A New Normal...

Dear Band Families,

Welcome to the new normal.  I will be doing whatever I can to bring a little bit of normal back to your lives through music. Since we are in uncharted territory, we'll be incorporating some new ideas to supplement the things students normally do at home.

INSTRUMENT PICK-UP
The band room will be open Thursday and Friday from 9 AM-2 PM for instrument pick-up.  I will also be selling reeds and other essential supplies. Only students will be allowed in the school and may only access the band room, library, and their locker. I will also help students get into Zoom for future video conferencing in the coming weeks.

WEEKLY LESSONS
Starting this Monday, all students will have weekly assignments. These assignments will be due on Friday at noon. I will have the to-do list posted on their Google Classroom page. Assignments will include a combination of activities through Smartmusic, online videos, online quizzes, Flipgrid, as well as paper-based packets for those without access to technology.

NEW MUSIC
I will scan in PDFs of new music for the two classes that were going to receive it: Beginning Band and Advanced Band.  Fortunately, everybody else already has all the music they need. Once we end up figuring out our official return date to school, students will have what they need and we can pick up from where we left off.

TRIP REFUNDS
I will begin working with my office secretary to issue refund checks to everyone who has made trip payments. We will begin processing refund checks by the end of this week in hopes that you will have these in your hands by next week.

UPCOMING EVENTS
As you know, we have canceled Band-O-Rama, Reno Jazz Festival, and our spring trips.  Other events taking place later in April and May are still up in the air, so we'll just have to wait and see how things unfold.

Even though I won't be there in person for you, I'm still there for you through email, Remind, and Google Classroom. Here's to our new journey together!

-Mr. Jacques-