The Dragon Blast
February 2020 - New Palestine Music & Performing Arts!
This past weekend was an incredible display of our Music & Performing Arts community's heart. Hosting TWO major events, on the SAME DAY was never intended, but it is what we were dealt.
...and we did it!
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HELPED & DOUBLE-THANK YOU TO THOSE THAT WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND!!
Lets cross our fingers that next year the IHSCGA and ISSMA calendar masters don't duplicate the double booking (as they control when these events take place)
In this edition:
- Important dates for each school
- NPI Holiday concert pics
- What Happened?! ISSMA & IHSCGA explained
- Rock Band / Pep Band photos from Homecoming
- Active Fundraisers
- Parent/Student/Staff spotlight: Kathryn Ray
- Alan
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Important Upcoming Dates
New Palestine Intermediate
February 13th - Ring starts
February 24th & 25th - during school: 6th grade instrument fitting. (the journey starts here!)
March 5th - NPI Cafeteria: 6th grade Parents meeting about new instruments (time TBD)
Future event - mark your calendar:
May 8th - 5pm-9pm: NPI Student Showcase!
New Palestine Junior High
February 10th: Rock Band!
February 19th: Rock Band!
February 26th: Rock Band!
March 9th: Rock Band!
March 14th: ISSMA Concert Band Contest (7th & 8th grade bands)
New Palestine High School
February 29th: Winds & Percussion ISSMA State @ North Central HS
March 6th - 7th: ISSMA Jazz Festival @ Whiteland HS
**future event - mark your calendar**
March 13th-14th: New Pal hosts the IPA competition (watch for the sign up genius)
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RECENT EVENTS OR ACTIVITIES
Visons Choir during their Holiday Concert
Better late than never! The Visions Choir and Ring ensemble were able to perform their holiday concert material in January. Inclement weather postponed the original December date.
Looks amazing!! Only 10.8 months til Christmas!! Who's started shopping already??
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Wait.. What? What just happened?
IHSCGA? ISSMA?? We did what?
For those that are new - or may not know, here's a quick summary of what just happened over the weekend:
New Palestine Intermediate was chosen to host the Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) Solo & Ensemble competitions for the entire district. This means that student musicians in all of Hancock County, Shelby Eastern, Lawrence Township, Northwestern Shelby Co, and Warren Township were invited to visit NPI to compete.
Compete? Compete for what?
It's an opportunity to compete against themselves & an opportunity to perform unique pieces of music - either as an individual soloist, or in a small/large group.
So they compete.. then what?
Each individual or ensemble is given a rating (gold, silver, bronze, participation) based on their performance. The cream of the crop are invited to participate in the State competition later this year.
There were hundreds of musicians... and hundreds of parents... at NPI. See? Big deal.
Medals for ISSMA
IHSCGA competitors
2020 New Pal Glitter Guard!
What about the other thing... the IHSCGA?...
The majority of Winter Guards in our state compete within the Indiana High School Color Guard Association (IHSCGA). Nearly every weekend between Mid January and Late March, there are TWO events going on.
Wait.. just Two events a weekend? For the whole state?
YES! That's why these events are so massive. New Palestine High School hosted over 60 units (60 unique performances) this past weekend.
(just for fun, we did the math)
Keep in mind, the enrollment for NPHS is about 1,400.This event brought over 8,000 people into our school... See? Big deal! :)
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ROCK BAND Joined the PEP BAND for Homecoming
The NPJH Rock Band joined their dBs with the NPHS Pep Band on January 24th for the High School Boys Basketball game vs. Roncalli. It was a great crowd and an even better Pep/Rock Band sound! I was working conessions - you guys sounded AWESOME.
Here are a few pictures I snagged from the NPJH Twitter feed.
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High School Fundraisers
Want to save some $$?
Want to be rewarded for buying things you already use?
Want to be rewarded for buying things that have NOTHING to do with fundraisers?
WE'VE GOT ALL OF THAT!
Don't have a High School student? Thats OK!
All monies that would normally be applied to an account would, instead, be added to our Angel Fund account. This account helps to pay for students that don't have the means to afford the dues to participate in the Arts. :)
Current & On Going Fundraisers
Jo Coffee
Limited time: February 2nd - 22nd
This is the coffee we served at the Guard competition last weekend! It was available for sale then, and it's available for sale now.
10 different brews for the full spectrum of flavors! AND it comes with a New Pal logo on the bag!
Whole bean / already ground / and single serve K-cups
Take a look at the order form.
Each type of coffee is $11.99
A percentage of each item goes back to the school/student account.
Coffee = good
New Pal Branded Coffee = Woah, baby!
For questions, or to place a coffee order, please contact Amanda Hall
Detergent & more D5 Fundraiser
All year long - orders placed once per month
5-gallon laundry detergent, 5-gallon fabric softener, Dishwasher tabs or Pods
These make a GREAT gift. :)
(example: buy a $45 laundry detergent... $15 is applied to a students account!)
All year long - orders placed once per month
We offer 13-gallon, 18 gallon, 29-gallon, and 55-60 gallon trash bags.
These are GOOD quality bags. Better than what you're buying at the hardware stores.
(example: buy a $14 roll of bags... $5 goes towards a students account!)
SCRIP Fundraiser
All year long - orders placed once per month
Hold onto your hat.. This is where is gets interesting!
We have partnered with the SCRIP fundraising activity which rewards you for buying almost anything.
Shop at Kohls? (fundraising!) Shop at Best Buy?? (fundraising!!) Eat at BW3's or Wendy's? (Fundraising!!) Do you or someone you know BUY GAS?? Yep.. gas, too.
There are currently over 750 stores that participate.
How it works:
You pick a store & buy a gift card. ($10.. $20..$50.. any amount)
You receive the gift card, and your student account receives the rebate!
Each retailer has a set rebate & some are higher than others.
Lets say you need a new refrigerator. You buy a $500 gift card through SCRIP from Home Depot (yep, they're on there too). Home Depot may have a 4% SCRIP rebate going on. Your band account receives $20 and you get the $500 to buy your fridge.
Get it?? Pretty cool, eh?
Fun Fact: Last month, our parents generated over $800 to be applied to their students accounts. It's easy!
For more info on SCRIP, or for help getting started, contact Dawn Smith.
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STAFF - STUDENT - PARENT SPOTLIGHT
Kathryn Ray - Everything Music - NP Intermediate
Holy Cow! This gal is AWESOME.
Meet Kathryn! She teaches general music, choir, band, piano, hand bells, AND tap & jazz dancing. Beat that!
Any kids?? and are they in the musical arts? Carson (5), Fiona (2). I understand that Carson started taking dance lessons (ballet, jazz, and tap) about a year and a half ago. He is already a better drummer than most of you. ;) He has a drum set, many hand drums, and aux percussion instruments at his disposal. He plays the recorder and ukulele. Next year he'll be starting with Piano lessons. WOW!
Fiona has been taking dance lessons for about 6mo and is determined to one-up Carson no the drum set, as she can't seem to stay off of it.
So.. Kathryn.. tell us about yourself...
"I was born in Richmond, Virginia, and moved to Colorado when I was 10. The IU School of Music brought me to Indiana, and I just never left. :) . I have a Music Education Degree and a Minor in Germanic Studies. I received my Master's Degree in Music Technology from IUPUI in 2011. I also teach tap and jazz dance classes at Wilkerson Dance Studio in Greenfield. My husband, Anthony, is a professional percussionist and gigs with the Serenade Jazz Orchestra (25 member big band), Ripple Effect (a cover band, book them for your event!), and repairs brass instruments at Musician's Repair and Sales."
Do you / Did you every play an instrument?
LOLOLOLOLOL!!!! Really??? Okay here goes nothing...Piano (since age 3), Clarinet (since 5th grade), Oboe (since 7th grade), Percussion (since 7th grade), English horn (since 9th grade), Flute (since 11th grade), Trumpet (since 11th grade), Alto saxophone (since 12th grade), Baritone (since 12th grade), Tuba (since 12th grade), Ukulele (since last year!) . Next on the agenda??? Learning accordion! Because why not?
See?.. Awesome!.
What is your favorite musical memory?
Traveling!! Music has taken me to Austria, Germany, France, Ireland, England, and Canada. Also the joy of making music and all of my favorite pieces to perform. Love it! I guess I should also mention meeting my husband through music LOL!!!!
Greatest Band of All Time:
Led Zeppelin.. Fight me..
Favorite Movie:
The Goonies!!! But also a HUGE fan of HP Universe, LoTR Universe, and Marvel Universe. And my all time favorite ANYTHING is Game of Thrones. Not a movie...but let's face it...it practically is.
Do you DUST first? Or do you VACUUM first?:
You ALWAYS dust first, and then you vacuum second. Mr. Wilson...you seriously vacuum first???
Growing up, what movie scared you the most?:
Um, since I'm terrified of EVERYTHING scary....Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer, Blair Witch Project, The Shining, Grudge, etc....>stops typing to go turn on all the lights in the house and move away from all windows<
Do you put noodles in your chili?
No Way!!!! But I do dump about 1/2 a pound of cheese on top.
What is the hottest thing you've ever eaten?:
THE MUSTARD AT THE RATSKELLER DOWNTOWN!!!! Here I am, enjoying a nice dinner before going to the Murat to see Dream Theater, and I innocently drip my pretzel into the mustard thinking it would have just a little kick. Husband was in the bathroom, so I was alone. I immediately started crying, and then I started doing this foam/drool thing all over my plate and the table. I grabbed for my water, but I couldn't see because of my tears and ended up pouring water all over my plate and lap. I was hacking and coughing and making this giant scene. It was terrible. That was just a few months ago.
Favorite Holiday?:
I LOVE St. Patrick's Day! My dad is Scottish and my mom is Irish, so we'd always go all out. We all have kilts, my dad plays bagpipes, my mom and I would cook Coddle (the best soup ever), Bubble and Squeak, Irish Stew, and Shortbread. It's always a lovely day :) . In 1997, my high school band got to go and march in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Ireland. It was amazing! Fun fact: We marched in 2 parades. The first was on March 16th in Limerick. Then the REAL parade was on March 17th in Dublin. Turns out, everyone in Ireland celebrates St. Patrick's Day in their own town/city on March 16th, and then on the 17th EVERYONE IN IRELAND GOES TO DUBLIN for the actual holiday. Fact.
Cats or Dogs?:
Cats for sure!!!!
Most famous person you've ever met?:
I met Max Weinberg (drummer for Bruce Springsteen), which was pretty cool. I've also met Tiffany lol!!!!
Spotlight Your Student HERE!
Click the link below to have your student featured on the Dragon Blast!!
Parents permission required.
PARENT or STAFF SPOTLIGHT HERE!!
Click the lnik below to tell us a little about yourself, too!
It's not a job interview.. it's not a witness testimony.. It's just for fun!
Calendars & Links for New Palestine Performing Arts
HIGH SCHOOL
Make a HS Band payment
** coming soon **
Winter Guard & Percussion Calendars
Active HS Band fundraisers
JUNIOR HIGH
Jr High Music calendar
** coming soon **
Active Fundraisers
** coming soon **
INTERMEDIATE
Music calendar
** coming soon **
Social Media & Resources
Color Guard and Winter Guard Facebook
Dragon Blast - ARCHIVES
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