Hello West MS Band Families,
I am announcing that I am going to try a new initiative designed to help motivate students to meet expectations in band, in particular in the realm of responsibility. This is a great group of kids, and I love working with them. That said, I find myself in a regular quest to reunite them with books, instrument parts, etc., and I am frankly growing a little weary of begging them to have pencils at the ready.
Today, I reinforced the following expectations:
- Students are expected to attend all band classes, and do so with instrument, all necessary books and music, and a pencil on the music stand.
- Students are expected to practice at home regularly, and should always have a pencil on the stand while doing so.
- Instruments need to go home with students on Tuesday and Friday after school.
- If there is some reason that an instrument is left over night at school, it must be kept back stage left in the auditorium, or in a locked locker. (The student's regular locker is acceptable if indeed the instrument fits.)
We discussed that the consequences for not meeting these guidelines. I explained to them that I will send home an e-mail notifying you if there was a problem, and that they would be subject to an extra household chore, at your discretion. If you get an e-mail from me reporting a transgression, and see a set of sliver candlesticks that could use a good polish, you have your solution. They have been prepared for this eventuality. I will not hold anyone accountable for anything after the e-mail. That is entirely up to you.
Let me know if you have any questions or comments. I wanted to find a way to positively encourage them to take the next step towards responsible citizenship in a lighthearted yet effective way.
All the best,
Joe Wright
Joseph Wright
Instrumental Music, Andover Public Schools
Andover, MA
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