McCleskey Orchestra

8th Grade Orlando Trip Meeting

We have an informational meeting for parents of students who are interested in going to Orlando with the orchestra and band in the spring.  The meeting will be immediately after Open House in the McCleskey theater.  We will talk about the Cheesecake Fundraiser which begins on September 6 and the Orlando Music Festival which will be March 29-April 1.  The meeting will last approximately 45 minutes.  You will get payment information and a trip itinerary at that time.
Thanks and let me know if you have any questions!  

Dana.Newton@cobbk12.org 

Winter Concert-December 19 at Kell High School

Our Winter Concert is approaching quickly!  All grades will perform at Kell High School on Monday, December 19.  The performance will begin at 7:00. 

6th Grade-arrive at the Kell HS Stage at 6:00 in uniform with their instrument and music-

6th Grade uniform reminder: Boys-Black pants/white shirt/black socks/black dress shoes  Girls-Black pants/Ankle Length Black Skirt/white blouse/black socks/tights/black dress shoes

7th Grade-Arrive at Kell in uniform at 6:15-go to Orchestra Room

8th Grade-Arrive at Kell in uniform at 6:15-go to Chorus Room

All students should plan to stay for the entire concert-It should be over by 7:45! 

The address of Kell High School is:  4770 Lee Waters Rd, Marietta, GA 30066

Thanks and look forward to seeing you there!

7th Grade Uniforms

Most of the 7th Grade uniforms are here.  The last few that haven't gone home should be shipped in the next few days.  Please have your student try on the uniform again when they get home to make sure the fit is correct!  We tried to measure as accurately as possible but if you could double check, we can still trade in sizes if we need to.  Students also need to remember black dress shoes and black socks/black tights for the concert!

8th Grade Concert at Kell High School

Thursday, October 27 the 8th grade will be traveling to Kell HS to play on the fall concert with the chamber orchestra.  I've attached the permission form if you need an extra one.  Students need to bring their uniforms to school with them Thursday morning.  They will come to the orchestra room after dismissal at 2:20 and rehearse until 3:30.  Students will change into their uniforms from 3:30-3:45 and will load the buses over to Kell around 4:00.  At Kell, the students will eat dinner and rehearse.  The concert starts at 7:00 and will be followed by a dessert reception at 8:00.  The Kell Orchestra Parents Booster Club will be providing dinner and dessert for the students. We look forward to seeing you at the concert at 7:00!

Thanks so much - Email me with any questions!  Dana.Newton@cobbk12.org

Download Kell Trip 2011

Cheesecake Delivery

Cheesecake Delivery day is Tuesday, October 25.  Parents need to come to the media center and pick up cheesecake orders on Tuesday between 2pm and 7pm.  Please arrange to have someone pick up your child's order if you are unavailable to make it during those times.  We do not have enough freezer space to keep the orders here overnight.  If you are available to help, please come by anytime!  Email me with any questions-Dana.Newton@cobbk12.org

Welcome back!

It's hard to believe that school is already back in full swing!  It feels like the second or third week of school instead of just the first.  The students have enjoyed getting new schedules and seeing all of their friends again.  In orchestra, we are just starting to play again and have spent the last few days tuning, repairing strings that may have broken over the summer and just getting back into a routine.  The 7th and 8th grade students have received a handbook with all of the information they need for the year including a calendar, uniform requirements, grading systems and an information page to return.  If you could help fill that last page out and send it with them to school, it will help us greatly!  I've also attached a copy of the handbook so you can access it if you need it!  

New Materials for 7th Grade:  Essential Elements 2000 Book 1 (they should have this from last year) and                                                Essential Elements 2000 Book 2

New Materials for 8th Grade:  Essential Elements 2000 Book 2 (many students should have this from last year)

Thanks so much for your continued support!

Dana Newton

Download 2011-2012-mcclesky-middle-school-hndbook

Rising 6th Grade Parent Night-8th Grade Only-May 2

8th grade students will be playing for the Rising 6th grade parent night on Monday, May 2.  Eighth grade students should arrive in the orchestra room around 6:45.  We will be playing in the 6th grade commons from 7:15-8:00.  After we finish playing, students can be picked up at the back of the building behind the band room to avoid the traffic out front.  If you are available to help, we can always use parent help setting up and tearing down the chairs and stands!  

Thanks for your support!  

Spring Concert-May 11 at Kell High School

Just a reminder about our spring concert coming up in a couple of weeks!  We are playing at Kell High School on May 11.  The concert will start at 7:00-students will need to be at Kell to unpack and warm up at 6:15 in their uniforms.  Uniforms are the same as they were for the December concert.  Sixth Grade-black dress pants, black shoes, black socks and white dress shirt for boys -Black pants/ankle length skirt, white blouse and black shoes/sandals for girls.  Seventh and Eighth Grade students will wear their normal uniforms.
Thanks and email with any questions! 

Updated LGPE Itinerary

Here are the final times for what is taking place on the nights of LGPE for 7th and 8th grade.  The permission slip is on the previous posting.  Let me know if there are still questions!

 If you are planning on attending the performances on February 9 or 10, Hightower Trail Middle School's address is 3905 Post Oak Tritt Road, Marietta, GA 30062.  

Download LGPE Iter2011

7th and 8th Grade Large Group Performance Evaluation

Large Group Performance Evaluation (LGPE) is going to be here soon!  Especially after having the week off for ice, we are trying to iron out all of the details musically and logistically as these concerts approach.  The 7th and 8th grade will have a Pre-LGPE concert on Tuesday, February 1st at McCleskey at 7pm.  I'm asking all of the students to arrive IN UNIFORM at 6:15.  We will have a guest clinician who will listen and provide comments for us in our final preparations for the concert the following week.

The 7th grade will be going to Hightower MS on Wednesday, February 9.  The students will come to the orchestra room after school, change into their uniforms, eat dinner and then load busses for Hightower.  We will arrive at Hightower around 7:00, warm up at 7:10, perform on stage around 7:35 and then go to the sightreading room at  8:00.  Parents are welcome to come to Hightower and listen to us perform both on stage and in the sightreading room.  We will be taking a bus back to McCleskey around 9:15.  Parents can provide transportation home for their child as long as you let me know after we leave the sightreading room.  Otherwise, parents can meet the bus back at McCleskey around 9:30-9:45pm.  The permission form is attached-please return as soon as possible!  

 

8th Grade LGPE will work exactly the same way on Thursday, February 10 with a slight change in times.  The students will come to the orchestra room after school, change into their uniforms, eat dinner and then load busses for Hightower.  We will arrive at Hightower around 6:30, warm up at 6:45, perform on stage around 7:10 and then go to the sightreading room at  7:35.  Parents are welcome to come to Hightower and listen to us perform both on stage and in the sightreading room.  We will be taking a bus back to McCleskey around 9:15.  Parents can provide transportation home for their child as long as you let me know after we leave the sightreading room.  Otherwise, parents can meet the bus back at McCleskey around 9:30-9:45pm.  The permission form is attached-please return as soon as possible

Dinner will be provided for the students-there is no need to send additional money with them!

Let me know if you have questions!

Thanks and see you February 1st! Festival%20Permission%20forml20Permissionform

Winter Concert at Kell-Monday, December 6

Just a reminder that the Sixth, Seventh and Eighth grade Winter Orchestra Concert is at Kell High School at 7:00 pm next Monday, December 6th.  Students need to arrive at Kell in uniform at 6:00.  Sixth Graders go to the stage to warm up-Seventh and Eighth Grade report to the Orchestra Room.  Sixth grade uniform reminder:  Black pants, Black socks, Black dress shoes and white dress shirt for boys.  Ankle Length black skirt or black dress pants, black hose, black shoes and white blouse for girls.  7th and 8th graders will wear their formal uniforms.  Please email  me with any other questions! Please plan on having your student stay to hear all of the grade levels.  The concert will be over by 8:00. Looking forward to seeing everyone at the performance!