8/25/13 UDPATE

GO RAIDERS

Thank you to the parents who helped with equipment Friday night, and congrats to the JA Band for a fine performance.

Watch for information soon about the JA Band Booster Magazine Sale, which is the most important fundraiser of the year.

JA BAND SCHEDULE 8/26-30

MONDAY, 8/26 - Rehearsal 2:10 - 4:00

TUESDAY, 8/27 - Rehearsal 2:10 - 3:00
COLOR GUARD - 5:00 - 6:00 - on field (Please note the new, earlier starting time for guard rehearsal on Tuesday evenings. The girls will have a break between 6:00 and 6:30)
PERCUSSION - 6:00 - 6:30 - on field
FULL BAND - 6:30 - 8:00 on field

WEDNESDAY, 8/28 - Rehearsal 2:10 - 4:00

THURSDAY, 8/29 - Rehearsal 2:10 - 4:00

FRIDAY, 8/30 - Rehearsal 2:10 - 3:00
No football game for band - football @ St. George in Memphis

Remember the season schedule is always listed to the right, and the calendar is linked in the menu bar above.

BOA INDIANAPOLIS TRIP

Parents traveling to Indianapolis with the band have until September 1 to email trip planner Sue Guindon (sue.guindon@gmail.com) if they wish to pay for their own hotel room with a credit card.

Families who do not do so will automatically be included in the master bill and will be invoiced as such by the Boosters.

PHOTO GALLERY

A few more photos from Friday night, thanks to Chelsea Sekanic; and some from the Ag Museum fundraiser on Thursday, thanks to Jamie Niemeyer:

8/18/13 UPDATE

GO RAIDERS!

Thank you to JA Band members Caroline Burford, Hannah McCowan, and Aaron Dallaire for staying after school on Thursday to help paint the mat.

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?

The first football game is this Friday, August 23, when the JA Raiders take on NE Lauderdale at Raider Field.

Here is the typical home game schedule for the band:

5:30 - Report to the band lot for warmup. Guard in band t-shirts, shorts, and sneakers; horns and percussion in half uniform (band t-shirts, black bib pants, all-black calf-high socks, and black band shoes)

6:00 - Return to the band hall to dress in full uniform

PREGAME - Drumline and guard march as a unit around the track to the home stands. Perform National Anthem if requested.

FIRST & SECOND QUARTER - Drumline in stands

HALFTIME - Performance of competition show - Parents needed for mat and boxes

THIRD QUARTER - Break - students may visit concessions if desired

FOURTH QUARTER - Drumline in stands

POSTGAME - Drumline and guard march as a unit to return to the band hall. Students are dismissed when all equipment is put away. Band uniforms should be brought home for washing. Mrs. Carter will take care of the guard uniforms.

Any changes to this schedule will be posted in the weekly blog update.

BOOSTER MEETING

There will be a JA Band Booster meeting at 6:15 pm Tuesday in the band hall, during evening rehearsal. Fall events, fundraisers, the MAIS Marching Band Festival, and travel will be discussed.

At 7:40 on Tuesday, parents who are willing to help with the mat and boxes at halftime of the game Friday should proceed to the Activities Building. We will go over the details and practice at the end of rehearsal.

PARTY HELPER FUNDRAISER

There are still 7 spots available for students age 14 or older and parents to participate in the fundraiser at the Ag Museum on Thursday evening.

Participants will help with carnival games and other party activities for a Horne LLC company party. Helpers need to be at the museum by 5:15. The party will be 6:00 - 9:00, and everyone will stay to tear down equipment, which will be complete before 10:00.

All helpers will receive $55 credit toward their Indy trip fee. Parents may credit their student's account or their own, if they are coming on the trip.

There is one change to the initial information -- a meal break will NOT be provided. To compensate, the company increased the compensation by $5 and moved the report time to 5:15, to allow students time to get something to eat after rehearsal.

Email bcarter@jacksonacademy.org if you are interested in participating.

DEADLINE FOR SIGNING UP IS TOMORROW, MONDAY, AUGUST 19. 

BOA INDIANAPOLIS TRIP

All JA Band families should have received an email last week from trip planner Sue Guindon. Please respond as soon as possible to let her know whether or not you plan to join us for the trip, so that she can finalize lodging and other details. Email sue.guindon@gmail.com if you have any questions.

COLOR GUARD LIONS BAND WORKSHOPS

Details about the upcoming workshops for guard members interested in auditioning for Lions Band can be found at this link: COLOR GUARD WORKSHOPS

Contact Mrs. Carter if you have any questions.

JA BAND SCHEDULE AUGUST 19-23

MONDAY, 8/19 - Rehearsal 2:10 - 4:00

TUESDAY, 8/20 - Rehearsal 2:10 - 3:00
     GUARD - 5:30 - 6:15 - Activities Building
     PERCUSSION - 6:00 - 6:30 - Move to Activities Building
     FULL BAND - 6:30 - 8:00

WEDNESDAY, 8/21 - Rehearsal 2:10 - 4:00

THURSDAY, 8/22 - Rehearsal 2:10 - 4:00

FRIDAY, 8/23 - Rehearsal 2:10 - 3:00, Home football game
     FULL BAND - Report 5:30 - see details in first section above

8/11/13 UPDATE

Thank you to all the JA Band members for their focused effort and positive attitudes throughout Band Camp.

Regular rehearsals begin this week. Please remind your student to bring shorts and sneakers to school each day. We will give them time to change before practice begins.

With 24 students, we go through at least a case of bottled water each rehearsal. With outdoor rehearsals beginning, it is vital that the students stay hydrated. Thank you for your continued donations.

JA BAND SCHEDULE AUGUST 12-16

MONDAY, 8/12 - Rehearsal 2:10 - 4:00

TUESDAY, 8/13 - ALL SPORTS NIGHT
All students in gray band t-shirts and shorts
5:15 - Percussion report to move equipment to Activities Building
5:45 - Guard and horns report
6:00 - Band introduced at All Sports Night
6:30 - 8:00 - Full Band Rehearsal in Activities Building
Students will be dismissed when all equipment is returned to the band hall

WEDNESDAY, 8/14 - Rehearsal 2:10 - 4:00

THURSDAY, 8/15 - Rehearsal 2:10 - 4:00

FRIDAY, 8/16 - Rehearsal 2:10 - 3:00

PHOTO GALLERY

The following photos and many more have been uploaded to the JA BAND PHOTO GALLERY

 

 

 

 

8/4/13 UPDATE

BAND CAMP - FINAL WEEK

Thank you to the JA Band members for their focus, perseverance, and punctuality during the first week of camp. Their hard work impressed drill writer Jeff Namian and choreographer Vincent Thomas, both of whom had high praise for our students.

Thank you to Chelsea Sekanic and Cassie Carroll for helping to fit the uniforms this week. 

The schedule for this week remains the same - 8:30 - 11:30 and 1:00 - 5:00 Monday through Thursday.

On Thursday, the band will present the Premiere Performance of the 2013 show at 4:30 in the Activities Building. All JA Band families and friends are invited to the performance. Band photos will be taken after lunch on Thursday, so all horns and percussion members will need to have their uniforms clean and pressed before Thursday. They will also need to bring all-black, calf-high socks, and a band t-shirt, to wear under the uniform.

Following the performance, there will be a short JA Band Booster meeting for all parents. Information about the season, including the Indianapolis trip, will be presented. 

PHOTO GALLERY

More photos have been posted in the online gallery at this link:  HERE.

7/28/13 UPDATE - CAMP WEEK

BAND CAMP REMINDERS - July 29 - August 2 and August 5-8

- All students need to arrive at the Activities Building early enough to begin at 8:30 each morning.

- Lunch break 11:30 - 1:00 each day. Students may go to lunch with parents or with older students (with permission), or may bring a lunch and remain on campus.

- Instruction will end at 5:00 each day. Students may need a few minutes to gather equipment before being picked up.

- $200 per student due the first day of camp; checks made payable to JA Band Boosters.

It is very important that we have ALL students present for every day of camp. The entire show - drill, music, and choreography - will be taught during these two weeks.

COLOR GUARD

The color guard members began work early, with a session this afternoon with choreographer Vincent Thomas and drill writer Jeff Namian. They had a very productive rehearsal.

7/21/13 UPDATE

BAND CAMP

SUNDAY, July 28 - Color Guard only, 2:00 - 6:30, Activities Building

MONDAY, July 29 thru FRIDAY, August 2, and
MONDAY, August 5 thru THURSDAY, August 8 - BAND CAMP for ALL JA BAND MEMBERS

Schedule each day:

8:30 - 11:30 - Morning Session
11:30 - 1:00 - Lunch Break
1:00 - 5:00 - Afternoon Session

THURSDAY, August 8 - PREMIERE PERFORMANCE - 4:30 pm - Families and Friends invited

$200 per student due the first day of camp.

Bottled water donations always needed and gratefully received.

Musical parts are being completed and will be emailed in the next few days.

MARCHING SHOES

We will be placing the order for marching shoes this week, for new students and others who might need new shoes. Look for an email requesting sizes.

STAY CONNECTED

See last week's update below for details about how to sign up for the Remind101 message service, if you have not already done so. Anyone who signed up last year is still on the list.

7/14/13 UPDATE

COUNTDOWN TO BAND CAMP

JA Band Camp 2013 begins in just two weeks. On Sunday, July 28, the Color Guard will have their first camp session from 2:00 - 6:30 in the Activities Building, with drill writer Jeff Namian and Guard Choreographer Vincent Thomas.

The first day of camp for all students is Monday, July 29. Camp will continue every weekday through Thursday, August 8.

It is very important that we have ALL students present for every day of camp, as the entire competition show - drill, music, and choreography - will be taught during these two weeks.

Camp will begin promptly at 8:30 am each morning in the Activities Building. All students should arrive early enough to have all equipment and be ready to BEGIN at 8:30.

Lunch break will be 11:30 - 1:00 each day. Students have several options for lunch:

- Older students may drive themselves to and from lunch.
- Parents may take students to and from lunch.
- Students may ride with other parents or older students, with parental permission.
- Students may bring lunch and remain in the band hall, where supervision will be provided.

Students need to be back on campus and ready to begin the afternoon session promptly at 1:00.

Instruction will finish each day at 5:00 pm. Students may need a few minutes to gather equipment, etc., before being picked up.

On the final day of camp, Thursday, August 8, camp will conclude with a PREMIERE PERFORMANCE of the show at 4:30. All band families and friends are invited.

Each student should bring $200 on the first day of camp (checks payable to JA Band Boosters). This is $100 for the camp fee and $100 toward the trip fee. Each student will receive two show t-shirts.

BOTTLED WATER donations are needed, both for camp and throughout the season.

Music is being arranged for each band member and will be emailed the week before camp.

FALL 2013

The Fall 2013 event schedule is listed to the right. PLEASE NOTE the two changes to the printed calendar that was distributed in the spring:

1. The band will NOT be traveling to Memphis for the away football game on August 30.

2. The November 1 football game is at HOME.

STAY CONNECTED

This blog is our primary means of communication with JA Band families, with an update published each week.

The JA Band is also on Facebook and Twitter (@JA_Band).

We also use a text and/or email notification system for last minute information. Anyone who signed up last year does NOT need to sign up again. If you wish to add a new phone number, or for our new families, the information is below:

LIONS BAND 2013

Congratulations to JA Band members Annie Campbell and Caroline Burford for earning spots in the MS Lions All State Band, which traveled to Germany and Austria earlier this month. Here are a few photos, with more posted in the online PHOTO GALLERY.