***MID-TERM GRADES will be recorded at 3:00 pm THIS Friday, February 3rd.  As stated in the 3rd Quarter Cheat Sheet, we will be basing them on 3 grades, two of which MUST be lessons.  (In other words, they need to have at least TWO lessons in before February 3, plus either another lesson or their computer assignments.)  We have plugged zeros into three columns and will replace them as lessons/computer assignments have been completed. 

NIU JAZZ DAY- Friday, February 3.  We will be leaving NSHS at 7:30 am for DeKalb, IL.  Both Jazz Bands will be performing at NIU and receiving a workshop from 3 members of the NIU Faculty on their performance.  The itinerary is posted on the “Communications” page with detailed information.  As it says on the itinerary, we should be returning to Eldridge at ~6:00 pm.

PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES will be Thursday, February 16 from 3:30-7:30 p.m. and Thursday, February 23 from 3:30-7 p.m.  We will be in the commons, so stop by and say hello!

MEDICAL FORM:  ****PLEASE use the electronic MEDICAL FORM.  It was created so you can type right into it and print off a nice, easy-to-read copy for us.  There is very important information on there, and we want to be able to read every letter/number!!  :)  It is posted on the webpage (click on “Communications” at the top middle of the main page).  Please return those to us ASAP! 

CALENDAR(S)-  The band calendars are all posted on the webpage (www.nsband.com, click on “Full Calendar” at the top of the main page) in different versions.  There are printable list versions, an interactive webpage version, and printable calendars that you can print off as a whole or by month and use as actual calendars!  Either way, it is ALL THERE!

BAND T-SHIRTS:  Our awesome “North Scott Band” T-Shirts are available for purchase from the Band Department.  They are $8 for band students (junior high AND high school), and $10 for all others.  We have S, M, L, XL, and 2X available.  The cost for 2X and larger (we can order 3X if needed) goes up $2 for the special order.  We sell them to the students at cost, so we just follow the rates from GT Sports.  The sizes run fairly true (if anything, maybe slightly smaller) and they are a 50/50 blend.  To view the T-shirts, go to www.nsband.com/merchandise.htm .  Long-sleeved NS Band T-shirts will also be ordered (gray or red), so let us know if you would like one, and what size is preferred.INSTRUMENT RENTAL FEES-  To help offset the cost of yearly instrument maintenance/repair, we are asking all students who are using school instruments (including percussionists) to pay the yearly rental fee of $40.  This covers less than half of the cost to send it in over the summer, due to wear and tear, etc.  We also ask that the students TAKE CARE OF THE EQUIPMENT!  If there is any excessive damage done due to carelessness or neglect (such as not putting the instruments in the cases before putting them into lockers), we will be asking the parents/students to cover the cost.  We understand that accidents will happen, but we also expect the students to do their best to avoid situations that might create problems (i.e. setting the instrument on the floor in a room full of people, setting it on a music stand, not putting it back IN THE CASE before putting it in their locker, etc.).