Belton Middle School Band

Our 8th graders had a great time at MS Band Night last Friday, and it was great to be able to interact in-person for this performance!  Thanks to the parent chaperones who came out to help and supported our students. 

A reminder to those who have not yet paid for their uniform shirt and/or the school-owned instrument usage fee that payment is due by this Wednesday, September 15 via cash or check made out to BMS with a phone number.  Please have students put their payment in an envelope and write their name and the item on the front to be turned into a director.  Parents can also drop these off at the front office if they feel more comfortable.  We will email you a receipt when processed.  Alternatively, you can choose to pay using our RevTrak site online (4% fee) using this address: tinyurl.com/beltonmsbandstore.

The polo shirts for Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble students will be distributed this week, and our Beginner shirts are currently being made and will be available soon.  Still coming a bit later are the Jazz Band uniform shirts and Auto Decals.  If you are not sure if you have paid for any band items, feel free to email Mr. Pulley to ask.

Starting this Wednesday, September 15 is our annual World’s Finest Chocolate Fundraiser!  Students will be given a hard copy of this permission slip, which must be filled out and returned before students will be given chocolate.  The profit we earn will be used for student awards and band activities, such as the Spring Trip on Saturday, May 14 to Typhoon Texas in Austin. 

Please help our students understand that when we check out a box to them, we are in essence “loaning” them $60 that must be paid back.  We cannot take back any opened boxes of chocolate, and students must turn in the full $60 from their box before they can check out another box.  Students cannot sell chocolate at school from 7:00am to 4:00pm as per state nutrition guidelines, so we will confiscate any boxes that are caught selling during school and those student will not be allowed to participate in the fundraiser.  Also, Belton ISD policy prohibits the selling of fundraising items door-to-door.

Our goal is for every participating student to sell at least 2-3 boxes of chocolate, and each item sells for $2.  We will have boxes of King Size chocolate bars (purple), and boxes of variety packs that include chocolate-covered almonds (green).  Both types of boxes are worth $60 each, and each item from either box sells for $2.  This year, we have ordered an equal number of both types since last year the green ones seemed more popular than we anticipated.  Students and parents can choose either type when they check out a box.

The fundraiser ends on Wednesday, September 29 and all money collected will be due on this day.  We will have several $20 bills to give away to those students who win the drawings from those who turn in their money after selling chocolate boxes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday starting on Friday, September 17.  We will also have cash prizes of $100, $80, and $60 to give to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place sellers, respectively.  Students must turn in all of their money by the deadline of Wednesday, September 29 in order to be eligible for the Grand Prize Drawing.

Please let a director know if you have any questions, and thank you for your support!

Please note that the following message only applies to students and parents of the Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble:

This week, your band student will start their consistent schedule of practicing outside of class time in order to improve on their instrument.  Our expectation is that all instruments go home at the end of the school day every day.  Many of our students who play larger school-owned instruments have already been provided with an instrument that stays at home in addition to the one they have at school.  We do not charge extra for home instruments.  

Starting this week, students will be assigned a Practice Record that includes a customized plan for them to follow for their practicing every week.  These will always be handed out (and provided online in Schoology) on the first school day of the week, and are always due the following Monday, either through Schoology or a hard copy to be turned in the black box at the back of the Band Hall.  A parent signature or initial is required from you to ensure accountability that the student did indeed practice.  Students may also practice before school starting at 7:30am in the Band Hall, or after school until 4:30pm.  Directors can sign these practice records, but the responsibility rests on the student to bring us their practice record to be signed.  Practice Records constitute a large portion of a student’s band grade because they are submitted weekly for the entire school year.  Unfortunately, Practice Records are the number 1 reason students do not pass Band.

Following a consistent, daily practice schedule is essential for a student to progress at an acceptable rate on their instrument.  Parents, encourage your child to adopt a schedule of 25 minutes a day, 5 days a week.  Students already know that we expect them to practice outside of class time.  Practicing is just as important as any assignment that must be turned in.  You are the only ones that can carve out this time for your child.  This can be challenging, but it matters just as much as any other academic support you can provide.  Please know that in-class participation is not enough and should not be the only time students play their instrument.  Our goal is to support you in creating strong practice habits in your child, every day.   We ask that you support your child by setting aside practice time at home.

For more information on how to practice, please visit this handout from our website: How to Practice and we appreciate your help and support.

Please note that the following information only pertains to 8th grade band students:

Parents, please read the attachment detailing information for our MS Band Night at Tiger Field on Friday, September 10. This is a required performance and is a major grade for our curriculum. Please email your child’s ensemble director with any questions you have.

This is the last notification to order band uniform shirts for the entire year. This also includes parent chaperones who would like to order a shirt to our events when they help out. Click here to fill out the form: https://forms.gle/Hdbqnu15icDot6mt9.

Beginner shirts are $10, Symphonic Band/Wind Ensemble polo shirts are $20, and the Jazz shirts are $25. All orders need to be completed no later than this Sunday, August 22. We need to order shirts to get them made and back in time for 8th graders’ first performance at MS Band Night on Friday, September 10.

Thank you to those of you who attended our parent meeting Thursday evening in the Belton MS Band Hall – we had a great turnout! For those of you who could not make it, click on this link to see the slideshow: tinyurl.com/beltonmsbandparents, as well as this link to download the handouts.

Remember that the Registration Checklists are due to the Band Directors by Thursday, August 19. Click here for the Beginner Checklist and here for the Advanced Checklist. All instruments, supplies, and materials are also due by this date, and clicking here will take you to those lists.

Tiger Camp will be happening for new students to BMS next Monday, August 16 from 4:00-6:00pm. This is a great time for students and parents to drop off their instruments and supplies in their locker in the Band Hall. They should be receiving their class schedule that you can walk around the campus to visit the classroom. Teachers will not be available to visit with students and teachers at this time. That will happen during Open House, which is on Thursday, September 9 from 5:00-7:00pm.