Mr. Hayden Sometimes kids will ask me "what do you even do on those days when we don't have school?" That's actually a great question! Teachers, just like many other professionals constantly need to be challenged to create new and innovate way?s of making sure that kids are reaching their potential. We need to find new ways to find out if kids really are indeed learning what we want them to learn. In recent years there has been a push for data collection and analysis. What does this mean for music? That's the million dollar question. The most logical response would be to ask people to attend our concerts and you can see and hear what we've been working on every day in class, right? Certainly our concerts are a unique way of displaying the work we have done on a daily basis, but how do we know kids are really learning, and how do we demonstrate to the parents that, yes indeed, they are learning, and more important WHAT they are learning. Our professional development focuses on how we can best achieve this goal to the maximum benefit for the kids. As the year goes forward you will notice an increased effort to look at some specific skills and taking short assessments to find out where we need to target our teaching. So, despite you thinking we're sitting around playing board games, WE ARE WORKING to make BC the best place possible for students to achieve!!
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9/9/2016It has been another busy week here in the Vocal Music Department! The musical is in their second week of rehearsals, and the students are working hard to bring you a fantastic show in November! Choreography sessions have been taped and have been sent to the students through email so they can practice at home! This week is our last push for fundraising - all fundraising materials need to be turned in on Tuesday September 13th! With the 15th anniversary of 9/11 approaching this Sunday, the students took some class time on Friday to learn about the events of 9/11. Here is a link to the National Geographic video that was shown during class: https://youtu.be/qG6rNrmKzcs. Come out to the football game tonight @ BC to support the Marching Bobcats! Our students of the week for the week of 9/12 are our Show Choir Crew Co-Chiefs Sam Becker and Garrett King! We want to highlight the awesome work that our crew does for us throughout the year. We are very appreciative! Sam and Garrett will be in charge this year of making sure that continues to be an effective piece of our puzzle! Hello, My name is Sam Becker. I am a junior at Benton Community High School. This year I am participating in Concert Choir, Show Choir Crew, Band Crew, FFA, 4-H and Benton Basic. On the week days after school I work at my family business where I help restore old cars into show cars. I like to travel and meet new people. In my free time I enjoy the outdoors, and spending time with my six nieces. Zachary SchmitzI am the myth, the legend. I am Zachary Schmitz. I am a Senior at Benton community high school. My interests include long walks on the beach, and working with electronics in the auditorium. I am a volunteer Firefighter in Atkins, IA. Next year I will be attending Kirkwood then the U Of I for Social Studies Education. Tyler EggertTyler Eggert is the son of Jay and Amy Eggert of Atkins. Tyler was born in Cedar Rapids and has lived his whole life in Newhall and Atkins. His K-8th grade years were spent at Central Lutheran school in Newhall and started at the high school in 9th grade. He has a sister Morgan, a sophomore at Concordia in Seward, Nebraska and a brother, Cam who is a sophomore at BC.
Tyler has always enjoyed sports. He has been involved in baseball, soccer, basketball, track, piano, played alto saxophone, and golf. He has been in choir and show choir since 5th grade, had a solo in show choir his sophomore year, and last year participated in an ensemble at our solo/ensemble contest. This year he's hoping to play post for the basketball team, or perhaps become the assistant coach. This is all still a bit in the air. Tyler was extremely excited about becoming the vocal music student of the week and exclaimed "What's that?". The vocal music department is looking forward to his leadership in his final year at BC! SHOW ME THE BENJAMIN'S!!!!!!!!! You could have this cool wallet (and maybe a surprise in side!?) if you fill out your REACH OUT book and bring back by Tuesday! Today is PICTURE DAY!!!!!!! Hope yours all turned out as well as mine. Happy Labor Day weekend to everyone!! Last day was a four day week, this week was FULL, but the next two weeks are both 4 day weeks. Students love it I'm sure! This week was awesome because we could put away all the policies and handbooks and start to make music! That's what we are all here for and it was a fun week to start moving toward that again. We have an opportunity this weekend to help at Sauerkraut Days and the town is making a donation to the music dept. in return. Thank you to all who help make that possible! The students below in grades 8-12 have graciously offered their time! Madison Miller, Trenton Neis, Emily Colby, Carissa Curry, Sam Becker, Stuart Tiedmann, Dylan Niebes, Cade Timmerman, Eli Hull, Madelyn Rodman and Hailey Mills. Also, thanks to parent Karen Miller for offering to help! Last year SKD gave us $500 and it is much appreciated! If you still can help, I can take volunteers up until 3:30 today. We kicked off our fund raising drive on Monday for kids going on the DC/NYC trip. Please see one of our music students or contact us if you wish to help out and purchase something to support the kids going on the trip, and/or the music department. You can CLICK here to register. Use the on line code 1824358 The fund raiser is focused on magazine sales as well as a food/frozen food catalog with lots of awesome items! The slight adjustment to student of the week will be that it won't have to be a boy and a girl, and we're going to limit it to High School. Some weeks it may be one, but we'll try to have 2 every week. Students of the week this week were Gracie Jurgens and Luke Petersen for their work over the Summer with theatre camp and Illusions rehearsals. Students of the week for NEXT week are Zach Schmitz for his extra hours this week cleaning up the light and sound booth in the auditorium. The other student of the week for next week is Tyler Eggert for his work in the vocal music area as a service learner. He's been a big help moving things around, getting things put away and eating the food in my cabinet. So, congrats to Tyler and Zach!!! You can look for their picture and bios on Monday on the blog. We wish you all a happy and safe Labor Day Weekend!! See you all Tuesday. Gracie JurgensHello, my name is Gracie Jurgens and I am a senior here at Benton Community. I try to help out around the fine arts department as much as I can. This last summer I helped with Benton Rising Stars Theater Camp and this school year I am helping with the middle school show choir, Illusions. I am involved in marching band, concert band, show choir band, fall musical, and spring play. I participate in many choirs at school including concert choir, madrigal, chamber choir, and show choir. On top of my school activities I work at the Keystone Mini Mart a couple days a week. Next year I plan to go to St. Ambrose in Davenport and major in Forensic Psychology. Luke PetersenHello. My name is Luke Peterson and I'm a senior here at Benton Community. Throughout the school year I am involved in concert choir, show choir, madrigal choir, the fall musical, speech, the spring play and numerous volunteer activities. Two of my volunteer activities include helping with Illusions, the 7th and 8th grade show choir, as well as as helping out at our Rising Star theatre camp. I would describe myself as friendly, sociable, and a jokester. I think laughter makes the day go by faster! While I still have one more year of high school left, this will not be the end of my fine arts experience. I plan on continuing with theatre and choir in college too, all while working on my goal of becoming a criminal prosecutor. When not at school or a fine arts event, you can usually find me working at the Newhall First Stop. On my days off, I like to pass the time by reading and more importantly watching Netflix. Anyone that knows me can vouch that I am a huge Glee and Criminal Minds fan. Glee appeals to me because of my fine arts background, whereas Criminal Minds is a favorite because of want I want to do as a career. So far the 2016-2017 year is off to a great start, and I am sure to make my senior year count. I plan on making tons more memories with my friends, but being the first Student of the Week is definitely a memory I'll keep with me. It is at real honor and I'm glad I get to share my Student of the Week title with Gracie.
This blog post is coming to you from Mrs. Schmuecker. I am so excited to be back in the classroom working with your kids after a summer of travel and relaxation. This summer I volunteered for the BC Rising Stars Theater Camp, took a cruise with my parents, brother and sister, celebrated Ellie's first birthday, took a mini family vacation to the Wisconsin Dells, went on a short camping trip with my husband, and started Illusions up with a mini retreat. Here are a few pictures of our fun! We have had a great week back at school! All curricular choirs have started pieces for their first concert and the show choirs have all been introduced to their shows for the year! Information for next week: Morning Rehearsals (Beginning at 7:30am): Monday, Wednesday and Friday - All State Thursday - 9th Grade OPUS Bobcat Time: Monday- Cel Co. in Choir Room, Jubi Girls On Stage, Jubi Boys in Aud - SH Tuesday- Jubi Boys in Choir Room, Jubi Girls & Cele. Co Boys in Aud - SH, Cel Co. Girls on Stage Wednesday- Jubi Boys/Girls on Stage, Cele Co. in Choir Room Thursday- All Jubi in Aud - SH, Cele Co. Girls on Stage, Cele Co. Boys in Choir Room Friday- All Jubi in Choir Room, All Cele. Co. - SH Week of 8/22 Students of The Week: Our first students of the week for the High School are : Luke Petersen and Gracie Jurgens. Luke and Gracie were chosen because they were two students who volunteered for two Fine Arts events this summer. Congratulations! Stay tuned for Luke and Gracie's write ups! Our first student of the week for Middle School are : Seamus Hurley for his trip to Europe this summer, and Eli Hull for singing every word of the fight song at this afternoon's pep rally! Congratulations! (As soon as we see them, we'll get a picture posted) Stay tuned for Seamus and Eli's write ups!
Welcome to the 2016-17 School Year!!!!
Mr. Hayden and Mrs. Schmuecker will be starting this BLOG this year to help maintain information and an open line of communication between ourselves, student and parents. Mrs. Schmuecker and Mr. Hayden named this Blog "Peanut Butter and Jelly" because.... 1. Everyone likes either peanut butter, or Jelly 2. We go together 3. We compliment each other 4. We spend a lot of time together 5. We fill your soul with music, like Peanut Butter and Jelly fills your stomach. (?) 6. Mrs. Schmuecker's last name is a Jelly company, so she's jelly. 7. Mr. Hayden is a little nutty, so he's peanut butter. This first BLOG entry is from Mr. Hayden! ****************************************************** Tuesday, August 23, 2016 First day of school! We are so excited to meet all the new 7th grade students and glad to see all the returning students as well. We are in our 2nd year of the transition from block scheduling to an 8 period day. This presents challenges for students and teachers as well, but hopefully it will continue to transition well for all! This year will be different for me as well as our oldest daughter heads off to college and won't be a part of the BC music program anymore. We are excited about the year to come. I spent my Summer doing tons of traveling with my family. My wife and I chaperoned the band trip to Canada in June. Lots of beautiful things to see up North, especially Niagara Falls! We traveled to Orlando and Nashville as well where my Quartet I sing with competed at the International Quartet Competition. We finished up the Summer in the Wisconsin Dells with my wife's family. Things to think about for this week: Morning practices: Wednesday is All State, Thursday nothing, Friday All State all at 7:30 am. Bobcat Time: Tuesday is everyone, Wednesday is Jubilation only, Thursday is Cel Co in choir room and Jubi girls on stage, Friday is a pep rally Friday: We will announce our first ever Student of the Week RIGHT HERE ON OUR BLOG!!! We hope you find information, inspiration, education and maybe a laugh or two on our BLOG this year!! Here are some pics from my Summer! |
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