We just (amost) completed a busy festival performance season!
The choirs were unable to perform on March 3 due to a problem with bus scheduling. We have arranged a performance of the festival music at Swope (complete with formal concert attire, judges and clinics afterward) on Wednesday, April 5, 10:00 a.m. in the Swope Cafeteria. Parents are invited to attend.
The beginning and intermediate orchestras performed at the WCSD Orchestra Festival on Wednesday, March 8. It was an excellent performance and I’m proud of our beginning students for working up to this level in such a short time, and of the intermediate students for their maturity and excellent musicianship. Their behavior was absolutely superb at the festival and I’m already looking forward to seeing what they can accomplish next year.
The advanced orchestras performed very well at the festival on Thursday, March 9. The music was challenging and, although there were some errors, they performed it quite musically. It was a pleasure to bring these students to the festival; their dedication and focus were apparent throughout the performance, and their behavior was excellent as well. The tremendous musical growth required in the performance of this music will serve them well for the spring concert and in their high school orchestras next year.
All of our orchestra and choir classes have already begun working on spring concert music.
There are no early release Wednesdays for the remainder of the school year. In order to make up lost academic time due to the inclement weather, students will no longer have early release Wednesdays for the remainder of the school year. The other option was extending the school year beyond the scheduled last day of school (Thursday, June 8).
Cell phone reminder: Please remember that Washoe County School District's policy is that student cell phones are to be turned off during school hours. Please do NOT try to text or call your child via their cell phone. If you need to contact your child, please contact the office and they will pass along messages to your child. Please know that if your child is found on their phones without the express permission and supervision of their teacher, the phone will be confiscated and turned into the SAC and an administrator will contact you. We appreciate your willingness to help us to enforce these rules and expectations. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this policy, please contact Mrs. Mandeville, Mrs. Callahan, or Mr. Culpepper. Thank you so much for your on-going support with our school policies.
Looking ahead to our 4th Quarter, which will begin as soon as students return from Spring Break, Swope will be on a block schedule with four classes meeting each day. This change is to accommodate testing time. The 4th quarter class rotation schedule is posted on the website, www.swopemusic.weebly.com.
Important Dates for Upcoming Music Events April 5 Choir “Festival” performance, 10:00 a.m., Swope cafeteria April 19 Payment/balance due for 8th grade choir and orchestra trip April 28 Honor choir to Reno Jazz Festival, TBA May 1-10 After-school combined rehearsals (one each) for choir, beg./int. orchestras and advanced orchestras, TBA May 11 Spring concert for orchestras and choirs, Swope gym, 6:30 p.m. May 19-20 8th grade trip for orchestra and choir students
We do not yet have information about auditions for advanced Reno High School ensembles (either orchestra or choir). This will be made available to students as soon as it is available.
High School Transition Information Monday, March 13 6:00 p.m. RHS Parent Information Session at Reno HS--Parents ONLY event Thursday, March 16 7:30-2:00 p.m. RHS Frosh Day at Reno High School
Upcoming Field Trips March 16 RHS Frosh Day, for all 8th graders registering to attend RHS in August April 10th NV Energy (GT field trip), 9:30-1:00 April 28 (tentative) Honor Choir to Reno Jazz Festival, TBA May 19-20 8th grade orchestra/choir trip to Sacramento/Vallejo