New Year News

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you all back to Morell high for what promises to be another great year. I would be amiss,though, if I did not wish you all a very happy and successful new year. We are getting back into the post Christmas swing of things and there are a couple of things I need to let you know.
After School BAnd will commence next week and will begin with the Grade 8/9 band practice on Monday. Tuesday will see the fabulous Grade 10 to 12 Band class with the ever excellent Grade 7 band rehearsal on Wednesday afternoon. All of these rehearsals are weather dependant of course. I always try to make a timely call for the practices but I am not always afforded the opportunity to do so.  If classes are delayed in the morning, then the after school rehearsal is still a go. If classes are cancelled at any time throughout the day, however, then the after school practice is likewise cancelled.
I hope you all have a great year and continue to work hard in the closing month of first semester.
Work hard, have fun, take a risk and make a difference.
Mr D

What’s Happening in October

Good day to all.

As you may or may not know, I will be out from October 25th through to the new year as I must attend to an injury that occurred while on my deployment training. I must have surgery to repair the damage and that means many weeks off the injured leg. I apologize for the inconvenience that this is going to cause the classes. Another absence was not what I planned for this year, but it must be taken care of and the sooner the better.
Grade level after school band should still take place at the normal times so the disruption should be kept to a minimum.
Grade 10 students please remember that your instrument history papers are due to me by Wednesday 20 October by the end of the day. I will be leaving a detailed test list with the substitute so the skills testing should continue at the normal pace.
We are currently contacting an indicvidual that we hope will be able to fill in until the Christmas break. I will inform you all of her name if and when she agrees to take the position.
The Christmas Concert is coming quickly adn will be here before you know it. All studnets must look at their respective parts at home to insure that the concert is a success. Practice must be built into a positive homework routine at home and the sooner that this is done, the better off both the individul player and the band as a whole will be. Remember, “slow is smooth, smooth is fast”.
Marks will eb entered this week for the tests already done, so you can keep track of what your mark is. All students retain the right to re-test once on each skill to try to inprove their mark. Only once though. The onus is on you, the student, to stay on top of your skills and balance your workload. You will encounter frustration, but you need to develop the ability to work through it in a positive manner. You will each develop your own skills with regards to this. Don’t let yourself fall behind because you will quickly begin to feel out of place within the class as they will begin to move, musically, to a place that you are not. Stay on top of things and remember that my door is always open for extra help and I never say no.
Work hard, Have fun, Take a risk and make a difference.
Mr D

Band Update

Good morning to all .

The grade seven class just had their instruments assigned and I now have all the serial numbers. They have had the opportunity to try out their playing on at least one note. They are, however, unable to take their instruments home until they have further instruction on them. I have to insure that they will be responsible enough to manage their respective instruments at home. The do’s and dont’s have to be covered as well as assembly and disassembly. It is very important that all grade seven band students be at their Wednesday after school rehearsal next week. If a student is not there, it will delay the students from taking their instrument home.

Here is the schedule for After school Band practice for the grade 7-12 bands.

Grade 7 Band – Wednesday afternoons from 3:15 – 4:30

Grade 8/9 Band – Monday afternoons from 3:15 – 4:45

Grade 10 – 12 Band – Tuesday afternoons from 3:15 – 4:45.

Band rehearsals will begin this monday the 19th of September. I look forward to seeing all of the students during after school band.
Have a great day
Work hard, have fun, take a risk and make a difference.
Mr D

Happy September

Welcome back to all the Morell High Band students for another year of music, fun and knowledge.  I would especially like to welcome all the new grade 7 band students from Morell and Mount Stewart.  I hope your musical journey is both challenging and rewarding over the next several years.

Grade 9 and 10 students:  please remember that you have a test this Wednesday, Sept 14th on the B Flat cycle. 

Grade 8 students: your test on the B Flat cycle will be the closest class day after Wednesday.

After School Band will begin next week (can I have a yahoo)and the schedule will be posted by Wednesday of this week for all who are interested.  We still need to decide on which day is best for the grade 9 band students and the 10-12 band students.   The grade 7 band students will continue to have after school band practice on Wednesdays from 3:15 to 4:30.

The Morell High Band Parents Association is still active and I would like to meet with all parents of Band students sometime in the near future.  The date and time will be determined in the next little while and will be both posted on this site and sent home as a note to all parents with the students.

I hope you all enjoy the year as it unfolds before you.  I hope it is both challenging and rewarding for you as you continue your studies here at Morell High School.  Remember that my office is always open to you and that the Band Room is, likewise, open for practice and conversation throughout the day.  Don’t be a stranger. Have a great year.

Work hard, have fun, take a risk and make a difference

Mr D

March News

Hello to all again. As you may or may not know, I have returned to PEI safely to begin another teaching year at Morell.  I  would like to take the opportunity to thank all of you who sent me mail while away and another thanks to all of you who asked about my safety while over there.  Time does not slow with the absence of any given person though, so there is news for all of you who are participating in the Band program and for all of the parents who visit this site either regularly or irregularly so here goes:

Band practice has started again for another year and the schedule is as follows;

Grade 8/9 Band – Mondays from 3:15 to 4:40

Grade 11/12 Band – Tuesdays from 3:15 to 4:40

Grade 7 Band – Wednesdays from 3:15 to 4:40

I would ask that the students be picked up no later than 4:45 on Band rehearsal days and want to remind everyone that if school is cancelled in the morning or part way through the day, then after school practice is also cancelled.

Testing will take place each Monday for the grade 9 to 12 students and the tests will be done in the following order;

Bflat, E flat, A flat and F Major.   All scales are to be played in eigth notes at about 100 to the quarter and slurred two tongued two.  Students are allso responsible for testing the scale in thirds and the arpeggio for each scale on each date.  Scales are due on the date assigned and 10 marks will be lost for each day that they are late (the student will be given zero after 5 days and lose the option of retesting for a higher mark unless they have a note from a parent or guardian stating that the student was home sick or excused for family reasons).  If the scale is tested on the date due, then the student retains the right to retest for a higher mark at a future time.  There is a link to scales on this page in the event that you need it at home or have forgotten your scale sheets in school. 

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to call the school or drop in to see me.  I hope you all have a great semester and continue to work hard in all your classes.

Have fun, work hard, take a risk and make a difference.

Mr D

On Leave at Last

Hello to you all.  It has been quite a while since I have dropped a line and for that I must apologize.  There is almost no e mail ability at the spot that I am currently at and the wireless signal is not the best either.  To top it all off, the battery on my computer has died an I need to have the laptop plugged in at all times in order to send or receive any messages at all. 

I am now in a new location as the anticipated move has taken place.  I am now working in the Panjawayi Province of Afghanistan .  It is quite a different spot than the previous one and the threat is different as well.  Though you still have to be aware of the presence of the Taliban, the larger threat is that of IED’s or improvised explosive devices that they place in the ground and walls, etc.  I am working in a village again and finding it very rewarding.  The platoon I am working with is top notch as well.   Very young guys with a good sense of humour, which helps around here. 

I am currently, however, in Florida with my family for my mid – tour leave block.  Yes Florida of all places, and in the summer to boot.  We were going to go to France, but the expense for flights was crazy and the fact that you cannot get hotel packages didn’t help either.  Would have cost far too much to be there for 3 weeks, so we decided on Floroida and a condo, which turned out to be a great decision as we were able to get a 4 bedroom, 4 bath home with a private screened pool.  It is a private home that we are renting for the 21 days that is close to everything you would want to see, and we got it for a great price.  It is in a private community too so you need to go through a security gate in order to get in here.  It is aso in the middle of a wildlife preserve area so you can see just about anything here. 

I landed on the 17th of the month and got a rental car.  My family joined me on the 19th, so I had a couple of days tp relax and get my dad and husband hat back on (which I didn’t realize unil now that I really needed to do).  We have been taking our time and just seeing what we want to and relaxing when we want to too.  There is no rush here, and there is no threat here either (which is taking some getting used to as well).  Today we may go out to EPCOT as the kids would like to see that.  When it rains we plan on hitting the mall or the huge flea market they have down here.  I must say, though, that despite the amenities here, I find my mind wandering back to the other country and the guys who are there working.  I think of them daily and hope for their safety while I am on leave and not with them on patrol.  Speaking of patrol, did you know that the average weight of a person on patrol is about 120 pounds over their regular body weight.  I just thought I would throw that in there so you can realize what these guys have to put up with when they are out for maybe 6 hours in almost 60 degree weather (60 celsius that is).  By the time you get back from a patrol it is not unusual to be soaked with sweat (entire body, through the uniform) and down a few pounds.  There is no resppite from the heat either as the place I am in has no air conditioning.  You just sweat all day and all night.  Cant forget about the sand flees either.  They bite you at night when you sleep (it is very difficult to sleep in a zipped up bug net as it stops what little air circulation you might enjoy) and so you suffer the flea bites and the accompanying itch and swelling.  We have found scorpions, vipers, camel spiders and sand spiders in the camp so far along with some really big bugs of varing description.  All of which bite and many of which are poisonous.   Cool eh?  Can you tell that I am happy to be in the relative cool of the FLorida summer in a house with a pool and air conditioning?  Going back is going to be difficult, but getting back means that I get home faster too.  My tour is about at the half way point when I get back.  that means about four more months of the heat etc, before I get to come home to see you all.  I am going to freeze back home as when I return, it will be winter (going from plus 60 celsius to minus 20 is a bit of a temperature change and I am not looking forward to that part of it all).

But I ramble and I need to go spend time with my family while I have the chance to do so.  I hope you all enjoy your summers wiwth your families and are getting ready for the school year in September.  I hope ou respective graduations went well and you leave your schools with a sense of accomplishment and pride at what you ahev done with yourselves.. Remember that the journey is just beginnning and that if you take care of youselves, the journey will be a long one.  Work hard, have fun, take a risk and make a difference.

Peace and happiness to all of you

Mr D

Life so far

Hello to all.

I have been here for almost a month so far and I am finally getting used to the heat.  It has only been to about 45C here and will definitely get hotter as the summer moves along.  The flight over here took about 24 1/2 hours so needless to say I was tired when I arrived.  This is the third location I have been in since I have arrived and I am enjoying it a great deal.  I am working closely with a man I trained with and have  a great deal of respect for so that makes the job easier too.  We haev been working on a girls school lately and getting it done is a challenge, but it is beginning to come together now and should be complete soon.  It will be really nice when done and If possible I will post a picture of it.  Don’t look at it with western eyes though or you will be dissappointed.  The standaard over here is not what it is at home.  Not better or worse, just different.

It was a treat to watch them working on the school because it is like going back in time.  They are using the same methods that were use to build the pyramids I am sure.  It is as simple as a hammer, chisel and mortar.  They even use a Plumb Bob (basically a weight on a string) to check for level.  Simple technology to do the job well.  And don’t kid yourself, these guys are talented artisans in their field.  I watched about 50 poeple working on a water canal project with nothing but their bare hands and picks and shovels.  Heavy rocks area removed by hand and then the tools are employed to deepen and widen the canal for their water.  They are making bricks the same way they were made 2000 yrs ago.  Mud of the right consistency thrown into a form (by hand) and packed, then the formed bricks are turned out in the sun until they are dried.  Walls are made by shovelling or hand packing a layer of mud on the ground, waiting until it is dry and putting more mud over it (just like when you build a snow fort in the winter).  They do this until the wall is about 12 feet high.  All the homes have walls like this of one size or another.

Patrolling is patrolling and you just carry on and not think about what could happen while you are out.  There are some things you just have to be prepared for and then there are other things that are going to happen no matter how well prepared you are.

The sand here is like baby powder andgets absolutely everywhere (and I mean everywhere).  The heat can be oppressive and you sweat just sitting down so keeping clean is a challenge.  Keeping everything cleanis a challenge and endless hours can be spent, over the course of a week, just keeping your personal gear (weapons etc) clean.  Going to the gym (yes we have a gym of sorts) is a treat when the temperature is 40 degrees.  If at all possible, I will send Mr Coffin some pictures I have taken so you can better understand what I am talking about.  If you like history, this is the place to be because it is like going back in time.  

Gotta go for now as I hahve a lot to do through the run of a normal day.  Not much time to sit and chat though I enjoy the opportunity to do so when it arises.  Take care all.  Will continue to write when I can.

Work hard, have fun, take a risk and make a difference.

Mr D

Just Before I Go

Hello to all

I would like to take this opportunity to apologize for the length of time between this post and my last.  As many of you may or may not know, there was no wireless access while I was in the sunny state of Cailfornia.  That seems to be the theme of this little project doesn’t it?  Well i thought I should take the time to jot a few notes before I head out on this “grand adventure”.  As I write to you all today, I am relaxing on the bed at home.  I am in the last 2 days of home time before I fly back to Ontario and then eventually off to Afghnistan.  I spent a great evening with friends last night at a pot-luck supper. It was done as a farewell and come home safe get together for me.  It was very nice to see them all for the last time before I depart. 

I am hoping to drop into the school this week to see the students and staff for the last time too before I set off.  There are several  people who I want to see before I go and many students who I also wish to speak to before my flight. 

I began this project back in September under the advice of Mr Coffin at Morell High School and have, to date, done as best  I could in keeping it updated (given the circumstances).  The lack of internet in various lacations has not aided me in this endevour though.  I do not  know yet how easy or difficult it will be to maintain this page while I am away for 6/7 months, but I promise that I will do the best that I can.  I know that there are students and friends who are following this page with interest and hoping for some knew news from time to time and it is not my intent to dissapoint them.  There are also tudents in Mr Coffins Global Issues Class who are reading this as part of their classwork who cannot be left in the lurch for information.  I will do my bet for all of you.

I spoke to a class at Colonel Gray on Friday afternoon and there were some great questions from the student.  One asked if I was scared of what I about to embark upon.   The truthful answer is both a yes and a no.  To say I am scared is not really the truth though.  I am anxious to begin this after about 9 months of training.  I am also fully aware of the risks, as is every other person who I am going over with.  I have been fully aware of the risk since I put my name in to do this.  My biggest fear, as I told the class at the Gray,was that I would leave my family; never to see, hold or speak to them again.  I suppose this is a fear that we all share and that we must all deal with in our own way. 

I will miss you all as I will miss all of my family and friends.  I would ask that you keep me and my friends in your thoughts from time to time.   We are doing what we have been asked to do on the behalf of the people of Afghanistan.  I would hope that if something horrible were happening here, that someone else would care enough to intervene and to assist.  To those who may disagree with what I am doing, I would only ask that you keep those in harms way in your thoughts and prayers.  You may not agree with the mission as set out by the Canadian Government, but the soldiers there deserve your support and your support means a great deal to all of us.  That is my rant for now.  I don’t really know if it is what you wanted to read, but it is what I needed to say before I go. 

If I don’t get the chance to drop into the school to say my farewells then I would ask that  you accept them now and that you take care of each other always.

 ”To play a wrong note in inconsequential, to play without passion is inexcuseable”.  Beethoven    As in music, so in life.

Work hard, have fun, take a risk and make a difference in all you do.  Be an example to all those with whom you come into contact.

Mr D

Visit to the school day

Hi guys

As many of you know, I dropped into the school today for a visit.  It was a very different feeling being in the hallways as it is so different from what I have been doing of late.  I know I am just on a leave of absence, but it really felt like I didn,t belong there.  I guess this is what I should feel as it means I have managed to seperate myself from home to an extent.  It may sound mean, but this is very necessary for the job I undertake in the next 5 or so months.  If I manage to lose my concentration while I am over there, it could prove to be dangerous, not just for me, but for those around me as well.  Don,t get me wrong, I will have time to wonder about how all is going on back home, but not while I am out in the woods (so to speak).    Being in such a different environment for the past 4 months has also put me in a totally different mental mindset as well.  The mind set is different and very difficult to explain.   It does take some time to readjust to the “new” surroundings of the school after being gone for so long. 

It was an absolute pleasure to see you ll again.  I didn’t realize how much I missed the staff and students in Morell until I went to the school.  I’m happy to see that you are all healthy and happy.  I am also very happy to see that all of the band students have taken so well to your new teacher.  I continue to wish you all the best of luck over the next year or so and I look forward to seeing you again before I leave in April.

There are a few staff and students I missed at the school today and I wish to extend to them my apologies for missing them.  In the little time I was there, it was hectic and I knew I would not be able to see you all.  I promise, will make a point of seeing you in March/April when I manage to get home again. 

To all of you, enjoy the time left this  year and the 12 Days of Christmas at lunches.  There is a lot of fun to be had in the school if you just get out there and do it.  Christmas will soon be upon us all and I urge you to enjoy the season as it is intended to be enjoyed, with your families and friends.  I hope you all take the time to recharge your batteries with those who are important to you and  I hope the new year finds you all happy, healthy and ready to face the challenges of the new year.

Work hard, have fun, take a risk and make a difference.

May the most that you wish for be the least you receive and may you all  find the blessings of the season with family and friends.

Mr D

Home for the holidays

Hello to all.

Just arrived home for the holidays this very morning.  Drove all night to get here as there is a major storm due to hit both Ontario and Quebec and I didn’t want to get stuck.  Sucessfully completed TCCC and hve the certificate to prove it.  Looking forward to seeing you all at the school at some point in time.  I plan to drop in for a day and say hi to you all and have a chat with Mr C. as well, maybe field some questions from his Global Issues class (if he doesn’t mind).  I even have a gift for Mr Wynne if you can believe it (he has been a great source of support and advice over the last year, and I do owe him my thanks).

I apologize for the shortness of the note this time, but I haven’t slept for about 30 hours and i need to get some shut eye before my wife and kids get home from school.  I am looking forward to being a dad again after about 4 months of being a Sergeant and I don’t want to ruin it by being “cranky” because I am overtired. 

If I miss anyone during my visit to the school, I apologize now.  To all of you, whether I have the opportunity to see you or not, I wish you the best that this season has to offer.

Peace and happiness always

Mr D