Band Blast
Week of August 29th, 2022
Welcome to the 2022-2023 Band Blast Newsletter!
This newsletter is for parents, guardians, and students of the James Island Charter High School Band Program.
It is my hope to send out the Band Blast each week. In the newsletter I will remind everyone of the schedule for rehearsals, concerts, and anything else important for the week.
I will also pass along as much information as I can so everyone is in the know for what is expected of the students that week.
There have been a lot of changes to the start of the school year. Many of you know Mr. Sherman has decided to move into administration this year. He took a job as an assistant administrator at West Ashley High School. We are so very sad to see him leave, but wish him well in his new career path. Unfortunately, with the very late decision, our administration has decided to not fill his position. So we have had to rearrange the schedule a few times, to make sure I could teach everyone.
Though it is a big change for a few students, we are underway, and already jumping into new music. We are getting used to our new "normal" and moving on. In a few weeks all will feel normal, and we will find our groove.
One of the biggest changes for me is the addition of the percussion students back into the band class. But it is such a positive change. This will do so much for the maturity of the ensembles. Time together is what we have always been missing. It is hard to create an "ensemble" sound in a few after school rehearsals. So I am very excited to see the changes that will take place with each group.
A nice result of this change is the fact that we will not need to have as many after school rehearsals each week. Please look at the edited master calendar. I have taken off many of the traditional Tuesday afternoon rehearsals.
This opens up some time to allow the jazz band to have after school rehearsals. We have a lot of students who could not put jazz band on their schedule this year. Enough so, I think we need to explore after school rehearsals to allow these students a chance to play. Again...check out the revised calendar to see the changes to the after school rehearsal schedule.
Check out the JICHS Band Handbook. It has been updated and is full of important information.
BE ON THE LOOKOUT for information on our Spring Band Trip to Orlando.
It will be sent out to you very soon!
I hope you all have a fabulous week!
Good things are happening at JI!!
I can't wait until our first concert in October!!!
-Dr. Bowles
Pep Band
Come on out and join us for some Friday Night Fun!
We have 4 more football games left this semester:
Friday September 2nd - Home game verses First Baptist HS
Friday September 9th - Homecoming game verses Bishop England
Friday October 7th - Home game verses May River High School
Friday October 28th - Home game verses Lucy Beckham High School
Look below for some pictures of our trip to Stall High School last Friday!
Harris Teeter TIE (Together in Education)
Do you have a Harris Teeter VIC card (or plan on getting one)? JICHS Band Backers is again participating in Harris Teeter’s Together in Education (TIE) program to raise funds for our band students’ activities. It’s EASY and FREE. The program does not interfere with your VIC savings or cost you any money.
If you have already been a participant in this program, PLEASE keep in mind that your VIC card must be re-linked to our Band account each school year, beginning August 1 of each year. Once your card is linked to the Band Backers account for this school year, you don’t have to do another thing – the JICHS Band Backers will receive a percentage of your Harris Teeter brand purchases credited to its account. Instructions for linking to TIE are provided below. For additional information, please contact Lisa Fairey at jichsband@gmail.com. Thank you for your support and that of your friends and family members.
Sincerely,
James Island Charter School Band Backers Association
Dr. Gretchen Bowles
James Island Charter High School
Email: gretchen_bowles.c@charleston.k12.sc.us
Website: www.jichsbands.org
Location: 1000 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC, USA
Phone: (843)200-3700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JICHSband