Quote of the Week 10/31

Dear Great Pumpkin, I am looking forward to your arrival on Halloween night. I hope you will bring me lots of presents. You must get discouraged because more people believe in Santa Claus than in you. Well, let's face it; Santa Claus has had more publicity, but being #2, perhaps you try harder.  Everyone tells me you are a fake, but I believe in you. Love, Linus
P.S.: If you really are a fake, don't tell me. I don't wanna know.
(from "It's a Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown")

Hauntcert TONIGHT!!!

Tonight both Normal Community High School and Normal West will present their annual Hauntcert. Every year the high school orchestras put together a family friendly pops concert (with a theme) and promote it throughout the schools and community. This year's theme is animals, so all the music is somehow linked to animals, for example "Baby Elephant Walk," or the "Chicken Dance." Both schools start their concert at 7 p.m. in the auditorium, kids are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes and in turn can sign up to win prizes:) Check out the flyer HERE!

Spaghetti Supper Tickets

Order forms for Spaghetti Supper tickets are due TOMORROW, Wednesday 10/16, please don't forget.  This is for ALL 7th and 8th grade orchestra students.

Quote of the Week 10/24

"Though no one can go band and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending." ~Unknown

Encouraging Practice

The biggest thing I will tell parents that I meet with today (during Parent-Teacher Conferences) is to encourage your child.  Be interested and supportive in their music education.  We are very fortunate that our schools here have orchestra, we need not take that for granted.  Here is a link to a short article on practicing and encouragement, enjoy!!!!
http://www.essential-music-practice.com/encourage-practice.html

Grade Sheets

Grade sheets came home with ALL EJHS Orchestra students this week, it showed their first quarter grade breakdown.  This sheet needs to be signed by a parent and returned.  Thanks~ Mrs. Boyd

Don't Forget

Want to support EJHS Orchestras AND get out of cooking dinner????

 
http://www.monicalspizza.com/assets/eventdocument/EJHSOrchestra101811.pdf

Spaghetti Supper

Today forms will go home with the 7th/8th grade orchestra students with some information on purchasing tickets for the Spaghetti Supper.  This event will take place on Monday, November 14th at Normal Community High School.  All performances are free to attend, but there is an optional dinner sponsored by the Unit 5 Music Parents (a booster organization.)  This is the Music Parents fundraiser for the year, it is a well run family friendly meal.  Tickets are $7 in advance and $8 at the door.  We are also collecting donations for desserts (which are served with the meal); we are asking for a donation of $5/family to cover dessert costs.  Junior High parents provide the desserts and High School parents work serving the food and cleaning the cafeteria.  Please consider donating to this wonderful organization and purchasing dinner tickets for your family.
Here is a link to the form that I am sending home with the students today: https://docs.google.com/document/d/136lXZPdTE0tYu0-gi75vFvg7iKldx8aY3wg5d5I3Xhg/edit?hl=en_US

"Don't lower your expectations to meet your performance. Raise your level of performance to meet your expectations. Expect the best of yourself, and then do what is necessary to make it a reality.”
Ralph Marston

Monical's Fundraiser

We will be having our first fundraiser for EJHS Orchestras on Tuesday October 18th - visit any Monical's in Bloomington-Normal and take this form: http://www.monicalspizza.com/assets/eventdocument/EJHSOrchestra101811.pdf and 20% of your total bill will be donated right back to EJHS Orchestra!

Congrats to IMEA Students

We had 8 orchestra students audition for IMEA Orchestra this past Monday (yes, while everyone else was sleeping in these dedicated students were auditioning!!!)  I am proud to announce that 4 of those 8 students have made the District III Orchestra, they are first violinist Christian B., second violinists Shriya C. and Brock M. and violist Michael C.  Congrats on getting in and congrats to all who worked so hard to audition! ~ Mrs. Boyd

Concert Seating

1^st Violins
Christian B
Matt H
Radiance

Shriya C
Nadia K.
Megan E
Nathan A
Brock M
Ethan S
Justin D
Katelin D
Joseph V
Soumya
Emma R
Vishva P
Ashley T
Austin H
Jacob N
Olivia W
2^nd Violins

Ian M

Sami B

Kathryn B

Sai R

Kayla H

Quincy T

Reetam M

Shreyans T

Amanda R

Trey S

Naren B

Jordan L

Alyssa N

Madison R

Julia R

Rohith K

Viola

Arden B

Haley T

Autumn H

Alexis B

Shivaani M

Kiyana M

Michael C

Derek R

Cello

Virginia D

Joceline A

Logan B

Nick T

Madison S

Maddy H

JaKiah J

Help Needed!

We are in need of some help for our upcoming concert.  There are a variety of things you could do to assist us in making this concert a BIG success!!!!  Here are a few areas we need covered:
Greeter (stand at the front door and direct to the gym)
Usher (pass out programs, help seat guests in the gym)
Reception Servers (keep line moving, fill glasses with punch)
Clean-Up Crew (for cafeteria and gym)
Donations (to cover the cost of the reception)
If you have any interest to help us out we will gladly accept.  Please email Mrs. Boyd - martink@unit5.org

Concert Info

The EJHS Inaugural Concert is NEXT week - Tuesday October 11th @ 7 p.m.  Information sheets are going home with the 7th & 8th graders today.  The 7th & 8th grade orchestras will combine to perform as one larger orchestra that evening.  The choir and band will also perform.  Please be sure to go over this information sheet with your student/parents.

Quote of the Week 10/3

"Never look down on anyone unless you are helping them up." ~Unknown