As we continue through our second week of social distancing, I wanted to send out a few updates of upcoming events. The current plan is to finish this week and next week through digital learning and then we all get a much needed Spring Break before we return to school on April 13. I sure do miss all of our students, especially our seniors. Our regular time together is already limited and selfishly I wish that we were able to spend these weeks together too.

As a reminder, students have daily assignments in each of their classes and for our band classes we have created Google Classrooms to communicate assignments and collect work. Assignments vary from completing Google Doc reflections after watching performances on the internet, documenting practice goals and assessing progress through practice journals, preparing for upcoming band auditions, to submitting video performances of scales/etudes/rhythm assignments.

We know that this is a unique situation that is posing many challenges for our families. If Mr. Nelson or I can be of assistance to you during this time, please reach out to us. If you child needs help in another class, we are happy to help! We will get through this together.

Band Audition Update

The main focus for our wind students’ digital learning has been an attempt to prepare them for their band auditions schedule for April 2. The goal is to still conduct the auditions on April 2, but we will be using a video submission guideline. This was previously communicated to our students via Google Classroom:

“Hi all! We just received the message that school will not resume until 4/13, then Monday following Spring Break. This greatly impacts our auditions that are scheduled for 4/2.

We will modify how we do auditions this year so that we do not lose time once we do return. Auditions will be submitted via video. We will only submit a recording which includes: 2 mins for scales, your chromatic scale, and your etude. Unfortunately, It will be impossible for us to provide “sight-reading” in this format.

You may record your video as many times as you’d like, but it all must be submitted as one video and each segment of the video must be 1 take. (You can’t splice a bunch of videos to cram more scales into the 2 minute window, but you can record yourself playing your scales multiple times and choose your favorite). Once you have your favorite video of each portion of your audition then you can combine the videos into 1 file and then submit it. In the event that we have any ties we will watch the 2 videos in question multiple times to decide placement.

Please have your video ready to submit on April 2. More information on how to submit your audition will be released sometime either later today or next week.”

I will be creating an assignment in Google Classroom to allow students to submit their audition videos by the end of this week.

A Few Upcoming Event Updates

With the intention to return on April 13 we will hit the ground running! We have a general booster meeting scheduled for April 14. If it is still advised that we practice social distancing when not at school, we may host this meeting virtually through Zoom. This is an important meeting as we will be discussing vacant officer positions and our Band BBQ, which is scheduled for May 7, 2020.

If the situation does not allow us to return, we will adapt and share information here as quickly as possible. Seniors, I know that this time of uncertainty is especially troublesome to you. Please be assured that we are all working diligently because celebrating you is certainly a priority. You are loved and cherished by our school system. You started your life as we were living through 9-11 and have already been through some of the world’s toughest challenges. Continue to develop your awareness as we grow through these times as a society. History has demonstrated that some of our ablest leaders grew up during the toughest of adversities. Use these experiences to fortify a determination so strong that your thinking allows us to conquer the most unconquerable challenges through your leadership.

Band Booster Meeting – April 14 • 7:00PM

We still plan on hosting this meeting in the band room, unless the situation changes. If it is still advised that we practice social distancing when not at school, we may host this meeting virtually through Zoom. This is an important meeting as we will be discussing vacant officer positions and our Band BBQ, which is scheduled for May 7, 2020.

Band Banquet – April 27 • 6:00PM

We will host the Band Banquet on April 27 at 6:00PM in the cafeteria. It may be moved to the MAC, but I am awaiting confirmation. In an effort to lighten the economic burden to our families but still honor our students we have decided to have an awards ceremony only and not have dinner. If you have already purchased dinner a refund will be processed soon. Our treasurer, Eric Pittman, is working on the logistics of the refund. Please be patient, yet assured that a refund will happen.

We look forward to celebrating all of our students’ accomplishments throughout the year and providing another memorable evening for with Seniors. Our kids’ school year has been turned upside-down it is a priority to share this special time with their band friends and their families.

Band BBQ – May 7

One of our largest fundraisers, the Band BBQ, is quickly approaching. Usually, we would have passed out packets with tickets to pre-sale this week in preparation of the event. Because we are unable to pass out them out in person, we have created a pre-sale form that will allow us to still collect pre-sales while we are not in school. Please do not pre-sell door to door at this time, and please continue to practice proper social distancing, but if you are able to contact friends and family about the event, you can collect the money from them when it is appropriate to do so and turn in the form by April 23, 2020 along with money that you have collected to allow us to better prepare for the BBQ. Orders collected through this method will be added to a “Will Call” list, that will be available the day of the BBQ. Customers will be able to check in the day of the event and receive the BBQ without needing a ticket.

• 2020 Band BBQ Pre Sale Form •

If you prefer our traditional method of selling BBQ tickets, we plan on passing out packets on Monday, April 13 after spring break when our students return to school. Any that are not picked up will be available at our booster meeting on April 14.

This event is a tradition in the Carrollton area and one that many in the community look forward to each year. Please help guarantee its success by selling your allotment of 30 tickets to your family, friends, and coworkers. In addition to the regular meal ticket, we have a two-sandwich meal ticket for the heartier appetite. You are will be provided a smaller booklet containing 5 of these tickets. Though we would love you to sell all 35 tickets, you are only being asked to sell a combination of each ticket totaling 30 tickets.  If you need more, call the Band office and more will be made available to you, or you can just use the Pre Sale Form! Remember!  If you are selling to a local business or group of 10 or more, the boosters will provide delivery!  It’s a great selling point! Please obtain contact information to provide to the boosters and list it with any promised delivery groups at turn in.

Liberty Tour 2021 Trip

Since we are out of school we will be accepting trip deposits until April 17, the first Friday after we return to school. We understand that it is hard to imagine taking a trip with current situations, but by the time we take the trip, we will have overcome this new obstacle and will be in need of celebration! This is going to be a wonderful experience for all of our students, please sign up as soon as possible. We still have the ONLINE PAYMENT OPTION, although there is a service charge associated with online payment. Currently, this is the only method of accepting payments due to the “stay-at-home” order implemented by the Carroll County Board of Health and the City of Carrollton, but we will happily accept payments in person once we return to school.

So as a reminder – a $50 non-refundable/non-transferable deposit is due by April 17, 2020 to secure your spot on the trip.

More info about the trip including the Make Me A Whole Person Fundraiser can be found on our trip page.

Band Prom Update

I am sorry that I originally forgot to add this to the post. I hope that everyone gets the information. If you haven’t heard due to unpredictable circumstances and more time needed to prepare for the HS prom, it was rescheduled to May 9, which is the same date that we were planning on hosting the band prom. We do not want our students having to choose between prom and band prom, so we have decided to cancel the band prom this year.

Shop at Amazon? You Can Help the Boosters

Do you shop on Amazon often? Did you know that you can help the Band Boosters when you shop on Amazon? Go to smile.amazon.com and then select Carrollton Band Booster Club, Inc. for the charitable organization you want to support.