8/28/11 UPDATE

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

Here are a few photos from the home football game on August 19 and the game on Friday at Northeast Lauderdale. More photos are posted on the online gallery and the JA Band Facebook page, both linked in the menu bar above.

JA BAND SCHEDULE 8/29-9/2

The band will travel to the away football game again on Friday. Family members are welcome to ride the bus with the band. See the schedule for the evening below.

MONDAY - Rehearsal 2:00 - 4:00

TUESDAY - Rehearsal 2:00 - 3:00

Evening rehearsals in the Activities Center:

Color Guard 5:00 - 6:00

Percussion 5:30 - 6:30

Full Band 6:30 - 8:00

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY - Rehearsal 2:00 - 4:00

FRIDAY - Away football game at River Oaks School, Monroe, LA

2:15 - Load Bus

2:30 - Depart for Monroe

5:15 - Arrive Dinner stop, Pecanland Mall Food Court

7:00 - Kickoff at River Oaks

12:30 (approximate) - Return to JA

BOA ST. LOUIS TRIP

Thank you to the parents who were able to attend the Booster meeting last week to discuss fall JA Band activities including the trip to St. Louis.

For those who were unable to attend, the itinerary for the trip is described in last week's blog update. We have also posted the link to the video presentation on the trip HERE and to the YouTube Video Links, on the top right of this page.

Please contact Mignon Kucia (kucia@mc.edu) if you have any questions about details or costs. We encourage families to join the band on the trip.

UPCOMING EVENTS

September 2 - Away football game @ River Oaks School

September 9 - Early dismissal, Raider Night, Home football game v. Pillow

September 10 & 11 - Lions Band Color Guard Training Workshops

September 16 - Homecoming Football game v. Lamar Christian

September 24 - Southern Stars Invitational band competition @ Lewisburg HS

October 7 - Home football game v. Jackson Prep

October 8 - All-day Band Rehearsal

October 13 - 16 - St. Louis BOA trip

October 21 - Home football v. Mag Heights

October 28 - Away football @ MRA

October 29 - MAIS Marching Band Festival

November 4 - Football Playoff Game

November 11 - Football Championship game @ MC

November 12 - MS All-State Lions Band auditions

November 19 - MS All-State Lions Band callbacks

8/21/11 UPDATE

JA Band member Will Tribble on the sideline before his solo performance of the National Anthem before the game Friday, from the Clarion Ledger online gallery.


Thanks to all the parents who helped at the first home football game Friday night, either in the visitors' concession stand or with equipment at halftime.


Thanks also to JA Art teacher Chelsea Sekanic for finishing her "trompe l'oeil" work on the prop piano:

JA BAND SCHEDULE 8/22-26


The band will travel to the away football game this Friday at Northeast Lauderdale in Meridian. They will not perform the show; the drumline will play in the stands. All family members are welcome to ride the air-conditioned charter bus with the band to cheer on the Raiders at this big game. Student attire is Band show t-shirts and khaki shorts. See the evening's schedule below.


MONDAY - Rehearsal 2:00 - 4:00


TUESDAY - Rehearsal 2:00 - 3:00
Evening Rehearsals in the Activities Center:
Color Guard 5:00 - 6:00
Percussion 5:30 - 6:30
Full Band 6:30 - 8:00
Booster Meeting - Band Hall - 6:00


WEDNESDAY - Rehearsal 2:00 - 4:00


THURSDAY - Rehearsal 2:00 - 4:00


FRIDAY - Away football game at Northeast Lauderdale HS, Meridian
Rehearsal - 2:00 - 3:00
Load bus - 3:30 - Family members welcome
Depart - 3:45
Dinner stop in Meridian - 5:30
Arrive at NE Lauderdale - 7:00
Return to JA - Approximately 12:00


IMPORTANT JA BAND BOOSTER MEETING TUESDAY


Please join us for the Booster meeting on Tuesday at 6:00 in the Band Hall. We will discuss the season schedule and fall travel, including the trip to BOA St. Louis.

Here is the basic itinerary for the trip:


THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13
Early morning departure from JA
Fast food lunch stop enroute
Rehearsal at a St. Louis area high school
Dinner at the St. Louis Galleria Mall
Check in at Drury Inn Forest Park

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14
Early afternoon preliminary performance at the Bands of America Super Regional Championship, Edward Jones Dome

Visit St. Louis Zoo

Dinner at Hard Rock Cafe

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15
Visit the Gateway Arch - ride the tram to the top, enjoy a 1-hour river sightseeing cruise with lunch

Return to the Edward Jones Dome for preliminary awards and Championship Finals

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16
Return travel day
Lunch stop at Lambert's Cafe

Arrive JA approximately 7 pm


Band families are encouraged to join the band on the trip to St. Louis. Come to the Booster meeting for more information about costs and other details.


UPCOMING EVENTS

August 26 - Away football game @ Northeast Lauderdale

September 2 - Away football game @ River Oaks School

September 9 - Early dismissal, Raider Night, Home football game v. Pillow

September 16 - Homecoming Football game v. Lamar Christian

September 24 - Southern Stars Invitational band competition @ Lewisburg HS

October 7 - Home football game v. Jackson Prep

October 8 - All-day Band Rehearsal

October 13 - 16 - St. Louis BOA trip

October 21 - Home football v. Mag Heights

October 28 - Away football @ MRA

October 29 - MAIS Marching Band Festival

November 4 - Football Playoff Game

November 11 - Football Championship game @ MC

November 12 - MS All-State Lions Band auditions

November 19 - MS All-State Lions Band callbacks

8/14/11 UPDATE

Thank you to JA Art teacher Chelsea Sekanic and her collaborator Armando for their work painting the prop piano, as pictured above.

WEEKLY SCHEDULE UPDATE

Monday - Rehearsal 2:00 - 4:00

Tuesday - Rehearsal 2:00 - 3:00

Color Guard 5:00 - 6:00

5:45 - Report time for All Sports Night activities, in shorts and band show t-shirts. After the introduction of the band on the football field, we will proceed to the gym for rehearsal until 8:00

Wednesday - Rehearsal 2:00 - 4:00

Thursday - Rehearsal 2:00 - 4:00

Friday - Rehearsal 2:00 - 3:00

6:00 - Report for warmup for football game on the parking lot. Guard in shorts and show shirts, band in half uniform (show shirts, uniform bib pants, black socks, black marching shoes)

First & Second Quarters - drumline in stands

Halftime - Competition show - need parent help, see Terri Fisher's request below

Third Quarter - Break - students may visit concessions

Fourth Quarter - Drumline in stands

End of Game - All band members will march together back to the band hall, and will be dismissed when all equipment is put away

FALL 2011 TRAVEL

Plans are underway for the October 13-16 trip to St. Louis for the Bands of America Super Regional Championship. Look for further details in next week's blog update.

The band will travel to away games at North Lauderdale HS in Meridian on August 26, and to River Oaks School in Monroe, LA on Sept. 2. The band will travel via charter bus, and there will be plenty of room for any family members who wish to ride along. At these away games, the drumline will perform in the stands; we will not be performing the competition show.

The band will also compete at the Southern Stars Invitational band competition at Lewisburg HS, in Olive Branch, on September 24. The performance schedule is still being developed, but it will be an all-day activity. Families are welcome and encouraged to ride the charter bus with the band.

Two volunteer truck drivers are needed for the competition on September 24 and for the St. Louis trip.

PRESIDENT'S CORNER - Terri Fisher

I have a few items that need our immediate attention:

1). The weather is still very hot and our band members will be practicing during mid afternoon from now until the end of performance season, late October.  Water is very much needed!  We would appreciate each family purchasing a case or two of bottled water this week and dropping them off at the band hall.   The band students and staff will go through a lot of water each day and I know they will appreciate having the water as refreshment.

2). One of the major props of our band's performance is the field mat.  It must be rolled out before every performance and taken up at the end of every performance.  We need at least 8, possibly 10, people to fulfill this task in order for our band to perform.  This means that these people will need to be at every home game and at the competitions.  So, the more volunteers, the easier it will be on everyone.  To date, we have had three people to volunteer.  Our first show with all the props is Friday, August 19th, at our first home game.  The mat crew will have to practice Tuesday evening at 7:45 in order to be ready for Friday's halftime show.  Come on everyone, especially you Dad's, we need you for this service.  Please let me hear from you ASAP!!

I hope your students(s) has a great first day tomorrow.

UPCOMING EVENTS

August 16 - All Sports Night

August 19 - Home football game v. Presbyterian Christian

August 26 - Away football game @ Northeast Lauderdale

September 2 - Away football game @ River Oaks School

September 9 - Early dismissal, Raider Night, Home football game v. Pillow

September 16 - Homecoming Football game v. Lamar Christian

September 24 - Southern Stars Invitational band competition @ Lewisburg HS

October 7 - Home football game v. Jackson Prep

October 8 - All-day Band Rehearsal

October 13 - 16 - St. Louis BOA trip

October 21 - Home football v. Mag Heights

October 28 - Away football @ MRA

October 29 - MAIS Marching Band Festival

November 4 - Football Playoff Game

November 11 - Football Championship game @ MC

November 12 - MS All-State Lions Band auditions

November 19 - MS All-State Lions Band callbacks

8/7/11 UPDATE

PRESIDENT'S CORNER - Terri Fisher

What an amazing show and performance we saw on Friday! Thank you so much for the great show of support for this talented group of young people. A big thank you to all the staff and volunteers who worked so hard over the last two weeks in order to help make this possible!! Special thanks to Barbara Kellett for fitting all the band uniforms and to Hope Burford for arranging the pool party for us.

REQUESTS FOR HELP:  I am sure you noticed that one of the main center pieces of the show other than your child, the faux piano, needs painting. We are looking for a paint sprayer and someone that knows who to use it. If you can help or know of someone who can, please let Mr. Carter know ASAP. The band will perform Friday, August 19th at our first home game. It would be wonderful if the piano was ready by our first performance. Thank you so much for your help with this!!

Also, we are in need of a volunteer to serve as Parent Field Crew Coordinator. This is someone who would be at all games and competitions and could organize the parents who are there to help get the equipment on and off the field within the required time constraints. Please contact me (tfisher@jacksonacademy.org) if you are available and willing to serve the band program in this way.

BAND CAMP WRAP-UP

 Thank you to all the students, whose hard work and dedication made for a very successful band camp, as evidenced by their fine performance on Friday.

Here are a few photos from camp. Many more can be found in the online photo gallery as well as on the facebook page, both of which are linked from the menu bar at the top of the page.

 

SCHEDULE UPDATE

Calendars showing the JA Band schedule of events for the 2011-2012 school year, as well as directories with contact information for all band families, were available at the Premiere Performance on Friday. If you were unable to attend, please have your student request these items from Mr. Carter or contact Booster President Terri Fisher at tjmfisher@yahoo.com.

An updated version of the calendar is always available online at the link in the menu bar at the top of the page.

The typical rehearsal schedule during marching season is as follows:

MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & THURSDAY - Rehearsal until 4:00

TUESDAY - Class until 3:00, Color Guard 5:00 - 6:00, Percussion 5:30 - 6:30, Full Band 6:30 - 8:00

FRIDAY - Class until 3:00, evening schedule to be determined by football game schedule 

This week, the only scheduled band activities are the following sectional rehearsals that Mrs. Carter and Mr. Mathena have organized for Friday, August 12 (half day of classes):

Color Guard - 12:30 - 2:00

Percussion & Horns - Drumline rehearsal 12:30 - 2:00 - Bring $3 for pizza before rehearsal

IMPORTANT DATES

Saturday, September 24 - Band competition @ Lewisburg HS, Olive Branch

Saturday, October 8 - All-Day Rehearsal @ JA

Thursday - Sunday, October 13-16 - BOA St. Louis Super Regional Championship trip

Saturday, October 29 - MAIS Marching Band Festival