1.  Our Fall Concert on October 1^st (in conjunction with the JHS Band) has been cancelled due to a number of factors.  I have no problems taking responsibility for the cancellation of this event – it was simply poor planning on my part.  With the addition of our new Pep Band and wanting to be fully prepared for those performances, our preparations for the Fall Concert have not gone quite as quickly as anticipated.  I feel it is in the students’ best interests that we have more time to prepare the pieces that were intended for our October concert, and perform them (along with others) on our annual Winter Concert in December.  Jefferson High School is experiencing similar issues as they are putting together a more difficult marching show than in the past couple of years, along with making the move to a brand new facility – a daunting task in and of itself.  If you have any further questions or concerns regarding the cancellation of the Fall Concert, please contact me by email or phone here at the school so that we may discuss this further.  Thank you for your understanding in this matter.

2.  If your student has chosen to participate in the All-State Audition process, he or she needs to pay their $18.00 audition fee as soon as possible.  These checks should be made out to JMS Band and should be given to Mr. Cotton when they are brought in.  All students participating should be available at least one day after school every week to work on their audition materials with Mr. Cotton.  Remember: the actual First-Round Audition is Saturday, December 1^st at Jones Middle School in Buford.

3.  Don’t forget about our Cookie Dough/Magazine Fundraiser!  Order forms are due to Mr. Cotton on Tuesday, September 19^th.  Every students goal is to sell at least 5 tubs of cookie dough!

4.  Practice Logs are due every Monday signed.  I will accept them on Tuesday for full credit, but that is the absolute last day of the week to turn them in.  No Logs will be accepted past Tuesday unless a student has an excused absence on both Monday and Tuesday.

Congratulations to the Jefferson Middle School Band students who were selected to participate in this year's GMEA District Beginning Band Clinic, held on May 5th at Winder-Barrow High School.  Band students in the 6th grade were selected for the festival based on number of hours practiced during the spring semester, good conduct during class, and through an in-class audition in held in April.  Pictured from left to right are Madison Gilmer, Justin Hardigree, Mr. Jon Cotton, Jaime Reza, Kevin Philippart, Jennifer Ringo, and Dekotah Lego.  Great job band students!

Congratulations to this year's band award winners!  Students were presented their awards at the Spring Concert on Monday, May 9th.

 

Most Improved 6th Grader - Leigh Ana Patterson

Most Outstanding 6th Grader - Jennifer Ringo

Most Improved 7th Grader - Carter Mixon

Most Outstanding 7th Grader - Lauren Van Sloun

Most Outstanding 8th Grader - Amber Smith

JMS Musicianship Award - Jacline Griffeth

Director's Award for Band - Sarah Beggs

 

These were the most improved and outstanding band students at JMS for the entire year.  Please congratulate these band members for a job well done!!

Congratulations to the JMS Concert Band who participated in the GMEA District 13 Large Group Performance Evaluation on March 30th.  The band received an "Excellent" Rating in the Prepared Performance, and a "Superior" Rating in Sight-Reading.  Great job band!!