Announcements & Weekly Update

September 14-18, 2020 💙💛

Here's a quick set of reminders for each day:

Teachers take attendance daily in each class. Tip: set an alarm for 5 minutes before each class to make sure you log on in time.

Marching Band & Color Guard class begins at 7:25 AM.

How to participate in class? Be present. Don't have side distractions. Turn on cameras, as this helps the teaching process, especially in an applied learning course such as band and color guard. Instructors want to instruct to faces and be able to give quick feedback. Having cameras on your hands, embouchures, or even being at a distance on screen helps us understand the learning and growth that is happening.

What do you need for class? Instrument or guard equipment, computer or device, tuner, metronome, music, a place where you can move a few steps, and headphones or a quiet spot where you can hear instructions. Please let Mrs. C know if you are in need of anything or have any questions.

STUDENT INFORMATION

Daily Bell Schedule - 74 minutes total - Office hours are built into each period with the exception of Period 0. Marching Band & Color Guard office hours will be available upon request.

Period 0 - 7:25 - 8:21 am

Period 1 - 8:30 - 9:44 am

Period 2 - 9:53 - 11:07 am

Period 3 - 11:16 am - 12:30 pm

Instruments & Music Stands - Instruments and/or music stands will be available this week on Wednesday (9/16) between 12:30 - 2:00 pm. Email: jchristensen1@sandi.net if you need to check out an instrument or music stand.

Where do I find assignments, music, and more? The items can be located in Google Classroom.

Tech Support for Families - SDUSD Online Learning Page - LINK.

Google calendar and information is available on the BAND WEBSITE.

THE SCSBOA ALL-SOUTHERN & CBDA ALL-STATE HONOR BANDS/ORCHESTRAS - Here is your SCSBOA All-Southern and CBDA All-State Honor Bands/Orchestras scales and excerpts to prepare. Both groups use the exact same scales and audition selections. Auditions for both Honor Groups will be online this year. The SCSBOA All-Southern Honor Band/Orchestra will be held April 23-24, 2021 with the hope students will be able to gather in person.

Why do I keep this in each newsletter? To remind us of what school and our program looks like through the lens of the Sapphire Sound. Our 2020 Year in Review - Video by student historian and drum major, Aaliyah Frace. 💙💛

LOOKING AHEAD AT THE CALENDAR

Friday (9/18) - Bb Concert Scale due.

Thursday (9/24) - Color Guard Parent Meeting at 6:00 pm / Band Parent Meeting at 7:00 pm

Friday (10/2) - End of (Q1) grading period

FUNDRAISERS

Ongoing - GIFT CARDS - SHOP ONLINE - Shopwithscrip.com is an EASY way to help support our program. It's the same as the gift cards, but you just access them virtually. Go to the website and select, "Join a Program", then put in our group code: 5BA7A71333861

Ongoing - AMAZON SMILE. This is easy to set up and contribute to - Mira Mesa Instrumental Music Boosters. When you shop on Amazon, this is a quick way to give to our program. Go to Amazon Smile and type in "Mira Mesa Instrumental Music Boosters", then enjoy shopping like always. Every little bit helps our students. Thank you for supporting the Sapphire Sound!

The Band Director's Corner

School…it is great to see everyone once again and welcome our new members to the Band program. Now that we are in school, classes seem to go quickly compared to the hours we had during camp. Things that I like currently? Being able to have class on a daily basis. Seeing students is the reason I got into teaching. I find tremendous joy when I see kids laugh or just simply try something new. Education is all about exploring and learning. We are definitely in the exploring part of the school year.

Now to shock you. There are 15 more class days before the end of the first grading period (10/2). AAAAHHHH! Let's not panic. The grading period is broken up into 4-week grading periods, so that we have “progress reports”. Those reports are not on a student's permanent record. They are meant to give reflection about the progress in a class. Only the quarter (10/30) and term report cards (1/22) will be on a transcript. We will talk about this and more at the next Parent Meeting on Thursday, Sept. 24 - 6:00 pm for Color Guard and 7:00 pm for Band.

School is in session. It's a mindset, so let's get working! I hope you have a great week. Go Blue Team!

"All In" always 💙💛,

Mrs. C

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