So we have two final events to finish the year off with.  With so much music happening at Notre Dame Collegiate, we need two nights to get through it all!

The first is a quick change due to the play this week.
 
Junior Panorama will be extended by 15 minutes to run from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM this week only.
 
Senior Panorama this week is postponed in light of the play.  Instead we will be meeting on Monday May 30 after school from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM.

​All Steel Panners will be performing along with the Stage Band on June 1, 2022 for the “Night At The Wolves’ Den” family event that night.  Call time for all musicians ins 5:30 PM

All Steel Panners are also being asked to complete a survey discussing possible activities over the summer months.  We have the opportunity to perform for the Seasons Retirement Facility in High River, as well as having been invited to participate in CariFest in Calgary on August 12 or 13, 2022.  I want all families to respond to the survey below to help me gauge whether or not these events are possibilities for our amazing musicians.  You need to log into your Christ The Redeemer Student Google Account to complete this survey.

We have a few minor changes and additional information regarding the Parade on Saturday, May 21.  Please see the following pieces of important information;

All Grade 7s, 8s and 9s are to meet at St. Francis deSales Catholic Church in High River by 9:15 AM.  Mr. Windsor will be on site at 8:45 AM.

Mr. Windsor will bring tubas, drumline, and the baritone saxophone, as well as a radio-flyer wagon with two bottles of water per student.

Students are responsible for bringing;

• Instruments
• NDC Music Jackets (they've already been distributed)
• Running shoes (colour doesn't matter, not hightops, Vans, flats, or other such shoes without shoelaces)
• A white shirt for under our jackets that is as light as possible
• An extra layer of shirt in case it's chilly or windy.
• Black pants
• Extra Reeds, Drumsticks or Valve Oil
• Sunglasses and sunscreen

See the map above for gathering points.  The Timberwolf logo in the Blue region is where we will be meeting by 9:15 AM (St. Francis deSales), and the Timberwolf logo in George Lane Park is where we'll be meeting after we get food from the Highwood Lions Club.

Still Looking For One More Parent Volunteer!  If you can help, please email Mr. Windsor at jwindsor@redeemer.ab.ca.

Please note that parking downtown will be challenging.  It may be best to drop your child off at the barrier by the library instead.

Thank you once again!  The Rotary Club in particular has been truly excited about our band participating, and contributed to help us produce a much stronger banner for our band this year!  I'm excited, and I hope you are too!

We are in the last month of music at Notre Dame Collegiate!  What does that mean for your students?  Read below for details about the Marching Band, the Family Night and the Year-End Concert.

We first start with the Little Britches Parade on May 21, 2022.  Students have already been practicing their marching formations and memorizing their music.  You can encourage them to continue their memorization work at home.

On May 21, 2022 at 9:15 AM all Grade 7s, 8s and 9s are to meet at St. Francis deSales Catholic Church in High River.  From there we will set up our formations.  We follow the instructions of the Rotary Club as they get the parade organized.  We will do the full route of the parade route.

Mr. Windsor needs at least 2, preferably 3 adults to accompany the group.  We have discussed safety and care regularly throughout the marching band, but as we will be more active in our performance than usual, I would like to have a few extra hands available to help students when a malfunction occurs, like a dropped stick, an untied shoelace, or an obstacle appears on the parade route.  If you can help out with this, please email me.

What students should have:

• Running shoes (colour doesn't matter, not hightops, Vans, flats, or other such shoes without shoelaces)
• A white shirt for under our jackets that is as light as possible
• An extra layer of shirt in case it's chilly or windy.
• Black pants
• A working instrument
• Sunscreen and Sunglasses

Mr. Windsor will provide the NDC Music Jackets (unless you own one) and water bottles.

Our Year-End Concert on June 8, 2022 will feature All Concert Bands and the String Ensemble.  We will also see various awards handed out that evening, including the NDC Music Hall of Fame Nominations and Inductions, and the Arlene Mann Memorial Arts Ambassadorship Award.  Tickets and details will be made available within the next two weeks.

We had a wildly successful band trip!  Since our trip, I've discussed such excursions with other band teachers who balk at the idea of a single teacher taking 100 students anywhere.  They obviously don't know NDC students.

Your students, simply put, stepped up.  They were amazing ambassadors of Notre Dame Collegiate, they contributed to moving equipment, were helpful and caring to one another, and were genuinely filled with joy.  Their Gold Medal and High Gold Medal performances at the St. Albert Rotary Festival of the Performing Arts coupled with fantastic and well-received shows in West Edmonton Mall were testaments to their hard work, and the fantastic feedback I got from everyone including Mall staff and the Hotel staff indicates just how wonderful your students are.  You should be proud of them!

Thank you to the many chaperones and helpers who made the trip possible and eased challenges such as trips to Long & McQuade or Shopper's Drug Mart while other things were happening.

Photos of the trip are still being accepted on the Discord or in Google Classroom.  Please share all that you can!

God bless!
Joel Windsor