Good Afternoon All,
FINAL GRADES: As of last week, no new assignments have been given to allow students time to finish and turn in the assignments that have already been assigned. As of today, I have updated everyone’s grades in Powerschool. The grades that you see are the grades that you will receive for 4th Quarter and the final grade for the course. If you have assignments that you have not completed and would still like to do them, then you have until 11:59 PM 4 June 2020 to complete them for credit. I will be closing out my grades 5 June 2020.
MARCHING BAND INFORMATION: It has been a strange couple of months with the school closures due to the current COVID 19 situation. There are still many questions about what the future holds for us in terms of the start of school, etc. Our hope is that we can start the next school year in normal fashion. Whether this can happen or not, those answers will be coming soon. With that being said, Mr. Fisher and I are preparing as if things are going to start in a somewhat normal fashion. We have determined it will be best for us to be over prepared than to caught off guard. As of now, we are planning for a normal Marching Band season. With that being said, things are ever-changing.
I encourage you to watch this video (https://www.loom.com/share/8d0812de42d7427bb52a1eb5957b81b2 ). Much of the information in this video are things that you are used to as being past members of this ensemble, but there are also lots of new things to pay attention to. In this video, I go different planning scenarios that we have diligently planned and have vetted with the administrative team here at Mount Pleasant High School. These scenarios provide us a number of plans that we can fall on based on the ever changing situations that we are presented with due to our current situation. Please pay attention to the details concerning multiple child discounts and financial aid requests (new initiatives this year).
After you have watched the video, please complete the Commitment Form found at this link: https://forms.gle/rhmNVV1Km4wmREe37 . This secures your spot in this ensemble. Please do this ASAP!!!
Here is a copy of the slide deck from my video presentation and a copy of our band handbook. Please look over these items. The band handbook has all the forms that students will need to have completed by August 3rd.
Marching Band Info Meeting - 2020
MP Marching Band Handbook 2020 (signed)
I am very optimistic that things will get back to normal. As scary as things look right now, I am looking forward to what this next year may hold for us. I cannot wait for the day that we can get together to make music again.
P.S. – If for whatever reason, we have a shortened marching band season or we do not have a marching band season at all, marching band fees paid can either be reimbursed or kept in the student’s band account for the next marching band season. If we have a shortened season, marching band fees will be reduced substantially. If we do not have a marching band season, students can be fully refunded (only money they have paid in; not any money that has been fundraised) or it can stay in their band accounts until the next season for band fees.
P.P.S. – I made a mistake in the video. Open House for High School and Middle School will be Aug 12th, not Aug 13th. That info has been updated in the slide deck and the band handbook. Elementary School Open House will be Aug 13th. A rehearsal schedule will be made to ensure students can make their Open Houses.
AWARDS FOR 2019 – 2020: . Due to the current situation we are dealing with, we were not able to have an actual award ceremony this year. I wish we could have gotten together one more time to celebrate you guys, but it just was not in the cards. I have recorded a “virtual ceremony” for you all if you would like to watch and listen. If not, you may see the attached pdf to see the various award winners for the 2019 – 2020 school year.
To Watch: https://www.loom.com/share/457c38d91f664153ac69b4e21e1108f2
Mount Pleasant Band Awards Presentation - 2020
Please note: Varsity letters, service bars, and service pins have been ordered, but due to the current situation, it is taking a long time to get here. As soon as I get these items, I will make arrangements with you to get these things. All other awards will be part of the pick-up plan designated by the school. Please watch your e-mails on how this will work.
STUDENT PICK-UP / DROP OFF INFORMATION: This week is designated for medicine pick-up. Next week, is the designated times for Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors to do their item drop offs and pick-ups. More info will come down the pike about this, but the days/times are as follows:
Monday June 1st
Medication ONLY Noon-3 pm
Wednesday June 3rd
Medication ONLY 9am – noon
Thursday June 4th
Medication ONLY 4pm-7pm
Monday June 8th
Juniors 9am-noon
Sophomores Noon-3 pm
Tuesday June 9th
Freshmen 9am – noon
Any Grade level noon – 3pm
Wednesday June 10th
Any grade level -7am – 10am
Thursday June 11th
Any grade level -4pm-7pm
Friday June 12th
Any grade level -10am-2pm
ACADEMIC CALENDAR CHANGE FOR 2020 – 2021: Due to recent legislation that was passed by the NC General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Cooper on 4 May 2020, it has been mandated that students will return to school on 17 August 2020. Teachers will return to work on 10 August 2020. You are invited and encouraged to provide feedback on two possible scenarios (one with the Republican National Convention taking place, one without). Visit https://www.cabarrus.k12.nc.us/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=4&ModuleInstanceID=41402&ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=397685&PageID=1 to compare and contrast the two proposed calendars and give your own feedback. This needs to be done by 10 May 2020.
WCU Summer Symposium: Every summer, Western Carolina offers a Summer Symposium for band students. This year, due to the current situation, they are going to be doing this online for FREE. You all need to get in on this. There are tracks for every section. I have attached to this e-mail a flyer with the dates and a PDF with information on how to logon to the webinars. YOU WOULD BE FOOLISH NOT TO PARTAKE IN THIS!!!!!!
- Leadership Track – 4 June @ 5 p.m.
- Jazz Track – 11 June @ 5 p.m.
There is something for everyone here. Get involved in multiple webinars. Be on the lookout for other great opportunities to come down the pike.
Band Fees: Some still have balances due from their marching band fees, winterguard fees, etc. Please get this in ASAP. I greatly appreciate the ones who have gotten with me to turn in money. If you have money that is due that you need to turn in, it is imperative that you do this ASAP. Send me an email and I can meet you.
Daily/Weekly Schedule: A daily/weekly schedule has been created for you to follow. Please see below:
| Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday Daily Schedule | ||
| Time | Period | |
| 9:00 am – 9:55 am | 1st Period | |
| 10:00 am – 10:55 am | 2nd Period | |
| 11:30 am – 12:25 pm | 3rd Period | |
| 12:30 pm – 1:25 pm | 4th Period | |
| Wednesday Work Schedule | ||
| PLCs for Teachers | ||
| Time | Department | Administrator |
| 8:00 am – 8:45 am | Social Studies | Sullivan |
| PE | Frazier | |
| Math | Snyder | |
| 9:00 am – 9:45 am | Fine Arts | Sullivan |
| EC | Frazier | |
| Science | Snyder | |
| 10:00 am – 10:45 am | World Language | Sullivan |
| English | Frazier | |
| CTE | Snyder | |
| Mr. Lee Office Hours (Mon., Tues., Thurs., and Fri.) | ||
| 7:15 am – 4:30 pm | Hit me up anytime during this time through e-mail or Microsoft Team. | |
| Mr. Lee Office Hours (Wed.) | ||
| 7:15 am – 8:50 am
10:00 am – 1:50 pm 3:10 pm – 4:30 pm |
Hit me up anytime during this time through e-mail or Microsoft Team. | |
Microsoft Teams: We will be doing at least one meeting per week for the remainder of the school year. You have already been invited to attend these meetings through Microsoft Teams. It should send a notification to your school e-mail address when these invites occur. It will also show up in your calendars in your school e-mail. In order to access Microsoft Teams, you need to know your login information for your school e-mail accounts, etc. Please go to this website to learn how to do this: https://www.cabarrus.k12.nc.us/Page/78315 .
Class Meetings: I will host one meeting this week on 28 May 2020.
Assignments for 26 May – 4 June: I will not be posting anymore new assignments. The vast majority of you have plenty to do. You have until 4 June 2020 to finish the assignments. Follow the instructions of the assignment. To access Cut Time and figure out how to access those assignments, please watch this video: https://www.loom.com/share/cee58c5be4d84a69b1e49e2fe63974b1
Once you completed an assignment, please go into Cut Time and certify you have completed the assignment. To do so, watch this video: https://www.loom.com/share/11a11fa9b54e4484bf133df39be06b8a
If you do not have the required materials to complete a particular assignment, please let me know and I will make adjustments for you. With this new way of learning, and with the situation being what it is, we will all have to have a level of leniency and understanding.
SITUATION AS IS: Our Governor has just issued an order for us to be closed through the end of the school year. Your teachers are working hard to close out the school year and the school/school system will be pushing out lots of information on how this will all go down. This is not easy and may come with some frustration. BE PATIENT!!!
For the Band: We will continue to post items on SmartMusic and in Cut Time for us to do. It is imperative that you remember your login information for both of those systems. If you do not, please let me know ASAP so I can help you. There will be a few things posted every few days for us to try to complete.
For Future Band Functions: As of right now, there is not supposed to be any activities on campus until 1 August. This may change if guidance from the state and the NCHSAA changes. Stay on top of your e-mails for the latest and greatest…….
At this point of time, you and your family’s health are of the most importance. Please follow the guidelines that have been placed in order to curb this situation. If you follow these guidelines, the amount of time that we are dealing with this will shorten.
Parents-please make sure your children are checking their e-mails (school e-mails and e-mails associated with Cut Time and Smart Music) and their Cut Time accounts on a regular basis. Your children are going to be sent lots of information by all of their teachers. It is IMPERATIVE that they take some sort of onus in their own educational journey while we are experiencing these school closures. Please stay on top of your children. Force them to talk to you about what it is they are doing. Make them show you what they are doing. With the way they are having to do assignments, gather information, etc. while we are in our period of school closures, it cannot be solely on the teacher. If there is lack of information that a student is given that is making it difficult for a student to accomplish a particular task, students need to contact their teachers to gain clarification. This is great training for them for college, entering the workforce, etc.
As always, contact me with questions, comments, concerns, etc.
v/r,
Keith J. Lee
Director of Bands
Mount Pleasant High School
E-mail: keith.lee@cabarrus.k12.nc.us
Office Phone: 704.260.6690 ext. 76707
Website: www.mpband.org
Address: 700 Walker Road, Mount Pleasant, NC 28124-9596
