9/19/10 UPDATE

The annual Magazine Sale is traditionally the biggest fundraiser of the year for the JA Band Boosters. Please do your part to support the sale by purchasing new subscriptions, renewing existing ones, and promoting the sale to family and friends. Don't forget, anyone can support the sale online:

- Go to www.qsp.com
- Click on "Shop Now" under Supporters
- Enter the JA Code 425091239

Thank you for supporting this important fundraiser.

This will be a very busy week for the band. On Wednesday, Drumline members need to report to the PAC by 7:30 am to play as students are dropped off at school, to promote the magazine sale.

On Friday, we need as many parents as possible to help load the equipment at 2:00 to transport to the game at Jackson Prep. If you are able to help Friday afternoon, please send an email to Tony Hutchins, parent equipment crew coordinator, at thutchins@sfbli.com.

For the game at Prep, logistics are still being finalized for a tailgate party in the shopping area across Lakeland from the Prep campus. All JA Band members need to be at Prep by 5:15 on Friday, in uniform. We will determine exactly where to meet later in the week and announce the details in class and via email.

PRESIDENT'S REPORT - Martha Ray

It’s hard to believe but we are already almost half way through Marching Season!  It’s a busy time for the Band and for our band students.

There are several things happening on the Band Booster front that you need to know about:

1.) The JA Band Magazine Sale began Friday at the Pep Rally with the introduction of the Magazine Sale Money Booth.  This year we are offering Junior and Senior High School students the opportunity to win cash for selling magazines. The top student seller will win $100 plus whatever cash they can grab in the Money Booth during the Pep Rally on October 15th.  Any student who sells 15 or more subscriptions will have their name entered in a drawing to win $50 plus whatever cash he or she can grab. The Money Booth seemed to be well-received by the students and we are hopeful that the cash prize will be an incentive for some of them to sell magazines.  Band students can win the cash so please help them sell magazines!  They should be bringing home a sales packet this week.  Please watch for it!

2.) The Magazine Sales packets will go home with Elementary students on Wednesday. To draw attention to the magazine sale, we are asking the members of the drum line to come to school early Wednesday morning so they can play outside the Performing Arts Center while students are being dropped off in the morning. Please watch for the details and plan to get your drummers to school early Wednesday.

3.)  The Band will play an important role in the upcoming JA v. Prep football game.  Please come to the game and be prepared to help get the band equipment on and off the field. This is one game where it will be especially important for us to have enough help. We really do need your help!  I’ll send you an E-mail later in the week with when and where to meet.  Also, please plan to attend the Raider Nation Pep Rally across the street from Prep. It should be fun and a great chance to show our support for the team!

4.) Don’t forget that we have the Band competitions on Saturday, Oct. 2nd.  I’d love to know if you’re planning to go. We need to make sure we have enough help for the show.

5.) Thanks to those of you who have already sent your checks for the Atlanta trip. Please send your payments to Frances Anne Dallaire or to me. We have to pay for tickets, rooms, etc. in advance so it is important that we collect the money now. Thanks much for your cooperation!

I’m looking forward to an exciting week at JA!  Hope you have a good week!  Go Raiders!

JA BAND SCHEDULE - Week of September 20-24

Monday - Rehearsal 2:00 - 4:00
Tuesday - Rehearsal 2:00 - 4:00
Wednesday - Drumline Report by 7:30 for Magazine Sale Kickoff, Rehearsal 2:00 - 4:00
Thursday - Rehearsal 2:00 - 4:00
Friday - Rehearsal 2:00 - 2:46, Football at Jackson Prep - report by 5:15, in uniform

GAME PHOTOS

More game photos have been posted in the online Photo Gallery linked in the menu bar above, thanks to JA Media Coordinator Michelle Mills. A few of the pics:

9/12/10 UPDATE

IMPORTANT SCHEDULE CHANGE

In order to utilize the football field as often as possible for rehearsal, we will be slightly changing the rehearsal schedule for the rest of the season.

Most Tuesdays, including this week, September 14, we will now be rehearsing from 2:00 - 4:00 instead of 6:30 - 8:00. The Guard will have a sectional rehearsal from 4:00 - 5:00.

The only Tuesday evening rehearsals we will keep on the schedule are the weeks before weekend competitions, to allow parents time to practice moving the mat and equipment on and off the field. The two Tuesdays we will retain the schedule of 5:00 - 6:00 Guard, 5:30 - 6:30 Percussion, and 6:30 - 8:00 full band are SEPTEMBER 28 and OCTOBER 26.

Also, on the two remaining Fridays of away football games (this Friday September 17, and October 15) we will rehearse on the football field from 2:00 - 4:00.
 
The calendar linked in the menu bar above has been updated to reflect these changes.

PRESIDENT'S REPORT - Martha Ray

Thanks to all of you who helped on the field Friday night at the football game!  It was fun having some new faces in the group.  I really appreciate your willingness to help!

Thanks, too, for letting me know your travel plans for the Atlanta competition. I still need replies from a few families. Please let me know (even if you’re not planning to go) so we can secure our reservations and buy our tickets.

Cindy Harris, Megan Tribble and I have been working on the JA Band Magazine Sale. We’re slated to kick everything off for junior and senior high school students next Friday, Sept. 17, at the Pep Rally with our new promotion- an opportunity for the top sellers to grab cash in a Money Booth!  We’ve not had junior and senior high students selling magazines in the past so we are hopeful this will help our fundraising efforts. Elementary students will get their magazine sales packets on Wednesday, Sept. 22,  and will have an opportunity to not only earn individual prizes but also help their teachers win some time in the Money Booth. The teachers in the top selling classes in grades 1-6 will be able to grab cash to spend any way they want for their classes - parties, treats, classroom supplies, whatever.

The Band will need your help selling magazines and processing orders. Please encourage your friends and associates to buy magazines through the band.  Your Band student should bring home a sales packet for you. Please watch for it!  Remember, the more magazines we sell, the fewer fundraisers we will have to do during the year!

One last note: The band will be performing at two festivals on Saturday, October 2. We will have to have parents travel with the band to help with the mat and equipment. We need as much parent participation as possible, but especially men, to help with the mat. Please plan to spend October 2 with the Band. Also, please plan to attend a parent practice Tuesday evening, September 28. We will spend a few minutes making sure everyone knows exactly what their job assignments will be during the competitions. That way, we can be sure to get the equipment on and off the field in an orderly manner. (In other words, we’ll try to make it look easy.)

Thanks for all you do to help!

JA BAND SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK OF SEPT. 13-17 (changes to the original schedule shown in RED)

Monday - Rehearsal 2:00 - 4:00

Tuesday - Rehearsal 2:00 - 4:00, Guard 4:00 - 5:00

Wednesday - Rehearsal 2:00 - 4:00

Thursday - Rehearsal 2:00 - 4:00

Friday - Rehearsal 2:00 - 4:00

MARK YOUR CALENDARS:

Saturday, October 2 - West Jones and Oak Grove Band Competitions, details TBA

Saturday, October 16 - ALL DAY REHEARSAL - 9:00 - 12:00 and 1:30 - 5:00

Saturday, October 23 - MAIS Marching Band Festival @ JA

Friday - Sunday, October 29 - 31 - BOA Atlanta trip

Thanks to Wendy Hutchins for the following photos from the football game Friday:

ALUMNI UPDATE

Thanks to former band parent Betty Commarato for sharing these photos of two 2010 JA Band graduates, Will Commarato and John Humphreys, now members of the Famous Maroon Band at MSU:

9/6/10 UPDATE

UNIFORM INFO

The new color guard uniforms are here and will be distributed to the girls this week. We will not receive the new band uniform jackets until around September 15.

For this Friday's football game, we will fit the band students into the black uniform pants and the current band jackets, to use until the new ones come in.

We will also be ordering marching shoes this week for all of the new band students and for those older students who need new ones. If your student needs a replacement pair of marching shoes, please have them let us know on Monday, or send an email to jaband@aol.com with your student's shoe size.

All band students will need to wear their black band t-shirts under the uniform and wear ALL BLACK socks (no stripes, colored toe, or short socks) whenever the uniform is worn.

ATLANTA TRIP REMINDERS

We need to know how many family members will be joining the band on the Atlanta trip by the end of this week, September 10.

Payment for the trip is due October 1. Cost is $300 for each student. For family members, the cost is $210 per hotel room required, plus $60 per person.

JA BAND SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK OF SEPT 7 - 10
 
Tuesday - Rehearsal 2:00 - 2:46, Guard 5:00 - 6:00, Percussion 5:30 - 6:30, Full Band 6:30 - 8:00 on the football field

Wednesday - Rehearsal 2:00 - 4:00

Thursday - Rehearsal 2:00 - 4:00

Friday - Rehearsal 2:00 - 2:46, Home football game vs. MRA, all students report ready to begin pregame rehearsal at 5:30, in half uniform. Students will be dismissed after the game after all equipment is put away.

Parents may always access the JA Band calendar via the tab in the menu bar above.

8/29/10 UPDATE

PRESIDENT'S CORNER - Martha Ray

Thank you to all the parents for your help Friday night at the football game!  It was great to see such a strong show of support from the parents!  And, it was fun to watch the band perform for the first time in front of a good crowd. (I thought they were amazing!)

Thanks too for your financial contributions to the Band Boosters! We’ve sold quite a few football passes. (I still have passes available. If anyone else wants one, just let me know.)

Finally, I wanted to thank the McDaniel family for donating a large supply of bottled water to the Band.  We appreciate your helping in this way.

Enjoy your long Labor Day weekend next weekend and we’ll regroup for the MRA game on September 10th.  See you then!
 

JA BAND SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 30 - SEPTEMBER 3

Monday - Rehearsal 2:00 - 4:00

Tuesday - Rehearsal 2:00 - 2:46, Guard 5:00 - 6:00, Percussion 5:30 - 6:30, Full Band 6:30 - 8:00 in the gym

Wednesday - Rehearsal 2:00 - 4:00

Thursday - Rehearsal 2:00 - 4:00

Friday - Rehearsal 2:00 - 2:46 (No band at away football game at Presbyterian Christian)

Congrats to the JA Band for a fine first performance on the field at halftime Friday night. Thanks to the parents who helped with equipment.

A few pics from the first pep rally of the season:

 

 

 

LIONS BAND AUDITIONS

Good luck to JA Guard members Abbi Thomas, Annie Campbell, Samantha Hill, & Caroline Burford, who attended the Lions Band Color Guard Workshop this weekend.

For those upperclassmen interested in auditioning for the Mississippi Lions All-State Band this year, the auditions have been rescheduled for October 30, which is when the JA Band will be in Atlanta. Students who wish to audition will be able to make arrangements to have their auditions videotaped at Pearl HS sometime the week before the trip.

ATLANTA TRIP

As promised, here are a few more details about the JA Band fall trip to Atlanta, GA for the BOA Super Regional.

ITINERARY (click on links for more information):

Friday, October 29

-Early morning depart from JA
-Riverchase Galleria Mall, Birmingham - shop, lunch

 

 
- Rehearsal, Sports Blast, Birmingham

- Dinner at Taco Mac, Douglasville, GA

 

 

- Check in to hotel - Drury Inn & Suites Atlanta Airport

Saturday, October 30

 

- Complimentary breakfast at hotel

- Late morning performance time at the Georgia Dome  

 

 

 - Lunch and tour at Georgia Aquarium

 

 

- Return to Dome for final bands and results

- Dinner at CNN Food Court

- Super Regional Finals, return to hotel

 

Sunday, October 31

- Complimentary breakfast at hotel

- Six Flags Over Georgia

 

 

 

 - Late afternoon - return to JA

 

8/22/10 UPDATE

PRESIDENT'S CORNER - Martha Ray

To all JA Band Parents:

Thanks to all of you who took time out of your busy schedules to attend the first JA Band Boosters meeting Tuesday, August 17th!  I enjoyed visiting with you and am looking forward to working with you this year.

There are a few things you need to know now:

1.)  Bobby West has given us permission to sell the JA Band Booster Football Passes again this year. The football passes will be available exclusively to JA Band families for $75 each. The pass will enable the holder to enter any JA football game (high school or junior high) without paying additional admission fees. The passes will be valid only at JA home football games. They will not cover admission to MAIS championship games.

Please plan to contribute $75 and get a Band Booster Football Pass. It is a great way to support the band program.  I am planning to have the passes ready for the first football game next Friday. If you want to get a pass (or several passes) for your family, please send an E-mail to me at marthamray@yahoo.com so I’ll have an idea of how many passes to have made. I will try to have them available for you by mid week.

2.) If you did not receive your JA Band directory at the meeting Tuesday night, please contact Hope Burford to get one. Your directory will prove to be a valuable resource during the year.

3.) T-shirts are still available for $15 each. Please be sure to let Bruce or Cammie Carter know if you want another shirt and what size. 

4.) Our JA Band Magazine sale is slated to start Sept. 22nd. Please put it on your calendar and try to build in some time you can spend helping with the sale. Also, be thinking of who you know that might be willing to buy magazines from us.

Thanks much for your help!  I look forward to seeing you all Friday night as the JA Band takes the field to perform for the first time of the season!  See you then!  Martha Ray

JA BAND SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 23-27:

Monday - Rehearsal 2:00 - 4:00

Tuesday - Rehearsal 2:00 - 2:46, Color Guard 5:00 - 6:00, Percussion 5:30 - 6:30, FULL BAND 6:30 - 8:00

Wednesday - Rehearsal 2:00 - 4:00

Thursday - Rehearsal 2:00 - 4:00

Friday - Rehearsal 2:00 - 2:46, Home Football Game - All students report ready to start pregame rehearsal at 5:30, in band t-shirts and khaki shorts. When the game is over, the band will march together back to the band hall, and students will be dismissed after all equipment is put away.

ATLANTA TRIP

All band families are encouraged to join the band as they travel to Atlanta October 29-31 for the Bands of America Regional Championship. Parents are needed to help chaperone students and as members of the field crew. As experienced parents can attest, families and students alike enjoy these trips as time to socialize and experience new things together.

Student cost for the trip will be $300. This covers transportation, lodging, attraction admissions, breakfasts, some snacks, and lunch on Saturday. Students will need approximately $60 for other meals, plus $$ for souvenirs and shopping if desired.

Family cost is $210 per room (up to 4 people) plus $60 per person. This covers lodging, transportation if riding the bus (there will be room for about 20 family members), plus admission tickets for the Aquarium and Six Flags, and lunch on Saturday (breakfasts are included at the hotel).

Please keep the following dates in mind so that we can finalize hotel details and purchase group attraction tickets:

September 10 - Need to know how many family members and how many hotel rooms required

October 1 - All payments due (students and families)

Because it is a Super Regional, we are required to make hotel arrangements for students, staff, and family members through the BOA Housing Bureau. We will be staying at the Drury Inn and Suites Atlanta Airport. A few photos from the hotel:

We will share more details next week. Let us know if you have any questions about the trip.

8/15/10 UPDATE

Thank you to the band members who spent an (early) hour on their last Monday of summer vacation this past week to perform for the opening of Teacher Orientation. We received many positive comments from staff members and a special kudo from JA Headmaster Dr. Pat Taylor for the extra effort. A few photos from the performance:

Mark your calendars for the JA Band Booster meeting on Tuesday evening, August 17, at 6:30 (after the band is introduced at All Sports Night) in the band hall. Important details about the upcoming season will be discussed, including the Atlanta trip.

Please ensure your student brings a change of clothes (t-shirt, shorts, & sneakers) to school each day for rehearsals. Most students stop by the band hall before school starts in the morning to drop off everything they will need. Students report at the beginning of seventh period and change for rehearsal, which is held on the asphalt, weather permitting. We take a break at 2:46 for water, then back out for the rest of rehearsal. Rehearsal ends at 4:00. After putting all the equipment away, getting another drink, and gathering their belongings, students are usually ready to depart between 4:15 and 4:30.

JA BAND SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK of AUGUST 16-20:

Monday - Rehearsal 2:00 - 4:00

Tuesday - Rehearsal 2:00 - 2:46
Color Guard 5:00 - 6:00
"Meet the Raiders" Night activities - band members report at 5:30, wearing band t-shirts and khaki shorts. After the band is introduced on the football field, we will move to the gym for rehearsal until 8:00.

Wednesday - Rehearsal 2:00 - 4:00

Thursday - Rehearsal 2:00 - 4:00

Friday - Rehearsal 2:00 - 2:46 (Seventh graders will be on a canoe trip). No band for the away football game at Parklane.

We have added a link to the Band activities calendar in the header row above, if you ever have questions about the schedule. We will make every attempt to adhere to the published schedule and will communicate any necessary changes as soon as we are aware of them.

8/8/10 UPDATE

Thank you to all who attended the Premiere Performance on Friday. A special thanks to those who helped move equipment after the performance. The process went very quickly thanks to everyone's assistance.

More photos from camp have been posted online on the JA Band Photo Gallery, which is also included in the links above.

The only JA Band activity this week will be the performance on the stage in the PAC for the opening of Teacher Orientation on Monday morning, August 9, at 7:45. All students should be in the PAC by 7:30, ready to perform, in black band t-shirts and khaki shorts. Band members will be dismissed immediately following the performance.

The school year rehearsal schedule will begin on Monday, August 16. Here is the typical weekly schedule (any changes for a given week will be announced in that week's blog update):

MONDAYS - 2:00 - 4:00

TUESDAYS - 2:00 - 2:46 and 6:30 - 8:00

WEDNESDAYS - 2:00 - 4:00

THURSDAYS - 2:00 - 4:00

FRIDAYS - 2:00 - 2:46, evening schedule determined by football schedule and announced in the newsletter and in class each week

GUARD SECTIONAL - Tuesdays 5:00 - 6:00

PERCUSSION SECTIONAL - Tuesdays 5:30 - 6:30

SATURDAYS:

October 2 - Oak Grove and West Jones competitions

October 16 - All day rehearsal at JA

October 23 - MAIS Marching Festival at JA

October 29-31 - BOA Atlanta Super Regional Championships

Please mark your calendars for the JA Band Booster meeting on August 17 for more information about the season and the Atlanta trip.

Thank you for your encouragement of your student throughout what proved to be a very successful Band Camp. We are looking forward to a great year.