I love all the possibilities Google Classroom offers for students and teachers.  I just watched a video posted by one of my band students in Google Classroom.  This student is now only two songs away from earning his Cadet Pin.  If he posts a video of himself playing his remaining two songs within the next few days, and plays the songs well, he will receive his Cadet Pin this next week during his band class.

Students in grades 3, 4 & 5 at McCollough Elementary School who have me for music have an opportunity to perform some songs for the Town Hall meeting the first week of February.  The songs we are planning to sing for this event are posted in our Google Classroom giving students the opportunity to practice the songs at home.  This is especially valuable for the 4th and 5th grade students since they only have music once per week.

Has your child gone to our Google Classroom yet this week?  Help them sign on so they can see what is happening now in music.  😀

Yes, this afternoon some of our Howe band and violin students earned pins.  One student in particular has now earned all four pins!!

Here is a photo of these hard working students.  They are wearing the pins on their shirts.  I am certain we will be awarding more pins next week since we have quite a few students on the edge of receiving the awards.

We have some students who have been working very hard this card marking period.  On Monday we had three girls earn the first pin, Cadet Pin.  This morning we have had two girls earn their first pin.

Congratulations!  Now these your musicians will begin working toward the Intermediate Pin.

Can you guess what I am baking today?  Gingerbread cookies!  Guess who I am thinking of as I bake these cookies.  All of my wonderful concert performers in the classrooms of Mrs. Fecay, Ms. St. George, and Mrs. Stipanovich.

I wish all of my students and teacher friends a wonderful and Happy Holiday, Merry Christmas and Happy and Blessed New Year!

Yes, we have a second Cadet Pin awardee!  Congratulations Gregory! He has joined rank with Christian.  These two you g men also had the pleasure of playing two songs at thenHowe Christmas Sing-along Concert.  Here is a photo of our new Cadet and below that are two videos of the two of them warming up in our classroom before the concert.  It is no exaggeration to say that they performed even better during the concert performance.

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We have 4 new pins to award to each student once they pass specific requirements.  The Pin chart can be downloaded from their Google Classroom site.  Please encourage your child to practice at home everyday.  Just being in the class is not enough to learn to play an instrument.  It really takes consistent practice and dedication.

McCullough students have been working very hard for our concerts this week.  All students in grades Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd will perform song selections at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday morning in the gym at McCollough.  All students in grades 3rd, 4th and 5th will perform on Friday morning.  We would love to see all of our parents in attendance of these two concert performances.

A reminder that if you plan to make a video of our performance or take pictures please do so from your seats.  I plan to have a video camera set up to record the concert for you all.  The video will be posted as a private link on YouTube.  I will share that link with you so you can enjoy the video from home.