RCHS Marching Tigers friends, families, and students, 

As many of you know, two big developments were unveiled yesterday, July 29th. The first was from Governor Pritzker pertaining to high school athletics in 2020-2021. The other was from the Richland County School District pertaining to the fall term, and potentially longer. 

The state of Illinois has grouped high school athletics into three categories: 1) high risk of transmission, 2) medium risk of transmission, & 3) low risk of transmission. Low risk sports (such as cross country, and golf) may continue their season unaltered. Sports deemed high risk of transmission (such as wrestling and football) have been postponed until the spring - likely hoping a vaccine is available at that time. The RCHS Marching Tigers is a class, which means that we are not able to move marching band to another term. That being said, the Symphonic Band and Honors Wind Ensemble may play in the stands during football games. We just won't be able to march a field show in the spring.

We knew this was a possibility, which is why we were planning on incorporating a Halloween Fright Night/Trunk-or-Treat performance, sessions with college marching band directors on the RCHS campus, and parades into our season. I should mention that there is always a possibility that parades may be cancelled for the season. We still believe there were plenty of musical opportunities available to students while maintaining the safest environment possible in a school setting. For that matter, a lighter performance schedule means that we can do more "out-of-the-box" activities that I believe the students will enjoy, and that will keep them musically engaged in a safe environment.  

In addition to Governor Pritzker's announcement, the Richland County School District also put out a notice. For the month of September, the high school will meet two days "on campus" with the remainder of the week designated as remote learning. I say "on campus" because classes will take place in churches and other venues until construction of the high school is complete. The marching band will meet in the stadium. This is still very doable! The show has already been written with less sets/pictures, but we will likely only work two movements of the field show this season. A rough-draft schedule of the first term may be found at the bottom of this post. Please keep in mind that the schedule may change. 

To top this off, I was informed a few days ago that I have papillary thyroid cancer. I am scheduled for surgery next week. The good news is that thyroid cancer is slow growing and very treatable; however, I will need at least two to three weeks to recover from the surgery. 

Taking into account all of these factors, the staff and I have decided to finish the week of camp and end camp after August 1st. That means that we will not meet during the portion of the camp that runs Monday, August 3rd to Friday, August 7th. We are also cancelling all summer practices. Practice won't resume until the first day of school on campus.

It is a bit of a bummer! None of us are happy that there are no competitions or halftime shows at games this year. With all that we have planned, I still believe the students will have a great time this term. They just don't have to work as hard for their P.E. credit this term! We will reuse the show next year, with modifications. Students who solos have solos or duets this year will keep them for the 2021 season. 

Winds & percussion, you still need your summer uniform (department shirt, shorts, and Drillmasters or CrossOvers). Guard members need jazz pants, dance shoes, and guard gloves. New members may find the clothing order form at https://forms.gle/ENfQxo7e74rBAgCJ7. The due date is Friday. You may also find the show attire under the order form. 

I reduced the class fee from $200 to $165 since the Marching Tigers did not spend preseason at Eastern Illinois University this year. Mrs. Deimel, Mr. Vaal, & Mr. Tucker will be with us the entire season. After August 1st, Mr. Brickner may join us on a rehearsal from time-to-time. Mrs. Allen, Mrs. Astriuski, Mr. Combs, & Mr. Downes will not be joining us this season, except for possibly an occasional master class on campus. Because they are not on staff this season, I plan on returning $42 of each student's band class fee. Please be patient with me! The $42 refund will sit in your son's/daughter's band student account for future use. That being said, if you prefer a check, please let me know. It may take a few weeks to cut checks, but I am happy to do so. Please contact me through Remind101 or by email at cjones@rccu1.net. 

We have just started the 2020 season and the members of the Marching Tigers have done a great job following the procedures set by the COVID-19 Risk Mitigation Plan for the Marching Tigers. It is now just part of our daily routine. We will continue to follow the Risk Mitigation Plan once the school year starts. 

GROUP 1A (Color Guard, Brass, Drumline):

• Mondays & Wednesdays during early bird period and 1st period
• Saturdays (September 5th, 12th, and October 17th) from 8:50am-12:20pm.  
• Additional color guard practice on Thursdays from 6:00-8:00pm
• Possible drumline practice on Tuesday on campus from 8:00-9:00am
• Tuesdays, Thursdays, & Fridays are remote learning with focus on individual preparation.

GROUP 1B (Woodwinds, & Front Ensemble):

• Tuesdays & Thursdays during early bird period and 1st period
• Saturdays (September 5th, 12th, and October 17th) from 8:50am-12:20pm.  
• Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays are remote learning with focus on individual preparation.

I know there is a lot to digest here! Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions. Just remember that this is just one season, and there is still a lot to be had!

Best Regards,


Christopher N. Jones
Director of Bands & Music Teacher
F. +1 (555) 3911 2087
P. (618) 393-2191 ext. 3137
Web // www.rchsbands.net
A. 1200 E. Laurel St., Olney, IL 62450
...
“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” - George Bernard Shaw

Hello, everyone! I put most details out yesterday, but I want to clarify a few details. I also want to make sure that those that are not able to attend camp also have access to this information. 

1. Saturday rehearsals on August 15th, 22nd, and 29th have been cancelled. All other Saturday rehearsals, including the rehearsal this Saturday (August 1st) will continue as planned. 

2. Freshman and first-year-marchers, please bring your instrument, binder, flip folder, and tuner to morning rehearsals. Our rehearsal in the mornings are as follows: 

9:00-10:30......................Marching 101(five minute water break every 20 min.)
10:31-10:45....................Extended break
10:45-11:30....................Rehearse music & Inside the Circle with section leader

3. Bring your own water and wear sun screen to each rehearsal. 

4. Check-In with Mrs. Deimel by the parking lot before reporting to your assigned spot. Wear a mask at all times until a staff member (not student-leadership) tells you to remove the masks. You may take your instrument out of the case, but no playing until instructed to do so. 

5. Should you need reeds, music, or other items from Mr. Jones, the time to do that is either between 11:30-12:29, or after rehearsal. 

6. For those that have not done so, please turn in your handbook agreement form, equipment contract, and your class fee ASAP. 

​Thank you.

Hello, RCHS Marching Tigers friends, family, & students! This is just a reminder that the first day of camp starts tomorrow, Monday, July 27th at the middle school. 

Students, you need to maintain 6' distance from others. Also, interactions between students should be limited to those within your respective groups (1. Woodwinds, 2. Brass with Bari Saxophones, 3. Drumline & Color Guard, & 4. Front Ensemble). Group sizes range from 6-21 members. 

Students, please ensure that you are wearing athletic wear (t-shirt, shorts, socks, and tennis shoes), a face mask. Winds, you will take off the masks when once you are set on the field and are playing. Bring the following additional items to camp:

• insurance card uploaded onto CutTime.net
  
• signed copy of your RCHS Bands Handbook Agreement Form
• signed copy of your instrument sign-out form (for those using school instruments)
• lunch money or a sack lunch (1st year marchers and student-leaders)
• 1-quarter beverage cooler with water (no water fountains or sharing containers)
• sun screen
• 1" binder
• pencil
• tuner
• flip folder & lyre (show music inside)
• Both chapters of "Inside the Circle" ('woodwind/brass/or percussion' chapter, and the 'full ensemble' chapter for your respective instruments)
• instrument 
• 3 reeds (two as a back-up)
• Valve oil, slide grease, cork grease, water spray bottle, etc. 

I would also ask that you review CutTime to make sure that every field has been filled out. Alumni from St. Joe, you may not know your student I.D. We can get that at a later date. Among the most important details to include are your personal email address, home address, phone numbers, personal health information (at the bottom of the screen), and your Insurance card. 

Finally, student-leaders, I will see you at 8am Monday, and 8:30am Tuesday through Friday at the middle school the week of July 27th. We will be at the high school August 1st, and 3rd-7th.

1st year marchers will report to the middle school with student-leaders at 9am. Those student-leaders that do not have a 1st year marcher, members of the front ensemble, and veteran marching band members do not need to stick around for the 9-11:30am session. I will, however, need to see all student-leaders at 8am Monday. 

Those not In attendance Friday, July 24th, please report to the middle school at 12pm. This gives us time to sign-out equipment (instruments and other supplies). 

All members of the 2020 Marching Tigers will report to the middle school at the times listed below. 

Please make sure to eat a healthy breakfast and lunch. Drink lots of water. No caffeinated beverages during camp, please! Everyone needs to have plenty of fluids and topped-off energy for camp. 

Don't forget! Your section leaders have done this before! They are a great source for information. You may also contact me directly. Please let me know should you have any questions by messaging me on Remind101 or emailing me at cjones@rccu1.net. 

It is important that everyone signs up for Remind101. It is a texting service that allows me to communicate with everyone instantaneously and at no cost. Register by texting to the phone number 81010 the following registration codes: 

MARCHING BAND STUDENTS (no parents, please) = @hee97a
RCHS STUDENTS (no parents, please) = @rchsx
COLOR GUARD STUDENTS (no parents, please) = @32fkk23
RCHS PARENTS/GUARDIANS (no students, please) = @rchsz

All details pertaining to the 2020 marching band season may be found at https://www.rchsbands.net/2020-season-information.htmlwww.rchsbands.net/2020-season-information.html. 

In the event of heavy rain or thunderstorms this week, I will send out a Remind101 message, and an email notification when a rehearsal is cancelled. You will receive a message no later than 8am for morning rehearsals, and 11:20am for afternoon rehearsals. Unless you get a notice through one of those two means, assume that the rehearsal is not cancelled. 

​I will see you all tomorrow!

RCHS Marching Tigers students, parents, & guardians,

The beginning of the 2020 marching band season is only a few days away! If you haven’t already, please make sure to review detail pertaining to the 2020 season by visiting https://www.rchsbands.net/2020-season-information.html. There is a wealth of information on the website, including the COVID-19 Risk Mitigation Plan for the Marching Tigers.


Students, our first meeting is this Friday, July 24th at the Richland County Middle School. We will meet along the sidewalk that runs behind the RCHS band room. Please do not walk through the building. Instead, from the parking lot, walk around the middle school to the back of the building. Meeting outside allows for maximum air dispersion, and social distancing between staff and students. That being said, students will still need a face mask.

I don’t expect students to be on campus longer than an hour. Parents & guardians, you may join us, but you are not required to do so. Leadership, you will report with your sections.


STUDENT ASSIGNMENT PRIOR TO FRIDAY, JULY 24:
Brass & woodwind players, please email me, or message me on Remind, should you need a school instrument this season. Your instrument will be disinfected and ready for pick-up on Friday. If you would like to use the same instrument that you used during the 2019 season, message me the case number as well. My email address is cjones@rccu1.net.


BAND LOGISTICS DAY ON 7/24:
The purpose of meeting with students this Friday, July 24th is so that we may get the beginning-of-the-year logistics out of the way before our first rehearsal on Monday, July 27th. The Marching Tigers have been divided into groups (woodwinds, brass, drumline & color guard, and the front ensemble), and even further into “pods”. There are nine or less students in every pod. I shall meet with each pod at designated times this Friday. Please let me know if you are unable to join us during your designated time. You will be reschedule for a later time. You may find your pod, as well as your scheduled time, by visiting the link that I shared in the first paragraph of this letter.

During the course of each pod’s meeting on Friday, July 24th, students will…

• • discuss the 2020 marching band season (camps, rehearsals, & performances)
  • discuss the COVID-19 Risk Mitigation Plan for the Marching Tigers
  • meet their section leader
  • sign-out a guard bag with flags (color guard only)
  • sign-out a school instrument (if needed)
  • sign-out mallets (front ensemble only)
  • sign-out a flip folder and lyre
  • sign-out a tuner (winds only)
  • purchase reeds (if needed - students may purchase reeds directly from a music store or another vendor)
  • pick-up sheet music (if you have not already printed a copy rchsbands.net
  • pick-up the “Inside the Circle” book (if you have not already printed a copy)
  • pick-up the RCHS Bands Handbook & Handbook Agreement Form
  • pick-up a parent volunteer letter
  • update CutTime (https://www.cuttime.net)
  • scan parent’s insurance card (please bring with you this Friday)
  • register for SmartMusic
  • register for Remind101
  • submit department clothing orders (if needed)

Students will need to purchase a 1” binder, a 1-quart beverage container/cooler filled with water, and at least one pencil. Please wear shorts, t-shirt, socks, and tennis shoes this Friday if possible. Lastly, do not forget to bring your cell phone and a copy of your parents’/guardians’ insurance card.

I look forward to seeing you all! As always, please feel free to contact me should you have any questions. - Mr. Jones

Good evening, RCHS Marching Tigers friends, family, and students. My name is Christopher Jones, director of bands at Richland County High School. This message is an update regarding the COVID-19 Risk Mitigation Plan for the RCHS Marching Tigers, information on how to order band attire, and details pertaining to your first meeting on Friday, July 24th. This message, as well as anything related to RCHS Bands may be found online at rchsbands.net under the 2020 Marching Tigers Season Information tab.

First, just a reminder that the class fee is due Friday, July 17th. The clothing fee deadline has been postponed until July 24th. The online Marching Tigers Attire order form may be found online at rchsbands.net.

As you are all aware, the COVID-19 pandemic still looms large over schools. To best ensure the safety of our students and staff, I created the COVID-19 Risk Mitigation Plan for the Marching Tigers that complies with the standards set by the Illinois School Board of Education, the National Federation of State High School Associations, the Illinois High School Association, the Illinois Public Health Department, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The COVID-19 Risk Mitigation Plan for the Marching Tigers is a 12-page document that may be found at https://www.rchsbands.net/covid-19-risk-mitigation-plan.html.

When factoring in that the marching band will only rehearse outside, has built in social distancing into the drill, has segmented the band into four groups that maintain 30’ spacing from each other, and a multitude of other risk mitigation procedures, it is very likely that students participating in the RCHS Marching Tigers actually have a lower risk of contracting COVID-19 than nearly any other class offered at RCHS. When you have a moment, we encourage that you to review the COVID-19 Risk Mitigation Plan at https://www.rchsbands.net/covid-19-risk-mitigation-plan.html.

Students, our first meeting is scheduled for Friday, July 24th between 9 am and 1 pm. We will meet in groups of nine students or less between 9am and 1pm. You will find your report time at https://www.rchsbands.net/2020-season-information.html. Please wear a mask to the meeting. You will also need a copy of your insurance card, and your cell phone.

VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS: Please contact me should your son or daughter have issues that may compromise his or her health. There is flexibility on when and how a student may participate in the marching band. 

Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions. I may be reached at cjones@rccu1.net, or at (618) 393-2191 ext. 3137. At this time, email is the best way to contact me. ​

Thank you for your time.

RCHS Marching Tigers friends, family, and students. My name is Christopher Jones, director of bands at Richland County High School with an update regarding the preseason camp and the 2020 marching band season. This message, as well as anything related to RCHS Bands may be found at www.rchsbands.net.

First, just a reminder that the class fee and the department clothing fee is due Friday, July 17th. The class fee has been reduced in cost due to changes to our preseason camp. The class fee is now $165. The sibling class fee is $120. Please make out checks to RCHS Bands. In the subject line, please notate band class fee & the student’s name.

We accept cash or credit cards, however, if you are able, please pay in check. Please mail payments to RCHS Bands, 1200 E. Laurel St. Olney, IL 62450. You may drop off your payment with the high school office, which has temporarily been relocated to room 140 at the middle school due to construction.

Students, you have homework over the next three of weeks! The student-leadership of the Marching Tigers put together a tutorial video on marching fundamentals. I ask that you review the video prior to camp. That video may be found on the band’s website under RCHS ENSEMBLES > MARCHING TIGERS.

We are nearly upon the beginning of the marching band season. Camp dates starts July 24th at the middle school. We resume at the high school stadium on July 27th through August 1st, and August 3rd through August 7th, again at RCHS. The preseason camp is not at Eastern Illinois University this year. There are summer rehearsals that follow the preseason camp. For the full list of dates, please visit www.rchsbands.net.

I encourage everyone to review the 2020 marching band season video posted on the band’s website. There is simply too much information to present in this message. You may find details pertaining to ALL THINGS Marching Tigers at www.rchsbands.net.

As always, please feel free to contact me should you have any questions. I may be reached at cjones@rccu1.net, or at (618) 393-2191 ext. 3137.

RCHS Bands students,

For those of you enrolled in the Honors Wind Ensemble, and the Symphonic Band, I assigned a portion of the ILMEA Senior Scales at the beginning of the week. The due date is this Sunday, May 10th. You are welcome to complete the assignment anytime prior to the due date. There are no further assignments for the remainder of the year. We are not performing at the graduation ceremony.

I have one more task for each of you before we close out the school year. I need every student to return the following:

• School instrument(s)
• Tuner
• Leather folder (Honors Wind only)
• Sheet music (original copies only)
• Mute(s) (brass only)
  
• Flip folder
• Lyre
• Tuxedo (bow tie, dress shirt, vest, slacks, and jacket)
• Concert dress

Several of the school instruments are going to the shop for yearly maintenance. Students also needs students to complete the following:

• Pay any outstanding music department fees (check Cuttime.net)
• Clean out band lockers

Students may stop by the high school between 2-6 pm Thursday (5/7), and anytime after 12pm Friday (5/8) by appointment. Please send me a message via Remind101 or by email if you plan on dropping by Friday. My email address is cjones@rccu1.net.

For those of you enrolled in the 2020 Marching Tigers, you will receive the show music this summer. My hope is that I can upload the sheet music onto the website before the end of May.

Please feel free to contact us should you have any questions. If I don't have a chance to see you before the end of the term, enjoy your summer!

If you reserved a marching band award, they are ready for pick-up. Unfortunately, a few awards have been lost since the first inventory, which was about this time last year. Please review the attached spreadsheet so that you don't make an unnecessary trip.

For those that have awards ready, stop by anytime this week. Your awards are on a table in classroom 116. Construction is moving fast, so please stop by before Friday, May 1st. Classroom 116 is located next to what used to be the teacher's lounge on the first floor. I know the office staff is on-sight until 12 pm. After that and I recommend that you call ahead. The Richland County High School phone number is (618) 837-0397.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1QQs3HXmPBl6f1BJ4tbLW-80YGuZPDR8zUgv0xvJLHU4/edit?usp=sharing
 
Please let me know should you have any questions or issues.

Hello, everyone. I hope you folks are safe and are all weathering the COVID-19 pandemic well!

I want to keep everyone up to date regarding RCHS Bands approach to attendance and grading, per the guidelines set out by the RCCU1 superintendent, Mr. Simpson.

GRADES:
Assignments for the first two weeks will receive feedback (percentage via SmartMusic), but are not graded. Starting Monday, April 30th, In-Class Work, Written Assignments, Tests, and Projects (Concerts) will factor into a class's final grade. The final grade will either be a PASS or FAIL. These four areas will be weighted as follows:

IN-CLASS WORK = 30%
TESTS = 30%
PROJECTS = 30%
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS = 10%


"CLASSROOM" MATERIALS: SmartMusic & Schoology. Weekly assignments are posted under https://www.rccu1.schoology.com. In-Class Work & Tests are completed at https://www.smartmusic.com, unless other arrangements have been made. Written Assignments are submitted under Schoology. Internet access, a computer or tablet is required for eLearning. Also required is Google Chrome, and/or the new SmartMusic app.

IN-CLASS WORK (SmartMusic): For those that notice, I assign one short sight-reading exercise for each "school day". To give students the flexibility to complete assignments at their own pace, assigned due dates for sight-reading are at the end of the week. These assignments under SmartMusic (www.smartmusic.com) will fall within In-Class Work, which will take the place of your in-class rehearsal grade. Those assignments will appear as a letter and a number (for example B-3). The Honors Wind Ensemble is working on rank 4. The Symphonic Band is working on rank 3. Each sight-reading assignment is worth 10 points within the In-Class Work category.

TESTS (SmartMusic): Tests will still continue to count as a test in SkyWard. Tests are either an excerpt of the ILMEA Senior Scales or a concert band piece (Holst 1st Suite, Bright Sunny Day, etc.). Each test is worth 100 points within the Tests category.

PROJECTS (Video or Audio Recordings): Typically, this category covers performances. Truth be told, we may likely not have a typical performance this term. I am looking into a "virtual concert", in which each student records themselves performing and I combine all recordings into one master recording. Once complete RCHS Bands would publish the end product onto https://www.rchsbands.net. But again, I have never done this and I'm not sure if this can successfully be done. More details coming later! Each project is worth 100 points within the Projects category.

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS (Schoology): There would be few written assignments, just as they were in other terms not effected by COVID-19. Written assignments will involve writing a small paper regarding a performance or a performer. Criteria will be posted on https:www.rccu1.schoology.com https://www.rccu1.schoology.com. Each test is worth 100 points within the In-Written Assignments category.

RECOMMENDATION TO STUDENTS: It is recommended that each student reserves time daily for class work. Routine is key when taking classes remotely (eLearning or paper packets). This recommendation is for all of your classes, not just band.

Should you not have access to SmartMusic, please let Mr. Jones know as soon as possible. While SmartMusic is the easiest means of completing assignments, there are other ways in which we can accomplish our goals.

ATTENDANCE:
Attendance for the week is based on the completion of sight-reading assignments the week prior. For example, attendance for Tuesday, April 7th (the second day of week #4) is based based on the completion of A-7 (the second assignment of week #3). So, sight-reading assignments (A-1, A-2, B-11, etc.) count as both In-Class Work and as Attendance.

Why not use the current week's sight-reading assignment for attendance? Simply because attendance must be entered before 3pm each day. Teachers are not able to change attendance after 3pm without the help of secretaries in the office. I also wish to give each student plenty of time and flexibility to complete assignments.

Is this a little complicated, unfortunately yes. However, if you complete the assignments by the due date listed on SmartMusic, you will not have any issues.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. Should you have any questions, please feel free to email me at cjones@rccu1.net or contact me on Remind101. You may also leave your questions in the comments section of this post.