Where Do You Follow Us?

As you can see we haven't updated this blog for a long time. Now that's not to say we haven't had a lot happening. Because there has been A LOT going on!!!

We just need to know how many of you lurk over here as well as keeping up with us on Facebook? Should we keep up both places? Please leave us your feedback in the comments section. If you'd like to see things continue on this blog, is there anything specific you'd like to see?

In the meantime, link up with us over on our Facebook page over here!!

WMEA All-State

CONGRATULATIONS

go to
Bo Steele
for being accepted in to this very prestigious honor band in February.

Our iTune Gift Card Winners are..........

Hailey DiLorenzo - 6th Grade

and

Amanda Visser - 7th Grade

Congratulations girls! Enjoy spending your $100 iTune Gift Cards.

2010 PLU Northwest High School Honor Band

CONGRATULATIONS

go to the following students that have been accepted into the

2010 PLU Northwest High School Honor Band
January 8 & 9, 2010

Amber Anderson - Bassoon
Ross Carrington - Trumpet
Jessica Gassman - Trumpet
Bo Steele - Percussion

2009 SJMEA Honor Festival

Congratulations!!

The following students have been selected to participate in the San Juan Music Educators Honor Band.

Amber Anderson - Bassoon
Kaysha Bovencamp - Flute
Ross Carrington - Trumpet
Jessica Gassman - Trumpet
Becca Kennedy - Alto Saxaphone
Kelly Lam - Clarinet
Bo Steele - Percussion

The following students have been selected to participate in the San Juan Music Educators Honor Choir.

Emily Hawkins
Kim James
Marissa Lopez
Nicole White

This honor festival brings together top music students in Whatcom, Skagit, San Juan and Island counties to rehearse and perform under the direction of guest conductors. The participants have a 3 hour evening rehearsal and an additional all-day rehearsal evening performance. This performance will be held on, November 5th, 7:00 at Lynden Christian High School Auditorium. An admission charge (under $10) will be charged for audience members at this concert.

We've Been Absent...

...and apologies for not keeping this up to date. Just to recap things a bit.

We appreciate all the letters to the school board as well as those of you who attended (and continue to attend) school board meetings. We had both good news and bad news for the music programs. Please consult the individual music teachers for details.

The Disneyland 2009 trip was a success!

The students had a wonderful time and the weather was perfect. Both, the workshop and concert were enjoyed by many.

Again a HUGE thank you to BP and James Gassman, for their $500 donation to the Music Boosters. Their continued support by honoring us with this scholarship is greatly appreciated.

This year, both middle and high school bands marched in the Farmers' Day parade.



We also got to hear the sultry sounds of the choir as they came through on their own float.

We are excited to have started the 2009/2010 school year and look forward to keeping you up-to-date on our happenings. If you are a member of Facebook, we have a group over there to continue to get the word out OF OUR ACTIVITIES.

A CALL TO ACTION!!!!

ATTENTION PARENTS,

BAND AND CHOIR STUDENTS

OF ALL SCHOOLS WITHIN THE DISTRICT

As we all know and hear constantly, times are tough. Everyone has to cut back. On Friday, April 17th acting superintendent, Rick Thompson released his Recommended Budget Savings for 2009-10 School year to the school board and public. You can find this in it's entirety at this link.
http://lynden.wa.schoolwebpages.com/education/sctemp/6cfa64084597b4b3ae5d9c9d162551b1/1240346624/Budget_Savings_Plan.pdf

As you could have guessed, music is one of the many organizations that are being hit. We didn't expect to be hit THIS hard. Mr. Thompson is recommending to the School Board the following:

• Eliminate middle and high school choral music program
  Potential savings of $ 40,000 Reduction of teacher hours by .500
• Reduce elementary music specialist .2 at each building (from total of 3.0 to 2.4 FTE)
  Potential savings of $43,200 Reduction of teacher hours by 0.600

What Can YOU do?

We (parents and students) let our Lynden District School Board, who ultimately make the final decision, know how we feel about this recommendation.

• Attend the Public hearing scheduled for this Thursday, April 23rd 7:00 pm held in the Lynden High School Library
• Speak at the Public Hearing
• Write letters to the school board and superintendent to be placed in board packets for review.
• Lynden School District
• Atten: School Board
• 1203 Bradley Rd.
• Lynden, WA 98264

Rick Thompson - Acting Superintendent thompsonr@lynden.wednet.edu

School Board members:

Teresa Camfield - camquads@comcast.net

Steve Hortegas - steveh@molesfs.com

Larry Korthuis - klkorthuis@aol.com

John Krieg - kriegj@lynden.wednet.edu

Todd Lingbloom - tlingbloom@aol.com

We, as Music Booster members can only do so much. Some of our members will be present at the public hearing and others will write letters. The rest needs to come from YOU ~ elementary school parents, middle and high school choir parents. You MUST speak out. If your students are so inclined, please have them add their voice (either by speaking at the public hearing or letter) to the school board. It would be a great testimony to them of the importance of keeping the music program intacted despite budget cuts.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact the Music Boosters at lyndenmusicboosters@hotmail.com or your child's music teacher.