Norwell High School Music Department

Parents:

At our Music Parents’ meeting this past Tuesday, the topic of a parent-led initiative to start an arts booster organization in the mold of FOCA (Friends of Clipper Arts) came up.  The NHS arts faculty finally got a chance today to meet with Mr. Dan Cronin, the driving force behind this proposal.  (more…)

Another big thank you to the parents who came out to meet with Amy and me this evening.  We really appreciate the dedication you show to bettering your students’ educational experience, and we’re looking forward to working more with you.  More information on parent initiatives will be coming soon.

EDIT: Notes from the meeting can be accessed (in Microsoft Word format) by clicking below.

agenda-notes-09232008

First, it was great to see everyone at the Open House on Thursday night!  I got to meet quite a few parents, all of whom were very enthusiastic about the upcoming year.  Secondly, I’d like to once again remind everyone that we’ll be meeting with parents of music students (especially those in ensembles) this upcoming Tuesday, September 23rd at 7pm at NHS. We’ll be discussing a lot of the things that we simply didn’t have time for during open house and trying to build stronger connections between the department and its parents.  I’ll be posting notes from that meeting here in the days following the meeting so that people unable to attend will still be able to stay up to date on what’s going on.

Last but not least, an acquaintance pointed me to a very interesting video clip from CNN on how the sagging economy is affecting school budgets–and while it’s very educational viewing, it strikes a personal note for me because it features my old high school back in Connecticut.  And yes, they do have a few short clips of my old band room and director.  Enjoy, and hope to see you on Tuesday!

http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/living/2008/09/19/cho.school.budgets.stretched.cnn

Just a quick administrative note to say that the new handbook is available in .doc format on the appropriately-labeled tab above.  Let me know if there are any glitches in viewing it!

Thanks,

Mr. O’Briant

A big welcome to the Class of 2012 and an equally big welcome back to our returning students.  We’re only two days into the new school year and already many exciting things are already underway in the department.  The performance classes have all now had the opportunity to play/sing and the theory and appreciation classes have already begun to dig in to their first unit, on the raw elements of music.

Stay tuned here for announcements and information about dates, assignments and other news.  Also, I will shortly be posting the first of a number of discussion topic assignments for the music theory and appreciation classes.  Mrs. Cortright and I are very excited to be back, and we’re looking forward to a great year!  Two quick reminders:

1. Handbook or syllabus signature forms are due tomorrow, Friday, September 5th.
2. I still have sweatshirts!  If you ordered one and haven’t picked it up, come swing by my office ASAP.

Thanks, and welcome back!