Spring Update

Dear CMS Band Families,

As you have all heard, we just received word from Governor Sisolak and the state superintendent of education that Carson Middle School is closed through the end of the school year.  This newsletter update outlines what I know about our new schedule and grading. As always, we may need to make some adjustments as we work together to navigate these new situations and conditions.

GRADING
We are now on a "pass/fail" grading system.  Students with an overall semester grade of 60% or higher will receive a "P" at the semester, indicating a passing grade.  Students with an overall semester grade of 59% or lower will receive an "F" at the semester, indicating a failing grade. All weekly assignments completed before spring break will be re-assigned a grade of 100% if they were completed and "missing" if they were not. This week, students are responsible for completing the following by Friday at noon:

• 2 assignments on Quizizz
• At least 30 minutes of practicing on at least 1 play-along video.
• Weekly survey

All these assignments are on Google Classroom. The weekly survey also asks students to report their band workload.  I will continue to make minor adjustments weekly to be sure that students do not become overwhelmed with the amount of online instruction we provide. 

WEEKLY SCHEDULE
We are also making a modification to the weekly schedule. Next week, I will maintain our Zoom video lesson schedule. Beginning on May 4, I will switch to providing pre-recorded video lessons that students can view on their own. We will also have no formal instruction on Fridays. This time will be used for teachers to lesson plan, collaborate, and finish grading. Next week, I will also provide Zoom office hours on Friday for any students who would like to visit with me, ask questions, etc. I will announce a formal outline of all this information once we are closer. As for this week, all assignments are due Friday at noon.

INSTRUMENT SUPPLY KIOSK
Once again, I will be operating my instrument supply kiosk in the parking lot adjacent to the district office.  I will be open from Thursday from 11:00 AM-12:30 PM. Please stay in your car.  *Note: I'm out of stock on alto saxophone cleaning swabs*

Please know that I miss your students dearly. I miss making music. I miss all the festivals and trips that would typically be taking place this time of year. Take this time as an opportunity to bond with your kids. If the workload is too stressful, take a break and let us know. We are here to support you, and we know that we will all emerge from this situation stronger and more resilient than ever.

Onward!

Nick Jacques

Spring Break Play-Alongs

Dear CMS Band Families,

We have made it through a few weeks of unprecedented times, and we have all adjusted to a completely different way of learning.  Now, it's time to take a step back and enjoy our spring breaks. Since many students will have more hours of free time than they may know what to do with (get those chores done!), I have put together a list of play-along tunes.  These videos have the notated parts, along with backing tracks, as well as videos of musicians playing the music so students can practice the proper techniques. This is meant to provide students with hours and hours of unlimited musical entertainment from home.

SPRING BREAK PLAY-ALONG VIDEOS

Have a wonderful spring break, and stay happy, healthy, and safe.

-Mr. Jacques-

April Showers...

Dear CMS Band Families,

You know the saying, "April Showers brings May flowers." We are now on our 3rd week of distance learning and we have all discovered that this month will be spent at our homes, with the updated return time being after April 30. Hopefully the old saying will come true and we can all be reunited with a little bit of normalcy in May. We shall see. In the meantime, here is this week's plan, along with a minor attendance and grading update.

ZOOM VIDEO LESSONS - Students should attend at least one. Both are highly recommended. Below is the schedule.

I am also adding a little fun: Zoom theme days! Monday and Tuesday: Pet or Stuffed Animal Day. Wednesday and Thursday: Crazy Hat Day.

THIS WEEK'S ASSIGNMENTS
All students with internet access and instruments will complete the following lesson:

• Practice anything for at least 30 minutes. I will also still accept Flipgrid videos.
• Complete at least 1 Edpuzzle assignment while following along on your instrument.
• Complete the end-of-week practice survey.

GRADING
We are awaiting further guidance from the district and the state board of education about how grading will look. For now, band students will either earn a complete or a missing for their weekly assignments with no letter grade attached.  Once I have more details, this will change to a "pass/fail" or letter grades and I will make changes accordingly.

ATTENDANCE
Finally, I'm going to clarify attendance and update you on the cutoff for attendance each week. Students earn attendance for the week by communicating at least once with their teachers in any given week. Acceptable forms of communication include email, Google Classroom, appearances on Zoom, or phone calls. My cutoff for attendance is 2 PM on Friday. Any late check-ins count for the next week of school. Thank you so much for your patience as we take this journey together. I appreciate you all!

-Mr. Jacques-

Reflecting on March Madness...

Dear CMS Band Families,

It was a month ago that I wrote a newsletter update with the title "Leaping into March Madness" as a way to say that March gets pretty busy. Little did we all know what we were truly in for.  I have to say that I am finding myself quite sad that I cannot teach. During a time of year that's usually filled with events, I feel it even more.  I miss your kids dearly and I hope they are doing okay at home.

ZOOM VIDEO LESSONS

I will hold Zoom lessons at the following times this week:
Concert Band: Monday and Wednesday from 10:00-10:30 AM
Advanced Band: Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00-10:30 AM
Intermediate Band: Monday and Wednesday from 11:00-11:30 AM
6th Period Beginning Band: Tuesday and Thursday from 11:00-11:30 AM
7th Period Beginning Band: Monday and Wednesday from 12:00-12:30 PM

All students in all classes will meet on Friday from 10:00-11:00 AM to wrap up the week.

THIS WEEK'S ASSIGNMENTS
Several students expressed confusion with the PDF I posted and mistakenly completed that assignment when they didn't have to. Please only ask for a PDF assignment if your student is unable to practice or access a computer.  Here is the preferred assignment:

Practicing + Flipgrid Recording - Students will practice for at least 30 minutes for the week and complete the practice survey on Friday. They will then record themselves playing through one of their pieces on Flipgrid while listening to a backing track through their headphones. Directions will be posted in Google Classroom on Monday and I will walk students through this process in Zoom.  I will then take all these recordings and edit them together to create a virtual band performance!

Alternative assignment: Practicing, EdPuzzles, and Quizizz - If students cannot get Flipgrid up and running or they're struggling with the tempo in the baking tracks, students will practice for at least 30 minutes for the week and complete the practice survey on Friday. Then, students will have an assortment of videos with questions in EdPuzzle, as well as some quizzes (through a program called "Quizizz"--not a typo). Detailed instructions will be posted in Google Classroom.

Just a reminder: students do not need to complete Flipgrid AND the alternative assignment. These assignments are due on Friday at noon.

ATTENDANCE
Finally, just a reminder that we now track attendance weekly. Students are to communicate with each of their teachers at least once per week. Any communication through Zoom, practice surveys, or emails will count towards their weekly attendance requirement.

Are we beginning to get the hang of this new normal? It has been a learning curve for us all. We as teachers are constantly adjusting and adapting to do what is in the best interest of you and your students.  Thank you so much for your patience as we work to smooth things out. I appreciate you all!

-Mr. Jacques-

Virtual Learning...

Dear Band Families,

Our new normal continues with the launch of virtual learning, which is set to begin on Monday at 9:00 AM.  I have some important information on how this looks in band, as well as a couple other announcements.

FREE INTERNET ACCESS!
Spectrum is providing broadband for free for 60 days to households with K-12 students who do not already have a Spectrum broadband subscription. Parents/Guardians will need to enroll to take advantage of this program by contacting Spectrum directly at 1-844-488-8395.  

WEEKLY LESSONS
Starting Monday, all students will have weekly assignments. These assignments will be due on Friday, March 27, at noon. There will be a practicing component (30 points), a playing test component (100 points--see below), and a rehearsal participation component (30 points--see below).  Click here for this week's lesson.  This PDF version is also uploaded in the student's Google Classroom page.  There is no need to print this document.  The school will print this document for those who do not have internet or Smartmusic access.

PLAYING TESTS
Students will continue to have weekly playing tests on Smartmusic.  If students cannot complete their Smartmusic test, they will need to complete the note name and rhythm quiz, as well as the rhythm composition. These are located in the PDF version of this week's lesson.

ATTENDANCE/REHEARSAL PARTICIPATION
I am required to take attendance weekly by checking in with students at least once per week. This also counts as your student's rehearsal participation grade. This will be handled in several ways:

• Zoom Rehearsals - Students will meet as a class on Monday and Friday for 30 minutes.  The link and exact times are posted on student's Google Classroom pages. I will check in with everybody, answer questions, and hear individuals play. 
• Zoom Office Hours - Students will have a chance to check in during my office hours on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 10:00 AM-Noon. 
• If students cannot get in on Zoom during the week, they are required to respond to a question on Google Classroom. I will post this question as an assignment on Monday morning. 

If I do not hear from students by Friday at noon, I am required to log their absence and contact parents. Please be sure your student stays in touch with me as we work through our new virtual learning plan.

TRIP REFUNDS
I sound like the tax man when I say this: your spring trip refunds are in the mail!  Trip refunds were sent out on Friday, March 20.  Email me with any additional questions.

UPCOMING EVENTS
Once again, all upcoming events continue to be on hold.  We are continuing to get through this situation as a community, and once we are able to have performances, I will update the calendar and share that information.

Even though I won't be there in person for you, I'm still there for you through email, Remind, and Google Classroom.

Onward!

-Mr. Jacques-

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-

March Madness Indeed...

Dear Parents,

I have some significant updates to announce that impacts all students.  Please read below:

• Band-O-Rama is postponed until further notice.  Please disregard the flyer I sent home with students this week. 
• Both the Concert/Intermediate Band and the Advanced Band spring trips have also been postponed until further notice. I will suspend payment collection until we know more information on how to proceed. 
• The Reno Jazz Festival has been cancelled. This event is not going to be rescheduled this year.

Other updates:

• I have finalized and posted all 3rd quarter grades. If you're too excited to wait for the printout to be sent home with students, feel free to log into Infinite Campus to see where your student stands for quarter 3. 
• I have changed the due dates for all future playing tests. Playing tests will now be due on the last evening of any given weekend that they are assigned. The following is due Monday (end of the extended weekend) on Smartmusic: 
• Jazz Band: Midnight Snack
• Concert Band: New Orleans Strut
• Intermediate Band: New Orleans Strut
• Advanced Band: New Orleans Strut
• Beginning Bands: The Clumsy Clown
• As of now, all after school rehearsals will still take place as scheduled.  The next rehearsal is the invited Concert Band members and Intermediate Band on Tuesday from 2:30-4:30 PM. 

We are facing a new and strange situation here, and I will continue to communicate any updates as they occur.  As I told the students, we are going to continue to make wonderful music in class and keep working as if nothing is postponed or cancelled.  Once this situation passes, they will be ready to showcase all the amazing work that has taken place in the band room.  I hope you all have a restful and safe weekend. 

-Mr. Jacques-