Mr. Still's note of encouragement! Welcome to the 2020-2021 school year!

Dear North Lincoln band students and parents,

Tomorrow begins what may be the most abnormal school year since our nation’s involvement in WWII, and even then they didn’t have virtual learning!  Your teachers have spent countless hours the past month or so preparing for this week.  I will admit that I am nervous and a tad bit anxious, but I trust our district and school leadership and my colleagues.  What gives me peace of mind is the idea that we embark on this journey together as a program and school community.  We will learn, grow, face challenges and experience a whole array of emotions… but ultimately, I truly believe that we will be a better version of ourselves on the other side!  

Band students, I encourage you to prepare for this week.  Get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and come to school next week with an open mind. I’m including virtual students in that charge as well!  Be patient with your teachers as we reimagined your education, and know that we care for you and want to see you each succeed!  On a specific band note, all students who planned to participate in the marching band need to attend our first virtual rehearsal on Tuesday, August 18 at 8pm via Google Meet.  I will email out the link as we get closer to that time.  I will share the next steps for our marching band going forward. 

I will meet with all Full Remote students on Wednesday, August 19 at the beginning your scheduled band class.  All other students enrolled in band classes will meet during their face-to-face time.  As a reminder, this semester band classes are as follows:

1st period (begins 8am) - Mr. Still’s planning time and GREAT time to schedule conferences as needed.

2nd period (meets at 9:30am) - Brass Class

3rd period (meets at 11:17am) - Woodwind Class

4th period (meets at 1:30pm) - Percussion Class 

Band parents, I encourage you to prepare for tomorrow.  Please remind your student to come to school with an open mind.  It may not look the same, but we are still North Lincoln!  Please have patience for your student’s teachers as we navigate a new way of thinking education and the students we serve.  Don’t be afraid to ask questions!   We’ll do our best with what we have!  Below is a link from the district regarding parent/guardian access to Canvas.  I am not an expert on Canvas (I’m learning it too for the first time), but I will do my best to assist you if you find it difficult to gain access.  Remember that PowerSchool will still be the official place for attendance grades.  Canvas is just the tool to deliver instruction.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/17QJHrupj5K3RicnqaugeG_C43hGzr9-BiNfja6PMEjM/edit?usp=sharing

It’s going to be a great year!  We just need to be open minded and flexible to reimagine the possibilities!  We WILL get back to making music, learning from each other and sharing incredible experiences through performance on the stage, field or court.  While classes may not look the same, I believe with my whole being the power of music in a person’s life, and that it can be studied through a wide variety of ways!

Please let me know if you have any questions.

As always… YAY BAND!

Mr. Still

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Kevin M. Still, M.M.E.
Director of Bands
North Lincoln High School
2737 Lee Lawing Rd
Lincolnton, NC 28092
(704) 736-1969 ext. 61716
kevin.still@lincoln.k12.nc.us
www.bandofknights.com