Dear Parents and Students,
Please see the "this week" schedule. We have a big week including vital practices to prepare for the half time show and important volunteer needs for the JV and Varsity games this Thursday and Friday. We will perform pre-game and and half time this Friday, so if the students are not at practice they will be lost in the show. Each student should have a three-ring binder, flip folder, and lyre at practice. This is part of their grade. Parents! We had a very difficult time in the concession stand at the last game because we did not have enough help. Please see the links in the schedule below and volunteer for one of the spots. We ask that each parent volunteer for a minimum of one game each. If that were to happen, we would have more than enough help! A band is only as good as it's band parent group... 9/7 (B Day)Tuesday-Practice 5:30-8:30 Graded 9/8 (A Day) Wednesday - Early Release 9/9 (B) Thursday - Practice 3:00-5:30 Graded
9/11 Saturday - Blue Fusion Practice 10:00 4:30 Rehearsal with Morgan and Megan 9/13 Monday - Student Holiday 9/ 14 (B) Tuesday - Practice 5:30-8:30 9/15 (A) Wednesday 9/16 (B) Thursday - Practice 3:00-5:30
Sincerely, Jon Eckman Director of Bands BHS/IB/SA FBA District 12 Chairman Director of the Bartow Adult Band
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First of all, I was blown away by the band performance Friday night! I gave my typical first performance speech when I tell the students "rule number one is DON'T STOP". About 30 seconds in to the performance the lights suddenly went out and to the amazement of everyone there the band kept marching and playing. I think they even played a little bit stronger when they heard the audience cheering and all of the cell phones lighting up. If you were there for this performance you witnessed something truly amazing. You can only learn this in marching band!
The Big Change: First, I apologize for the changes. The hurricane days have thrown everything off and I look forward to getting back to a normal schedule. Because they have moved the JV game to Monday, we are not going to be able to use the football field to practice which is very important considering we will run out of light (Ironic huh?). We are going to have our regular practice this Tuesday from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm during Freshman night. With that being said we are going to have an "open rehearsal" so parents can come out and watch the band practice and parents can go by your students classrooms and meet with teachers. Considering students have to be picked up from practice this should be very convenient and helpful. If you feel like you need your student there to meet with a specific teacher then email me and we can work out a window of time. Volunteering: We have been sending out our digital sign-ups for concessions and we have had low results. I feel like this may be a communication issues because I know how dedicated our parents have been in the past. Please help me communicate these needs to other band families if you have the means to do so. We do plan on texting our some of this information considering email may not be the most direct means of communicating these days. With that being said, please volunteer. Out football team is kicking butt and taking names which means the crowds are going to continue to grow. This is great for us because it means our sales will go up in the concession stand. Uniforms: We had several students who did not have TALL BLACK SOCKS. When we are getting into uniform the students must have on their spirit uniforms. This includes... Marching band shoes, tall black socks, light shorts (preferably blue), and the show/spirit shirt. The blue and orange shirts we use for practice are not part of the spirit uniform. Those shirts are to be worn at band practice. The spirit shirts are $15 each and practice shirts are $10. If the students have money from fundraising in their ledgers they can use it towards the spirit shirts. Monday JV: We need student and parent volunteers. Please look for the sign-up that was emailed out and we will text out to you. Fundraising: We are currently selling Worlds Finest Chocolate and we will continue the sale until we run out of supplies. Many of our students are actively selling but we have many who are not. This saves the parents money! For each box of chocolate sold the student will receive $30 towards their band fees. remember we are going to Ireland in 2021 for the Saint Patrick's Day Parade. Get those fees out of the way so fundraising can go towards the trip. Preparation Issues: By now, student should have everything they need. If they do not have everything they need they are dropping the ball and slowing down the process of learning the show and performances. Student who do not have these items will lose 3rd quarter and points will be deducted from each graded event. The philosophy behind this is " you can not show up to the job without the tools for the job". Student, if you walk in to my office and ask me for theses things in the 30 minute window practice to practice or the game I will not give you these items. I need my preparation time as well. Parents please do not plan to meet with me during this time as well. I can not get 150 students ready for practice and meet at the same time. I need to be able to do the best job as possible when it comes to teaching our great band. Winds and percussion should have: Lyre (winds only), flip folder, all of the music, practice shirts, spirit shirts, drill charts, 3 ring binder/page protectors for drill charts, tall black socks, and instruments needs such as drum sticks, reeds, valve oil etc... Dance should have: Practice shirts, spirit shirts, drill charts, 3 ring binder/page protectors for drill charts, gloves, shoes, show uniform, flag, pom poms, and makeup. To receive these items they must be paid for or have fundraising money in their student ledgers. If these items are not acquired by the students at this time they will lose points and 3rd quarter. This Week: Monday: JV Game... Need Student and Parent volunteers. Tuesday: Open rehearsal 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Remember all rehearsal are part of the student grading process. Freshman parents feel free to come out and watch rehearsal and visit with your students' teachers during this time. I think you will be impressed with how we do what we do! Wednesday: Open Thursday: Band Practice 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm. Drum line Pit, and Dance rehearsal 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Friday: Home Game V.S. George Jenkins... Report time 5:30 pm Pizza for students who prepay will be served at 4:30. Need Parent Volunteers! This will be a big game! Saturday: Open. Dear Parents and Students,
Every week, I will send out some notes and the activities that your students have for this upcoming week. (These first few weeks may come to you more than once, as I am working on updating the system and I want to be sure all new parents receive this email.) Communication is the key to success so I want to be able to communicate with you all that is happening in our program. “This Week” will include the schedule for the week, upcoming dates for the month, band information, and booster information. Please use the Charms Calendar so review the band schedule (www.charmsoffice.com password Yellowjacketband) so you can be aware of what is coming up for your student. I will be sending out more details on how the Charms website works. I am still in the process of updating the calendar for the full year. It should be complete in the next week or two. We also have a beautiful website that is full of band information to help you at www.yellowjacketsband.com. Be on the lookout for sign-ups from the Bartow High School Band Booster organization. We need all of our parents helping and involved to have a successful year. Our Band Parent Organization has a tradition of having amazing support from our parents! Come out and be a part of the Pride of Bartow! This Week 8-11-16 We will have practice this Tuesday (5:30 PM TO 8: 30 PM) and Thursday afternoon (3:00 pm to 5:00 pm). After practice for this Thursday only, we will have a full pregame practice with football and cheer from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm. We will serve all of the students dinner at 6:30 pm. We will have marching band practice for the duration of the season on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Tuesdays will be in the evening from 5:30 pm -8:30 pm and Thursdays will be after school from 3:00 pm-5:30 pm. Please understand that I will release the band from the practice field at those times. It will take a few minutes for them to get back to the band room and get their equipment put away. Finally, please do not forget about Pepsi Wars. We need lots of Pepsi coming in this week for our upcoming football games. Monday: Open Tuesday: Marching Band Practice 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. All Members Wednesday: Open Thursday: Marching Band Practice 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Students will need to bring in $10 if they do not have a practice shirt. Practice shirts will be passed out after the evening practice at the concession stand. Friday: Classic Game against Pasco—Home game (students may bring $3 for pizza that must be turned in before 3:00 pm). --Report: 5:30 pm --Dress: Practice shirts and jeans --Need volunteers for the concession stand (a sign-up email will be sent out). Saturday: Open Upcoming Events August: Friday 8-23: Band Parent Night: The game is away and we are not attending so we will be holding our annual Band Parent Night and BBQ fundraiser. There are two options for this evening: We are going to serve Baby Back rib dinners for band parent night. Each meal will include 4 ribs, potato salad, cookie, and Tea/water for $10. Students will be pre-selling dinners. No dinners can be bought the night of the event. (Students will not receive profit from the dinners they sell.) These meals will be DINE IN ONLY. Students may also sell entire racks of ribs for $20. These racks of ribs will be PICK UP ONLY on the 23rd from 3:00-5:00. For every rack sold, students WILL receive $10 toward their band fees. If you order a rack of ribs and will be attending Band Parent Night, feel free to pre-order your extra rack of ribs to take home for $20. We will allow you to pick them up when you leave the event. We will need parent volunteers to help prep and pass out the rack of rib orders as early as 2:15. If you cannot be there that early, we will need additional help starting at 4:00 to prepare the dine-in meals. Email me at [email protected] and let me know what time you can be there. The boosters will also be emailing a sign up for volunteers. Students may purchase a meal and can eat after the performance, but all meals sales need to be turned in by students no later than Tuesday the 20th. Parents, you do not have to purchase a meal to come to Band Parent Night. At band parent night, we will cover very important band information so we need all of our parents at the event. We will go over volunteer opportunities, fundraisers, band fees, and band activities. Students will wear practice shirts and jeans for the performance. Sincerely, Jon Eckman Director of Bands Bartow Senior IB/SA MPA Week!
We have a regular practice week, and our mandatory pre-MPA rehearsal Friday night from 5:30pm to 8:30 pm. Please look for emails concerning chaperons/sign-up for MPA. We do not have a JV game or a varsity game this week so we can concentrate our efforts towards a successful marching MPA. Parents! We need you in the audience if you are not part of the operation on Saturday (MPA). I cannot express how important it is that you are in the stands cheering on the band Saturday. The kids will perform so much better knowing you are in the stands believing in them. Please do not miss this opportunity to see your students do something amazing! We have a lot to fix and improve but we can do it! Parents please help me get 100% to practice this week. I cannot make the band better if the students are not there and we have to reteach information if the students are missing. That means we are not moving forward. I need every single one of the them at practice. Monday: Open Tuesday: Marching Band Practice 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Parents please remember that I release the student at 8:30 from the football stadium field. It may take them a few minutes to get everything put away and out the door No IB Music Wednesday: Open Thursday: --Marching Band Practice 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm and percussion sectional from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm Friday: Pre-MPA rehearsal on football field from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. We will put on a special parent performance at 8:00 pm. Please come out and support the students! I would like the field crew to also be at the run so we can practice the on and off filed procedures. We will do an exact run of the show from the entrance to the exit in preparation for Saturday. n If students want Pizza after school, turn in $3 before 3:00 pm on Friday. Saturday: Marching MPA Location: Denison Stadium Winter Haven (See attached MPA Itinerary and performance schedule for details) Report Time: 2:00 pm… Please see the attachments for exact details. I will open the band room at noon for students who want to come in and prep instruments. Students Bring money for dinner ($10) MPA tickets. Ticket prices are the same this year: $8 general admission (Home Side arm band) and $5 for children under 12 . Non-paying folks will be a blue arm band (Directors, marching staff, VIP, chaperones, adjudicators with a different arm band). Denison Stadium: 400 Ave A SE, Winter Haven, FL 33880 Dear Parents,
Please look for emails concerning the concession stand operation. We have a JV game on Thursday and varsity game on Friday. Please volunteer so we can have successful events this week. We cannot do it without the support of ALL of our wonderful parents! Monday: Open Tuesday: Marching Band Practice 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Parents please remember that I release the student at 8:30 from the football stadium field. It may take them a few minutes to get everything put away and out the door. Wednesday: Open Thursday: Marching Band Practice 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm Friday: Home Game against Ridge Community High School. Do not miss practice this week! We are performing the show at halftime!
Other notes of interest:
Monday: Open
Tuesday: Marching Band Practice 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. From 6:00-8:00, Chrissy Fry, our treasurer, is going to be in the band room to help parents with the Charms website. She can show you how to long in or help you with any issues you may have working the site. Thank you Chrissy! Wednesday: Open Thursday: Marching Band Practice 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm Friday: Home Game against Ridge Community High School. Do not miss practice this week! We are performing the show at halftime! -If students want Pizza after school, turn in $3 before 3:00 pm on Friday. -Report time at 5:30 pm to the Bartow High School band room. -Dress: We plan to wear full uniforms. The spirit outfit consists of marching band shoes, tall black socks (students provide, blue sports/basketball shorts (students provide), and the show shirt. Spirit Outfits are worn under the uniform. -Parents, please respond to the email concerning the help we need in the concession stand for Friday. We are still very short on volunteers. Other notes of interest: -Pepsi wars is still going on. Please consider bringing in Pepsi product. We do not need any more water at this time. -Chocolate: Students, Mrs. Hopper will be here after school on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays 1:45 pm until 2:30 pm to issue chocolate and accept money. Make sure you have your contracts completed and signed by your parents. -Band information: www.yellowjacketsband.com -Charms: Please make sure your parent’s email is in Charms so they receive my weekly emails and band information. Dear Parents and Students,
Every week, I will send out some notes and the activities that your students have for this upcoming week. Communication is the key to success so I want to be able to communicate with you all what is happening in our program. Please use the charms calendar so review the band schedule (www.charmsoffice.com password Yellowjacketband) so you can be aware of what is coming up for your student. We also have a beautiful website that is full of band information to help you at www.yellowjacketsband.com. I am in the process of adding the dates for the entire year. I will let you know as I add events. Our Band Parent Organization has a tradition of having amazing support from our parents! Come out and be a part of the Pride of Bartow! This Week 8-13-18 We will have practice this Tuesday evening and Thursday is our Band Parent Night (no practice). See below for details. We will have marching band practice for the duration of the season on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Tuesdays will be in the evening from 5:30-8:30 and Thursdays will be after school from 3:00-5:30. Finally, please do not forget about Pepsi Wars. We need lots of Pepsi coming in this week for our upcoming football games. 8/13-8/19 Monday: Open Tuesday: Marching Band Practice 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Wednesday: Open Thursday: Band Parent Night and BBQ Fundraiser. We will need Parent volunteers to help prep and pass out the orders as early as 2:15. If you cannot be there that early, we will need additional help starting at 4:00 to prepare the dine-in meals. Email me at [email protected] and let me know what time you can be there. Parents, you do not have to purchase a meal to come to Band Parent Night. Students may purchase a meal and can eat after the performance but all meals sales need to be turned in by students no later than WEDNESDAY. At band parent night, we will cover very important band information so we need all of our parents at the event. We will go over volunteer opportunities, fundraisers, band fees, and band activities. Students will wear practice shirts and jeans. If 9th graders do not have the practice shirt, you can wear a shirt with school colors in it (orange and blue). Friday: Open Saturday: Open Sunday: Drum Line is performing at Sam’s Club 10 am to 6:00 pm. Drummers bring comfortable clothing including practice shirts. Also, bring sunscreen. We will set up a cooler with gator aid but feel free to bring your own beverages. I could also use a couple of dancers to spin while the percussion is on breaks. Please remember that our Sprit Uniform fees are due this Wednesday as presented during band camp. We cannot place the orders until we have the money in the Booster Account. Checks can be made out to the Bartow High School Band Boosters. Spirit Uniform Fees (BBQ Fundraiser Profit Applies) (New Students/As Replacement is Needed) Practice Shirt 10.00 (Everyone) Spirit Shirt 15.00 (Everyone) Spirit Pants/Jacket 50.00 (New Students/As Replacement is Needed) Backpack 12.00 (New Students/As Replacement is Needed) Ball Cap 15.00 Total Spirit and Practice Uniform if all items are needed 102.00 Sincerely, Jon Eckman Director of Bands Bartow Senior IB/SA Happy New Year! It’s time to regroup and prepare for a successful Spring. It is Prism Concert month! I will send out Sponsorship information and ticket information. Please help with promoting this event! We are hoping to raise the remaining funds for the new uniforms with the Prism event. Please remember you can access the band calendar through our website at www.yellowjacketsband.com. Please, please get on Charms and check your fees. Fees should be current at this time!
Monday: Open Tuesday: No IB Music. Wind Symphony 6:00pm-8:00pm. Indoor Practice at BHS 6:00pm-9:00pm Wednesday: Jazz Band Practice 3:00pm-4:30pm (will be back on Thursdays after this week) Thursday: Concert Band Practice 2:30pm to 4:30pm. Indoor Practice at BHS 6:00pm-9:00pm Friday: Open IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES: January 16th Martine Luther King Parade (Dance and Drumline) January 20-21 Rendezvous Parking January 21st Winter Guard Premiere Competition January 27th-28th Prism Concert February 4th Jazz Band Performance at Sophomore Dine Out February 9th Jazz Band MPA February 10th-11th Solo and Ensemble/Indoor guard Solo and Ensemble |
AuthorJon Eckman Archives
September 2021
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