Newsletters

August Newsletter

Greetings! My name is Ricky Lethridge and I am the new Orchestra director at Lake Olympia. I’d like to just introduce myself and give you my contact information just in case you need to reach me. My email address is ricky.lethridge@fortbendisd.com and my office number is 281-329-4548. Please don’t hesitate to email, I try to answer emails within the day that I receive them if not the following day. I have many high goals for this program and I I am eager to help our students achieve those goals.

The Lake Olympia MS Open House is on Thursday September 1^st at 5pm-7pm. I’ll be there to answer any questions you may have. If you are looking for a new instrument for your child for the school year, please check out the orchestra handbook that your child received in the first week of school for recommended shops (no Amazon instruments please!). For Beginning Students: please try to order your rentals sooner than later. All instruments need to be rented by next Thursday September 1^st in order for your student to start learning how to play & care for their instrument before Labor Day.

In the Beginner classes, the students have been learning basics of note reading, composition, sight-reading and how to hold the bow (on a pencil). The cello class will start playing their instruments this week and hopefully the violin/viola class won’t be too far behind.

In the Ensemble classes, the students have been reviewing the fundamental learning of the D scale, Reading Rhythms, Playing as a Group and Individually. These students will have their first playing assignment due this Thursday via Schoology or in-class live. If you are able to allow your child to record their assignments at home, please do so. This is great because it allows the student to record many times and submit their best attempt in a private setting and read their comments at their own time instead of having to play in front of the class. There will be playing assignments that will have to be done live only but the students will be notified beforehand so they are ready to play live in front of the class.

I will be sending out newsletters every 3 weeks, during the 2^nd week of each grading period. I will include announcements of upcoming events, ask for volunteers for upcoming events, update you on the progress of the orchestra classes and try to include a spotlighted beginning student & ensemble student.

Announcements:

All supplies are needed In class by Friday August 26th!

Orchestra Board elections start next week on Thursday September 1st

September Newsletter

Greetings Mustang Orchestra Parents,

We are approaching Progress Report 2 next week so here's your 2nd newsletter of the school year.

Student Materials Checklist

Tomorrow during classes, students will be receiving a "Student Materials Checklist" to ensure all students have the necessary supplies for orchestra. There will be a graded supplies check on Thursday September 22nd for all students. Violin & Viola students will have 12 supplies to check, Cello & Bass students will have 11 supplies to check. Students will have the option of recording themselves with all materials at home and submit their video via Schoology OR they may bring all materials to class on Thursday September 22nd. All supplies can be bought online through Amazon or any other online store. However they must be in class and not "on the way" to being delivered. By September 22nd, we are in the 8th week of school so all supplies should be obtained by then.

T-shirt orders, Instrument Use Fees, and Orchestra Dues

Starting Monday September 19th, I will be collecting Instrument Use Fees and Orchestra Dues.

Instrument Use Fees will be $80 for the entire school year and must be paid online through RevTrak. (No cash, no checks)

Orchestra Dues will be $25 and will be available to pay via RevTrak. (I'll accept cash in an envelope with student name labeled on the envelope)

Every social event costs money to sponsor and host so the dues will hopefully pay for all of the snacks/drinks/ games that our students want to enjoy at our socials! We will have one social event per month (excluding May's Spring Fine Arts Field Trip).

T-shirt orders will commence on Monday October 3rd and be available for the whole month. Hopefully we'll have our shirts by Thanksgiving Break.

September Game Night Reschedule

After reviewing the advanced students' availability, PM Thursday activities are not a good day for us to socialize after school. I am going to reschedule our first social event for Tuesday September 20th at 4:30pm-6:00pm. This is optional and not at all graded but it is a time for our students to meet outside of rehearsing in class and have fun with each other. Social events were the best part of middle school orchestra growing up and I hope that your student is able to make some lifelong memories with their classmates just as I did. I will need 2-3 parent volunteers for helping with snack distribution and setup. If you are interested, please email me.

Class Progress

The Beginning classes are starting to read their first few notes and as book are being brought to class, they are starting to work their way through the Sound Innovations book and learn how to read properly. They are also learning their intervals (distances between notes). and will be adding a fourth interval next week. We are also working on posture fundamentals and how to hold the bow.

The Advanced classes are still reviewing the fundament scales (D & G) as well as intervals. They are about to receive their first two pieces for the Fall Concert tomorrow and will be working on that until Thursday October 13th.

October Newsletter

Greetings Mustang Orchestra Parents,

We are approaching the end of Term 1 this week so here's your 3rd newsletter of the school year.

Fall Concert next Thursday October 13th

Next Thursday at 6:30 pm we will be having our Fall Concert. The students have been preparing for this since the first week of school and I'm excited for you to hear their progress.

All students need to wear their "Concert Black" uniform. The students will be receiving a reminder letter with the uniform guidelines for the concert.

Call Time for the concert:

Students need to arrive dressed and ready at 5:45-6:05. During that time, their uniform will be graded, attendance checked, instrument tuned, and they'll be able to practice before the concert starts. Any student that arrives after that time will receive -10 points for being tardy to Call Time.

The concert should only last about 40 minutes total so as long as we start on time, we can finish within an hour.

T-shirt orders & Instrument Use Fees

T-shirt orders will commence on Monday October 3rd and be available until Wednesday November 9th. Hopefully we'll have our shirts by the week before Holiday Break.

November Newsletter

Good Afternoon Mustang Parents/Guardians,

Grading Period 2 has started and we are almost at Progress Report 3 (PR3)

Here are some announcements & updates for events and deadlines that are coming up.

Practice Reflections

Practice Reflections are a weekly log of practicing followed by a reflection of what they practiced/how did they use the practice strategy of the week/ current goals and techniques that we’re working on in class. Every Monday starts a new week. In order for students to receive a 100 for this assignment they need to: practice at least 150 MINUTES (2.5 hours) a week, complete the reflection on the front side, and turn it in with a parent/guardian signature. There is a breakdown of how many points they’ll receive if they don’t reach 150 minutes in the week. The signature is mainly as an accountability piece for them. If a student has been practicing for many minutes a week, it should reflect in their sound. It’s very obvious when students turn in 300 minutes but do not sound like they’ve played for one minute. You don’t need to listen to them practice at all. However I encourage you to ask them to perform for you before you give them your signature. This will help them learn how to prepare and be held accountable for what they turn in. There is a new practice reflection passed out at the beginning of the week (if not on Mondays). If your child is absent on Monday, I try to make sure to give them a new reflection on the day they’re back on campus.

T-shirt Orders & Sweatshirt/Hoodie

T-shirt orders have began and the last day to make an order for T-shirts is on Wednesday November 9^th so I can make the order before Thanksgiving break to receive our shirts before the Holiday Break in December. Unfortunately due to little fundraising over the last few years, I cannot purchase the T-shirts without the order money from almost every student. Our orchestra is currently 32 members strong and the minimum order for shirts with Gandy Ink at the current price is 31 shirts, so we need everyone to make their order before the 9^th in order to receive the shirts by the Holiday Break.

The students have requested an orchestra hoodie this year and I want to get that started after we have made the T-shirt Order. More info on this before the Thanksgiving Break.

Weekly Sectional (Advanced Students only!)

We will resume weekly sectionals next week starting Tuesday November 1^st, with the Basses. Since there is no school on Monday, Viola students will have their sectional during class next week. On Wednesday, I’ll see Cellos after school and on Thursday, I’ll see the violins after school. Sectionals are now from 4:20-5:15 to give us 5 more minutes of time. They are graded and mandatory. If you know that your child will not be able to attend a sectional, please email me in advance for a make up assignment.

Upcoming Events & Deadlines

Last day for T-shirt orders…………………………. Wednesday November 9^th

Winter Concert Rehearsal & Social…………….Wednesday December 2^nd 4:30-5:30 (Social ends at 6:30)

Winter Concert at LOMS……………………………Thursday December 8^th at 6:30pm

Class Progress

Beginners are playing with their bows in every class and working on developing their sound. Today they had a playing test over one of the variations that they will perform at the Winter Concert. I am pleased to say that they will be prepared to perform! They ill be receiving another piece tomorrow in which they'll perform at the Winter Concert.

Advanced Orchestra classes were tested over the two octave C Major scale today. Grades were good and I have heard many improvements since their last major scale test. They will be receiving their last two concert pieces next week (fingers crossed on the piece that is on the way).

Thanksgiving Newsletter

Happy Thanksgiving Mustang Parents,

Here are some announcements & updates for events and deadlines that are coming up.

T-shirt Order Has Been Placed!

T-shirt orders have been placed and will most likely arrive the Tuesday before Christmas Break in December. If you still need to place your order please pay by visiting the Lake Olympia Orchestra section of Revtrak. Hoodie orders will commence in January to give you all a chance to recover from Christmas shopping!

Weekly Sectional (Advanced Students only!)

There will be NO sectionals during December. We will commence after school sectionals in January to start preparing for UIL Contest and Solo & Ensemble Contest.

Winter Concert & Rehearsals

In order to prepare for the Winter Concert, we will be having rehearsals as combined classes.

The Advanced classes (3^rd & 4^th) will have a rehearsal on Thursday December 1^st from 4:30-5:30.

The Beginning classes (2^nd & 6^th) will have a rehearsal on Wednesday Dec. 7^th from 4:30-5:30.

Winter Concert is on Thursday December 8^th at 6:30pm in the Cafeteria. Please pan to come out and enjoy Christmas classics played by our students!

Upcoming Events

Advanced Winter Concert Rehearsal …………….Thursday December 1^st 4:30-5:30

Beginner Winter Concert Rehearsal…………….Wednesday December 7^th 4:30-5:30

Winter Concert at LOMS……………………………Thursday December 8^th at 6:30pm

End of Term 2……………………………………………….Friday December 16^th

String Fling (Beginners Only)………………………..………………………Thursday February 2^nd at 7pm

I hope you have a great Thanksgiving holiday!

--Mr. Lethridge

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