My name is Ms. Menendez and I am thrilled to have been named director of bands at Carrollton Junior High School. I assume that I am speaking to many familiar faces but in case I am not, I am coming from across the street from the Middle School after three wonderful years there. I am humbled to have been given the opportunity to work in a program that I admire with students that I have grown to love! As we get closer to the school year I will post a few reminders so that we are good to go on day one. I would like to play a little on the first day after going through our handbook. Just remember that all students need a 1/2 black binder with plenty of sheet protectors.

I want to clarify that any student who wants to be in band may be in band regardless of a lack of previous exprience or financial reasons. I promise that if a student wants to join our program or continue being in it that there is a spot for them. Ask your students to recruit their friends. I can get any schedule switched to allow someone to join our band classes.

Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns that you may have at Maria.menendez@carrolltoncityschools.net

Sincerely,

Ms. Menendez