Exam Post

Hello all.

We are now into the exam period at the school and I trust you are all well prepared for it.  Just a few reminders for the various classes I teach this semester.

621 Band – You will test the E flat Minor Skill on or around the middle of the week after exams (April 15th).  Please remember that all scales and arpeggios are to be two octaves minimum where applicable (3 for percussion).  Atlantic Band Fest is quickly approaching and some of you still need to pay.  Please do so ASAP so we can clear the books on this one.  We will also be implementing extra rehearsals either after school or at lunch (or both) to insure we are all on the same page musically.  It goes without saying that all of you wil be in attendance at all the rehearsals. 

 

421 History – Presentations for mid-term will take place in room 113 ( the computer problem is now repaired).  We will begin at 8:40 sharp and run in alphabeticle order (unless people volunteer). We will continue with Greece after the exams are complete and move on to Rome shortly thereafter.

Grade 9 Science -  We will test on unit 5 on either Wednesday the 15th or Thursday the 16th of April.  Insure you spend an adequate amount of time on studying for this unit!!  All definitions are fair game along with any questions or concepts we dealt with in class.  Extra help is avaliable any day at lunch, all you have to do is ask.  Make use of  it if  and when you need to.

 

Good luck on your exams. 

Mr D

Hello all. We are getting close to exams which indicates approximately the half way point of the semester.  Time does fly. 

History 421  Our mid-term will take place on wednesday April 8 th in room 113.  Remeber that we will begin the slide show presentations in class the Monday before (so we can accomplish them all before en of exams) .  I look forward to seeing the presentations.

 

Music 621  The Atlantic Band Festival is closing upon us rapidly.  We have about a month to insure that we have looked at (and improved where needed) the three pieces for the festival.  We will play “Prelude and Fugue”, “As Summer was Just Beginning” and “Fort Bragg”.  Next test will be E Flat Minor scale and Arpeggio in one weeks time (Wed 08 April).  2 Octaves minimum.

Grade 9 Science.  We are going to continue working on Chapter 5 (Cell Division) and will test ASAP upon completion of the chapter. 

Hope you all have a great week.

Mr D

Before March Break

Hi to all.  Hope you all have a great March Break.  Enjoy and stay healthy.

Band 621 We will test the B Flat Minor scale by the first Wednesday back.  Practice over the break so we aren’t faced with playing issues when we get back after the weeks holidays.

History 421 We will move onto Greece with the completion of TROY which we began in class today.  Test will be the Wednesday we get back and material will be Fertile Crescent  through to end of Persia (pps 44 to 71 in text). 

Grade 9 Science  Test wednesday on units 11 and 12.  We will continue with reproduction in class and do test review on Monday when we return.

 

A reminder to all Band students that you need to get the money for the Halifax trip to me soonest please.  I am also thinking of doing a bake sale shortly after our return to school ( auction in the cafeteria) and will be looking for volunteers to bake and sell their wares.

History 421, Band 621 and Grade 9 Science

Hi all. It’s been a while.  I’m not as adept as some with all this technology, but for what it’s worth, here we go:

History 421   Still working on the Fertile Crescent (Mesopotania).  Just watched Tomb Robbers (may see a question about this on the next test so I hope you were paying attention.  Next class test wil be on egypt.  Date will be discussed in class.  We will complete fertile crescent over the next few classes adn take a look at cuneiform writing.

Band 621  Working towards Band Days at the Confed Center early March with the larger goal being Atlantic Band Festival in Hlfx at end April.  Fee for this event is now due ASAP ($160 per student attending as per the note that was sent home for your parents to see).  To date, only three students have payed.  This money must be handed in soonest as we are committed to the festival ( so make sure the fee is submitted over the next week)!!

Science  Currently working on 11.8 with questions 1-5 due tomorrow.  We will finish Unit 11 in the next couple of days and move onto Unit 12 (Shovel feeding all the way beacause of missed time) and test as soon as possible there after.  Next Unit is Reproduction and then into the Space Unit we go (slide presentation is due with this unit).

Have a great week and enjoy the remainder of February.

Mr D

The next Couple of weeks

Grade 9 Science test this Wednesday November 12th on chapter 3.

For those Band Students who still owe skills, the last day until December 2nd is this Wednesday.  If you want your skills on this report card you need to get in to see me ASAP.

As you know I will not be here from Mid to end November as I need to complete a Military course in Kingston, Ontario.  The substitute will be Doug Millington.  You may know him as the man who filled in for the teacher in the Souris Band program when she went out on maternity a couple of years ago.  I would ask that you treat him with respect (as I know you will) and allow him to be the teacher for the period in which I am gone.  The first class I will see you again will be in the first of December time frame.  Doug is a very accomplished musician and has a Masters in Performance (Trombone) and is currently the Director of the Charlottetown Jazz Ensemble.  For the period of Dougs teaching position a Morell, there will continue to be after school band rehearsals.  So from Mid November (17th) to end November (29th) there will be extra curricular band practice at Morell High. (There will be no early morning Jazz though).   The expectations remain the same in my absence,   and all students are expected to practice as they should at home and continue to participate fully in the band classes.  Grade 12 Students will continue to meet on Wednesdays at lunch.

This Tuesday is Remembrance Day and Kara Cousins will be leading about 15 members from the band at the ceremony in Morell. I cannot be here as I must be at the War Memorial in Charlottetown for the ceremonies there.  It is part of my duties and responsibilities with my Regiment.  Kara will do an excellent job and we just need to cross our fingers for the weather.

Hope you all have a great month and I look forward to seeing you all again in December.

Mr D

Grade 9 Science adn 9-12 Band

Science Test this Wednesday the 22nd of October on all of Unit 2.  Don’t forget to take agendas each class to record work and assignments.  Homework must be done or you spend your lunch in the homework club.  Any test under a 60% must be signed by a parent/guardian by the next day or you will likewise spend lunch in the homework club. 

 

Band Students are reminded that we test weekly and that the next is the F Concert Chromatic scale (2 Octaves where applicable) at the first of next week. 

Jazz Band is Monday Mornings at 7:30 and I am dissapointed by the turn out of late.  You have made a commitment to the Jazz Band and are therefor expected to be at all practices.  Things do happen in our daily lives that need to take precedence but I would like to see you all on Monday Mornings.  If I can be here, so can you.

 

431 Science  You should be working on your poster projects at home.  I can give you time here but we can’t spend each class on the project.  Presentations are coming up in the near future and you need to be prepared to present to the class.  This is worth a fair number of marks (15%) so lets get these done and in to be marked.

 

Grade 12 Band students need to continue to practice your parts at home (30 minutes nightly) to stay in shape for next semester.  We practice on Wednesdays at lunch and all are expected to be there for this.  You are also expected to continue attending the Tuesday after school practice from 3:15 to 4:45.

Hope you all have a great 3 day school week.

 

Mr D

Upcoming tests

Hi all.  Here is what is going on over the next few days.

Grade 9 Science will test this Friday on all of Unit One.  This test will take more than one period and all students are to go to the Lecture Theater instead of the science classroom.  All failing and border line marks  from the last quiz are to be signed by a parent/guardian and returned to me no later than tomorow (Thursday 25 Sept) in science class.

 

Grade 9-11 Band.  We will be testing again today on the E Flat concert scale and arpeggio.  A flat Concert will be next Wednesday.  Continue to work on the music you have in your folios and anticipate new music as we continue on in the semester.  There will be a new piece this week I hope.  March of The Belgiun Parachutists.

Jazz Band begins this Monday (practices will be from 7:30 am to 8:40 am on Monday mornings).

For all Band Parents:  there will be a meeting for all band parents this Monday September the 29th at 7 pm in the lecture theater of Morell High.  It is expected that at least one parent from each band household will be in attendance as many important topics wil be discussed.  This is your opportunity to voice questions/concerns.

 

Hope your year is off to a good start.  Stay on top of things and remember to practice nightly (this really applies to the grade 12 band students as I don’t see you this semester).

 

Mr D

Recently asked questions so far.

To those of you who are curious, yes we are doing the Halifax Music Festival this year.  It is also true that we will not fund raise unless we absolutely have to.  When I have the price per student for the festival, I will set up a payment schedule for payment in each students name and we will go from there.  If some students have difficulty with the payment schedule,  then we will set up a fundraising event.  The Halifax trip will be in or around the month of May ( typically early) so we will have plenty of time.  We will probably spend one night with various activities thrown in (and the competition of course) and allow some time to shop.  More to come on this in the future.

 

Grade 9 - 11 Band students:  You need to start thinking scales again and should be ready to test within the next week ( B flat concert scale with thirds and arpeggio) .  We will be moving through the old scales quickly as a review and will begin the new scales ASAP.

Grade 12 Band Students  don’t forget that we will be meeting every Wednesday at lunch (to start) at 11:50 for a lunch rehearsal.  This begins next week on the 17th.  Be there as you said you would please so we can have a productive practice session.

Hope you all continue to have a great year.

Mr D

Welcome back news

Welcome back to another school year at Morell High.  I hope you all enjoyed your vacations with your families and are refreshed and prepared for another year in the band program.  There  is a change this year which will affect the program in a positive way.  As of this year, we will no longer be collecting band fees.  The province is paying the usual $60 fee for all band students.  This is a move in the right direction as far as I am concerned and will alleviate the hassles of the previous years with collection.  The collection of band fees will also allow the Band Parents Association to concentrate their efforts on extras within the program as opposed to strictly instrument purchases.  This year I will also be teaching Grade 9 science and Science 431 ( first semester ) and Grade 9 Science and Ancient History (2nd semester) so you will find pertinent information about these courses on this web page too.  The marking structure for Band will remain the same and all parents will receive a letter from me in the near future regarding this and the date of the first Band Parents Association meeting of the year.  We will further discuss the band fees, Halifax Music Fest, etc at this meeting.  Looking forward to seeing you all again and meeting with your parents.

Mr D

Band

Band Days at the Confed Centre on Tuesday March 5th.  Dress is black pants with band shirt.  Practice is Monday at lunch and all are expected to be there.

Some of you still have outstanding tests.  You know who you are so get into the band room and get them done before the work piles up to the point of being overwhelming!! 

Play-A-Thon will be discussed in calss in the very near future and we will be having a grade 12 band meeting to discuss the future of the Halifax Music Festival very shortly.  This needs to be done so we know where we stand on fundraising and participation in the event.  It will determine whether we attend or don’t attend.  My thanks to Chelcie Buell for all the organization for this event.

Band Hooodies should be along in the near future so keep your ears open for the announcements to this effect.  My thanks to Stephanie White for all her hard work with regards to this.

Hope your weekend was great and look forward to seeing you all on Monday March 4th at lunch for our last rehearsal for Band Days.

BFMD