WELCOME 2013

All hands on deck!  It's 2013 and we are showing that Cougar Pride.  We have a great 2012 at York Chester.  We welcomed in a new class of talented 6th Graders and continued working with some awesome 7th & 8th Graders, but there is much more to come.

SHOUT-OUTS
Let's congratulate Raven, Jamon, & Chris.  These student will represent York Chester at the Gaston All-County Honor Band Clinic February 8-9, 2013.  Let's cheer these students on as they play in this "best of the best" band.  Our very own jazz band will be among the featured performers at this year's Martin Luther King Celebration January 19th at St. Stephen's AME Zion Church.  All of the community is invited.  This is just the beginning and there will be many more Shout-outs to come in 2013.

We have begun a new year as we end the 2nd 9 Weeks.  Oh, where did the time go? It is always exciting to have a fresh start, but before we get too far into January 2013, let's make sure we are wrapping up the 2nd 9 weeks in stellar fashion.   Remember that ALL assignments must be turned in no later than this Friday, January 18, 2013.  That is THIS WEEK!  

Every student has been given a progress report(last week), which explains what they have turned in, what they are missing, and their current average.  This report should have been signed by the parents and turned in to me to verify that parents know where their child stands before the end of the 9 weeks.  ANY assignment can be retaken, but students must do this before this Friday, January 18th.  The only grade that students can not make up is their home practice.  If your student is not bringing their instrument home and not practicing at home, except in cases like tuba and baritones who don't have a personal instrument, their grade will be negatively impacted.  All students should practice each night.  The consistency is more important than the length of time they practice. Click on this link for some practice tips to help your student be more successful.  If you have not seen your student's progress report, you can check all of their grades anytime you like with the parent assist program through GCS or let me know and I will print another copy.

Band Karate Belt assignments are due by this Thursday.  Remember, ONLY students who have fulfilled the requirements of the White, Yellow, & Orange Belts will receive and "A" for the 9 weeks.  This is our incentive program to encourage our students to continually challenge themselves to become better musicians.

In 2013, we continual to strive to make your student's education rigorous and relevant.  We will use 21st Century Technologies to help all of our students become not only good musicians, but good creative and forward thinking students responsible for their own education.  Go Cougars! It's 2013!