POE MIDDLE SCHOOL BANDS www.poebands.org * Twitter: @PoeMSBand * Facebook: Poe Middle School Bands POE BAND NEWS AND NOTES WEEKLY UPDATE February 19-23, 2018 Greetings Poe Band Families! It is State Assessment Season for Concert Band 2 and Symphonic Band. This is the time where we need everyone to be practicing and focused the most. State of Virginia Concert Band Assessment season is upon us! (Concert Band 2 performs their 2018 State Assessment program on Friday, March 9 th at Sandburg Middle School and Symphonic Band performs their 2018 State Assessment program on Saturday, March 10 th ) Please see below for more detailed information. Wednesday, February 21, 2018 AHS Pyramid Pre-Assessment Band Concert @ Annandale High School 7:00 p.m. (Featuring the Poe Symphonic Band, Holmes MS Symphonic Band, Annandale HS Concert Band, Annandale HS Symphonic Band, and the Annandale HS Wind Ensemble.) Call Time is 5:45 p.m.in Concert Black Uniform to the AHS Chorus Room! Enter through the outside Choral Room Door to the left of the Annandale HS Flagpole! We will be warming up ON STAGE! Mock Judges will be present at this event using the official State Assessment Forms. Concert will conclude by 9 p.m. All students must stay for the entire performance. On Thursday, March 1, the Poe Concert Band 2 and Symphonic Bands will perform their State Assessment program in front of family, friends, and Poe staff. In addition, there will be fellow music educators present acting as mock-judges using the official State Assessment Forms. They will provide vital feedback to the students on their performance as they continue preparing for their State Assessment Performances on March 9 th and 10 th. Call Time for ALL students is 6:00 pm and Concert Begins at 7:00pm and will conclude by 7:45pm. On Friday, March 9 and Saturday, March 10, 7th and 8th grade bands from Fairfax County middle schools participate in the Virginia Music Educators Association District Ten Band Assessment Festival, held at Carl Sandburg Middle School in Alexandria. All bands prepare and perform three pieces of music (on stage), along with sight-reading for a rating from four adjudicators (judges). This festival performance is the most importance concert of the year as it is the band/music equivalent to the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) Tests. Both the Symphonic Band and Concert Band 2 will participate in this festival and is MANDATORY per FCPS Regulation 3866. Concert Band 2 will perform on Friday, March 9 and Symphonic Band will perform on Saturday, March 10. The schedule is attached below. Thank you! On Friday, May 4 th, Concert Band 1, Concert Band 2, and Symphonic Band will travel to Hershey, PA and participate in the annual Poe Music Department Spring Competition. The cost of the trip is $110 for students and $60 for parents (chaperones). This fee covers the Festival Fee, HersheyPark Admission Ticket, Bus Fare, Snacks, and a Spring Trip T-Shirt. Per the Poe Band Handbook that was distributed to all students during the 2 nd week of school and can be found on the Poe Website, www.poebands.org, each family has the option of using the monthly payment plan in order to pay off the full balance of the Spring Competition Trip. We accept all forms of payment. {Cash, Check, Money Order} Please make all checks payable to Poe Middle School. All students needed to turn in their next payment in an envelope (or Zip-Lock Bag) with their name on it into the black Band Lock-Box in the band room (The remaining payment dates are Monday, March 5 th, and Tuesday, April 3 rd /Wednesday, April 4 th ) The complete payment must be paid by Wednesday, April 4 th as all money must be sent to the bus company and the festival company shortly after this date. We look forward to another exciting and memorable music-making experience! PARENTS If you are wanting to chaperone, your cost is $60 and will be due by April 3 rd. Please send an email to sniehoff@fcps.edu if you would like to chaperone this trip. Thank you!!
Parents of 8 th Graders, this week your children will be receiving the 2018-2019 High School Course Registration Forms. This form is to select the appropriate courses for your kids for their Freshman year of High School. There are many different diploma options in high school and it is ALWAYS possible for your kids to keep MUSIC in their high school schedule for all four years of their high school career. For further details, please see this link on our website: http://www.poebands.org/highschools.php. This link on the Poe Bands web-site offers all kinds of information regarding high school music, along with contact information for the high school directors. It also lists the high school band web-sites for further information and the FCPS-distributed Diploma options. Please either let me know or the high school band director know if you have any questions regarding the high school band programs. We sincerely hope that your child will continue with band at the high school level. It is an amazing opportunity for musical and personal growth! Annandale HS folks, please contact Mr. Joseph Witkowski, Director of Bands, at jpwitkowski1@fcps.edu for any information. Falls Church HS folks, please contact Mr. Steve Jacoby, Director of Bands, at stjacoby@fcps.edu for any information. JEB Stuart HS folks, please contact Mr. Brian Thomas, Director of Bands, at bcthomas@fcps.edu for any information. Thomas Jefferson HSST folks, please contact Mr. Adam Foreman, Director of Bands, at AWForeman@fcps.edu for any information. All 6 th and 7 th graders have been given their Poe MS Course Registration Sheets. Please encourage your kids to continue taking band next year! We would love to have them continue and is the best decision they could make for their musical growth. State Band Assessment Permission Forms will be passed out tomorrow, Wednesday, February 21. These will be due on Monday, February 26 th. None. Concert Band 2 ALL students - After School Rehearsal Monday, February 26 2:20-3:20pm. Symphonic Band ALL students After School Rehearsal Tuesday, February 27 2:20-3:20pm. Concert Band 2 ALL students - After School Rehearsal Monday, March 5 2:20-3:20pm. Symphonic Band ALL students - After School Rehearsal Tuesday, March 6 2:20-4:45pm (Both Blocks of After School) Pizza, Snacks, and Drinks will be provided for all students in the Band Room at 4:15pm. Wednesday, February 21, 2018 AHS Pyramid Pre-Assessment Band Concert @ Annandale High School 7:00 p.m. (Featuring the Poe Symphonic Band, Holmes MS Symphonic Band, Annandale HS Concert Band, Annandale HS Symphonic Band, and the Annandale HS Wind Ensemble.) Call Time is 5:45 p.m.in Concert Black Uniform to the AHS Chorus Room! We will be warming up ON STAGE! Mock Judges will be present at this event using the official State Assessment Forms. Concert will conclude by 9 p.m. All students must stay for the entire performance. Thursday, March 1, 2018 Poe Pre-Assessment Band Concert Featuring Concert Band 2 and Symphonic Band @ Poe Cafeteria. 7:00 p.m. Doors open at 6:50 p.m. Call Time to the Music Wing is 6:00 p.m. in Concert Black Uniform. Concert Band 2 will report to the Orchestra Room & Symphonic Band will report to the Band Room. Mock Judges will be present at this event using the official State Assessment Forms. Concert will conclude by 7:45 pm Hard work beats talent when talent doesn t work hard. Unknown (All Students) Facebook: Please go to our site and Like our page to stay up to date on all things Poe Band! https://www.facebook.com/pages/poe-middle- School-Bands/298224793695648 Please tag us or check-in if you ever update your Facebook status so the Poe Middle School Bands can reach and make a bigger difference to a broader community. Twitter: Follow us at the handle: @PoeMSBand. If you ever tweet anything about the Poe Bands, please use the hashtag #PoeBand or #PoeMusicRocks. Instagram: Follow us at the handle: poemiddleschoolbands. If you ever post anything about the Poe Bands, please use the hashtag #PoeBand or #PoeMusicRocks.
YouTube: We are now on YouTube! Our YouTube Channel is Poe Bands. We follow A LOT of amazing Musical Groups and Musicians on our Subscription List. Please check it out! https://www.youtube.com/channel/ucm86qgrjmfzqqjsvpmpf8nq/channels Have a great week, everyone! GO RAVENS! Scott C. Niehoff & Zachary A. Gomez KEEP SCROLLING DOWN FOR MORE STATE ASSESSMENT INFORMATION!
VIRGINIA STATE CONCERT BAND ASSESSMENT CONCERT BAND 2 INFORMATION SHEET CONCERT BAND 2 FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2018 BRING YOUR UNIFORM TO SCHOOL on FRIDAY MORNING!! Hang it up on the back cages of the band room or put it in your lockers. (White Tuxedo Shirt with white undergarments, Black Dress Pants/Skirt, Black Dress Shoes/Flats, and for guys, black socks.) All Concert Band 2 students will go to 2 nd, 4 th, and Raven Time. They will eat lunch during 7 th grade lunch and miss all of 6 th and 7 th period. 11:20 a.m. LUNCH in the Cafeteria during 7 th Grade Lunch. 11:50 a.m. Report to the Band Room, get your uniforms and quickly change in the bathrooms. 12:15 p.m. Pack up everything and get ready to board the buses. 12:25 p.m. Sit in your seat and wait for instructions. (Percussion loads equipment into Mr. Lauler s Van.) 12:30 p.m. Board bus. 12:40 p.m. Leave Poe for Sandburg Middle School. 1:20 p.m. Arrive to Sandburg Middle School. Stay on the bus until Mr. Niehoff/Mr. Gomez comes back to get you. Do not leave the bus until you are asked to do so. Form two lines with a buddy. DO NOT TALK as the auditorium is right next to the bus. STAY QUIET THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE EVENT. PLEASE BEHAVE and DO AS YOU ARE ASKED. 1:30 p.m. Go to the Sandburg Cafeteria and eat snack and drink water. (Provided by the Poe Band.) 2:20 p.m. Go to Storage Room. (Flutes, Clarinets, and Altos go to one room and ALL Lows, Brass, and Percussion go to the other.) Get out instruments. DO NOT PLAY IN THE STORAGE ROOMS!!!!!!! (Bring an extra reed and valve oil.) 2:50 p.m. Warm-Up. 3:30 p.m. PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT ON STAGE 4:00 p.m. SIGHT READING ASSESSMENT 4:30 p.m. Go back to storage rooms to put away instruments. Feedback from Mr. Niehoff and Mr. Gomez. Use restrooms. When instructed, take your instruments and all belongings and form two lines in the hallway. Do not talk until we get to the Cafeteria! 4:50 p.m. Go to the Cafeteria, buy food/drinks, Ratings posted. 5:10 p.m. Leave Sandburg Middle School. 5:45 p.m. Arrive back to Poe. 6:00 p.m. ALL STUDENTS MUST BE PICKED UP BY THIS TIME! Put bow ties and cummerbunds in the bow-tie and cummerbund plastic bin before leaving. If you tried and played your best, then we are proud of you! Enjoy your weekend!! See you on Monday!
VIRGINIA STATE CONCERT BAND ASSESSMENT FESTIVAL SYMPHONIC BAND INFORMATION SHEET SYMPHONIC BAND SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 2018 8:50 a.m. Arrive to Poe (with bag lunch), in concert uniform. (White Tuxedo Shirt with white undergarments, Black Dress Pants/Skirt, Black Dress Shoes/Flats, and for guys, BLACK socks. There will be a uniform inspection!) Make sure you have eaten a good breakfast. Get cummerbunds and bow-ties on!!!!!! 9:05 a.m. Be in your assigned seats WITH INSTRUMENTS READY TO REHEARSE! REHEARSE AS A GROUP on our pieces and on sight-reading. 10:10 a.m. Pack up instruments. Restroom Break. (You will not be able to use the restroom until after we perform.) 10:20 a.m. Board buses. (Flute, Clarinet, Alto Sax, Tenor Sax on Bus 1 and Brass/Percussion/Lows on Bus 2) (Leave the first 2 rows in the front of Bus 1 open for instruments.) (Leave the first 4 rows in the front of Bus 2 open for instruments.) 10:30 a.m. Leave Poe for Sandburg Middle School. (Eat Bag Lunch on the way to Sandburg.) 11:00 a.m. Arrive to Sandburg Middle School. Turn OFF your cell phones! Stay on the bus until Mr. Niehoff comes back to get you. Do not leave the bus until you are asked to do so. Get off the bus when Mr. Niehoff directs you. As you get off the bus, GIVE YOUR CELL PHONE TO THE CHAPERONE. They will keep all of them in the Cell Phone Box and will carry it with them the entire time to keep them safe. 11:20 a.m. Go to Storage Room. (Flutes, Clarinets, Altos go to one room and All lows, Brass/Percussion go to the other.) Form two lines with a buddy. DO NOT TALK FROM HERE ON OUT!! STAY QUIET in the hallways THE ENTIRE TIME. PLEASE!! When directed by Mr. Niehoff, get out instruments. DO NOT PLAY IN THE STORAGE ROOMS!!!!!!! (Bring an extra reed and valve oil.) You are not allowed to play. This is a state rule!! Also, you will NOT be allowed to use the restroom until after we perform. 11:50 p.m. Warm-Up 12:30 p.m. Performance on Stage All performances are free and open to the public. We hope to see you there to show support! 1:00 p.m. Sight Reading Assessment (No audience members allowed due to the size of the room. However, you may listen from the hallway.) 1:30 p.m. Go back to storage rooms to put away instruments. Use restrooms. Announcements/Input from Mr. Niehoff and Mr. Gomez. -When instructed, take your instruments and all belongings and form two lines in the hallway. -Do not talk until we get to the Cafeteria. 1:45 p.m. Go to the Cafeteria, buy food/drinks, Ratings posted. 2:15 p.m. Leave Sandburg. (If your parent/guardian wishes to take you home from Sandburg, they may do so. You will need to check out with Mr. Niehoff or Mr. Gomez and bring your instrument and bow-tie/cummerbund back to school with you on Monday.) 2:45 p.m.-ish Arrive back to Poe. Put bow ties and cummerbunds in the bins before leaving. If you tried and played your best, then we are proud of you! Enjoy your weekend!! See you on Monday!