Wood Hill Grade 6 Update, 2/3/14

Hello Wood Hill 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, and added a new one:

1. 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.
2. Students are expected to practice at home regularly, and should always have a pencil on the stand while doing so.
3. Instruments need to go home with students on Monday and Wednesday after school.
4. If there is some reason that an instrument is left over night at school, it must be kept in an assigned locker in the band room. (The student's regular locker is acceptable if indeed the instrument fits.)  Instruments are never to be left over night in the hallway. (new rule)

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.