Dear 7th-8th Grade Band,
(Sorry...this is a lengthy update, but I need to get this information to you.)
We survived our first week of distance learning! It was great to hear
from so many of you! Over 100 students responded to the band survey, and
I read each and every response. I also appreciated the Flipgrid videos
and Google Classroom comments. I have over 170 students, and I promise I
am doing my best to respond to each of you. If you leave me a message
and don't hear back from me, then there's a good chance I just didn't
see it. Message again!
I can't think of anything better than music to help us forget about the
craziness that is going on in the world! I downloaded the acapella app,
and I'm having fun playing duets, trios, and quartets with myself!
For this week, continue with the musical activities that are posted on the online learning page
or that are in your packets. I have posted a new, fun Flipgrid video
assignment. There is a really cool feature in Flipgrid where you can
respond to
each other's videos with a video reply. I replied to a few of your
videos with my own video responses. Try it out! I will be posting my own
fun Flipgrid video this week, too!
I am again asking you to fill out a Google form at the end of the
week to show me what you've done. A new form will be uploaded every Wednesday from now until we return to school.
This week, you will be asked to upload a picture or link to something
that you completed for band. You can take a picture of a completed
worksheet or practice log, a screenshot of a
completed note naming activity, copy the link to a video you watched,
etc. If you made a Flipgrid video, then you will not need to upload
anything to the form.
You may have noticed "due dates" on posted assignments. This is to keep
us all on a schedule and help stay
organized. It it okay to turn in something "late." If you miss an
assignment one week and cannot go back and do it, just try to complete
one the following week. We
all must keep making progress while "in school." I will use grades
to improve your current grade or replace missing grades from before
spring break. No one should worry about their
grade in band.
Finally, and most importantly, I hope you are all staying safe and
healthy. Keep practicing physical distancing, but stay social with your
teachers, friends, and family online or on the phone. Contact me with
anything you might need.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Conard
Tuesday, April 7, 2020
Saturday, March 28, 2020
Important Update from Mrs. Conard
Dear Band Students and Families,
What a crazy time this is! I hope you are staying healthy and safe inside your homes. While we can't change the situation, we can make the best of it. This is a great opportunity for you to spend time with your family and do things you wouldn't normally get to do while at school. I am enjoying spending time with my husband, cat, and dog, and I am really enjoying getting to play my flute and piano a lot more than usual. Here's a little something I did this week with a few other flutists from all over the world:
I am deeply saddened to announce that the 6th grade band contest in Lytle is cancelled as well as our fun trip that was planned for Main Event. I am also very sad that the 7th and 8th grade trip to Sea World had to be cancelled because the park is closed. If there is a way to reschedule before the end of the school year, we will try. If not, we will make next year's trip even better! As of now, we are still planning for a Spring Band Concert. That date is to be determined. I appreciate all of your hard work that was put in before the break. Let's hope that we can get to perform together as a band once again this school year.
The activities I have put together for you while learning from home are meant to be fun yet educational. You may choose whichever activities sound interesting to you. A good goal is to do 5 activities each week if you can. I don't want you to stress out over this. It can be as simple as practicing your instrument or watching YouTube videos. If you feel this is too much for you to handle at this time, start with 1 activity this week and then aim to do a few more the next week. If you have trouble accessing the online links or notice a particular link is not working, please email me. At the end of each week, you will submit a google form to me so I can see how you are progressing. Assignments can be viewed in the Online Learning Tab.
I miss making music with all of you, and I know you miss band and all your friends, too. We will get through this together. Hope to see you all again very soon. If you need anything (except a hug), please email or text.
Musically,
Danette Conard
#PanthersStayConnected
What a crazy time this is! I hope you are staying healthy and safe inside your homes. While we can't change the situation, we can make the best of it. This is a great opportunity for you to spend time with your family and do things you wouldn't normally get to do while at school. I am enjoying spending time with my husband, cat, and dog, and I am really enjoying getting to play my flute and piano a lot more than usual. Here's a little something I did this week with a few other flutists from all over the world:
I am deeply saddened to announce that the 6th grade band contest in Lytle is cancelled as well as our fun trip that was planned for Main Event. I am also very sad that the 7th and 8th grade trip to Sea World had to be cancelled because the park is closed. If there is a way to reschedule before the end of the school year, we will try. If not, we will make next year's trip even better! As of now, we are still planning for a Spring Band Concert. That date is to be determined. I appreciate all of your hard work that was put in before the break. Let's hope that we can get to perform together as a band once again this school year.
The activities I have put together for you while learning from home are meant to be fun yet educational. You may choose whichever activities sound interesting to you. A good goal is to do 5 activities each week if you can. I don't want you to stress out over this. It can be as simple as practicing your instrument or watching YouTube videos. If you feel this is too much for you to handle at this time, start with 1 activity this week and then aim to do a few more the next week. If you have trouble accessing the online links or notice a particular link is not working, please email me. At the end of each week, you will submit a google form to me so I can see how you are progressing. Assignments can be viewed in the Online Learning Tab.
I miss making music with all of you, and I know you miss band and all your friends, too. We will get through this together. Hope to see you all again very soon. If you need anything (except a hug), please email or text.
Musically,
Danette Conard
#PanthersStayConnected
Tuesday, February 18, 2020
UIL Rehearsal / Concert at BMS Cafeteria
UIL Rehearsal and Mini-Concert - Wednesday, February 26, 2020 from 3:45-6:00pm
Concert starts at 5:45pm in BMS Cafeteria
We have a UIL Judge coming to work with the band students after school. This is a required rehearsal for all 7th-8th grade band students that are competing at UIL. We will give a concert for parents, friends, and teachers at 5:45pm, and then students will be dismissed after everything has been packed away.
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Fall Performances
Thursday, October 31, 2019 – Pep Rally – 3:00pm
7th-8th
Grade Band. Wear Halloween costumes (school-approved) or a Blanco t-shirt.
Friday, November 1, 2019 – Band Night
at Varsity Football Game – 7:30pm
8th Grade
Band. Wear new band shirt and blue jeans. Report to the stadium at 7pm. Play
with HS band in the stands for 1st and 2nd
quarter.
Perform Ghostbusters and Paint it Black with the HS Band at halftime
then play Panther Rap for football tunnel. All students will then meet
with Mrs. Conard at the start of 3rd quarter on the track. Students must
stay with the HS Band until the band plays the School Song at the end
of the game unless they are signed out by a parent after halftime. Mrs.
Conard will have the sign-out sheet.
Tuesday, November 5, 2019 - Fall
Concert at Blanco MS Gym – 6:30pm
6th-8th
Grade Band. Wear new band shirt and blue jeans. 6th Grade will meet
in the Gym at 6:00pm for warm-up. 7th and 8th grade will meet
in the band hall at 6:10pm. Concert begins at 6:30pm and will last 45
minutes to an hour. This is a required performance and a major test grade for all band
students.
Thursday, November 7, 2019 – Pep Rally – 3:00pm
7th-8th
Grade Band. Wear new band shirt and blue jeans.
Thursday, December 5, 2019 – Winter Concert at BHS Cafeteria- 6:30pm
Friday, March 22, 2019
BMS Band Receives UIL Sweepstakes Award!
On Thursday, March 21, the Blanco Middle School 7th & 8th Grade Varsity Band competed at UIL Concert and Sight-Reading contest. The music contest was held at Cuero HS in Cuero, TX. The band performed three concert selections: Marzo Zingaro by Randall Standridge, Colliding Visions by Brian Balmages, and Danza de España by Carol Brittin Chambers (who currently resides in San Antonio). The band received a Division 1 "Superior" rating for their concert performance.
The band also received a Division 1 rating in the Sight-Reading portion of the contest. In this contest, the students have to perform a piece of music they have never seen or heard before. All three judges scored their performance as "Superior." One judge commented, "Wow, you make very mature sounds! A well-taught band! Bravo!"
The band was awarded with a UIL Sweepstakes trophy for receiving Division 1 ratings in both events. This is the third consecutive year the BMS band has received the highest honor of Sweepstakes. The middle school band is directed by Mrs. Danette Conard with assistance from BHS band director, Mr. Jon VanOmmeren.
 |
| BLANCO MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Contest March 21, 2019 SWEEPSTAKES AWARD |
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
Fiesta TX Trip Info
7th and 8th Grade Band students will be going to Fiesta TX on Thursday, April 18 (the day before Good Friday holiday). This is just a fun trip to reward the kids for a year of hard work.
Letters were sent home last week about our annual Band Trip. Here is a link to the letter if you haven't seen it. The bottom part of the form and a minimum deposit are due by this Friday, March 8.
Admission ticket to the park will be $35. Optional meal tickets are $10. If your child has a season pass, the cost will be $5 to cover transportation and parking fees. Suggested payments are included in the letter, but they are just suggestions. If you want/need to pay a different deposit amount, you can. Of course, you may also choose to pay for the entire trip in one payment.
The last day for any payments will be Monday, March 25 so we can order the tickets at a discounted rate and receive them in time.
Letters were sent home last week about our annual Band Trip. Here is a link to the letter if you haven't seen it. The bottom part of the form and a minimum deposit are due by this Friday, March 8.
Admission ticket to the park will be $35. Optional meal tickets are $10. If your child has a season pass, the cost will be $5 to cover transportation and parking fees. Suggested payments are included in the letter, but they are just suggestions. If you want/need to pay a different deposit amount, you can. Of course, you may also choose to pay for the entire trip in one payment.
The last day for any payments will be Monday, March 25 so we can order the tickets at a discounted rate and receive them in time.
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