Homecoming

This weekend was Homecoming here in Homer, and it was rather interesting. We had the pep band at the football game yesterday (we beat Valdez 78-0), and I got a lot of compliments on it. I really enjoy knowing that it's appreciated just having them there, and I also tell people that they should tell the kids. It was a lot of fun. Afterwards, I chaperoned the Homecoming Dance. Now that was an interesting night. I thought that the students behaved well, and I was impressed.

Classes have been going well overall, just keeping me very busy. Tomorrow I have to go to the one hour photo shop and get passport pictures, and then get that taken care of. I've been invited to go on the "Germany trip" with the Choir - Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic. It's impressive, but I don't have a passport and the deadline is November 1st to have a copy of it, so I have to get a move on. I'm sure it will be fine though.

The 7th Grade band played through their first full piece without stopping on Friday, which was really exciting. The 8th graders have played through two of theirs. Their concert is October 26th, and the high school concert is October 27th. Five weeks from tomorrow (and Tuesday), but we're in pretty good shape. All the things are settled now (who's doing band and choir, and all that sort of stuff) so we can get moving on that, and just focus on the music. I'm excited. The high school bands are doing well as well. I've handed out a decently hard concert, but I have faith that they will be able to do it, and I want them to know that they are able to do it as well. It should be a really good concert.

I have also joined the community band and the community choir. They're both fun, because I just get to show up and perform, I don't have to worry about teaching. I also get to see other people in action as they work and rehearse, which is always fun to see. I'm not entirely sure what I'm playing with regards to community band yet (last week it was saxophone) but if I can get some of my other students to come and play, then it will be fine and I can play something else. But it will all get figured out - we have a while before that concert.

I'm also working with the DDF team - Drama, Debate, and Forensics, particularly with the Drama aspect. We have our first practice on Monday, and I'm really excited for that to get going. I've got a few ideas to really push the kids and keep them working hard within the different theatre competitions. Once I have a few more details, I'll work to get something else updated, but if you're interested you can go to http://www.asaa.org and look at DDF. It goes through all the different competitions and what's expected. I'm just excited to be involved with theatre again (and they also asked me to do a spring play, which should be a lot of fun).

Well, my laundry is done and it's time to get ready for bed. I didn't spend much time at the school this weekend, but it's all right. I needed to get away for a bit, and I'll be plenty ready for classes tomorrow. I can spend a bit of time at the school after I'm done tomorrow.

Week 2, Done!

Sorry that it's been so long since I wrote. It's been rather crazy. As the title says, I'm done with the second week of school. My schedule is a bit crazy.

Monday:
7:30am-8:25am Jazz Band
8:30-9:25 Concert Band (30 or so students)
9:30-10:25 Symphonc Band (20 students, more advanced)
11:35-12:20 8th Grade Band
12:25-1:10 7th Grade Band

Tuesday:
7:30am-8;25 Jazz Band
8:30-9:42 Symphonic Band
9:52-11:04 Concert Band
11:35-12:20 8th Grade Band
12:25-1:10 7th Grade Band

Wednesday:
7:30-8:25 Jazz Band
8:30-9:42 Concert Band
9:52-10:37 FOL (a class I get to choose and change depending on the day)
11:35-12:20 8th Grade Band
12:25-1:10 7th Grade Band

Thursday:
7:30-8:25 Jazz Band
8:30-9:42 Symphonic Band
9:52-10:37 FOL
11:35-12:20 8th Grade Band
12:25-1:10 7th Grade Band

Friday:
7:30am-8:25am Jazz Band
8:30-9:25 Concert Band
9:30-10:25 Symphonc Band
11:35-12:20 8th Grade Band
12:25-1:10 7th Grade Band

It's a modified block schedule at the high school, and a "traditonal" schedule at the middle school. Most of the time it's not bad, but Tuesdays are just crazy days where I run around all over. But I'm getting the hang of it, which is nice.

I haven't had much time for a social life while here. I've been hanging out quite a bit on weekends with Mary and Eric. They're the band teachers at Ninilchik (45 minutes north) and Anchor Point (20 minutes north). They are originally from the Midwest, taught in Colorado for three years, and now they're up here. They're really nice, and it's fun to be music geeky with them. Last night Mary and I went to my roommate's sister's concert - opera arias and duets. It was exciting. :)

I don't have a lot else going on right now. Classes are going well and the middle schoolers especially seem to like me. I'm also getting along relatively well with the high schoolers, it's just more difficult for them because they've had three different band directors since February. I have a feeling some of them worry that I won't be around for very long, and so I'm working on trying to change that opinion of me. I want them to know that I'm trying to build and get the band programs built back up, and that I want to support them and have them be successful. That's my main goal right now.