Have a blessed Christmas

and a refreshing break!

A few items:

• Hymn of the Month tests for 1st through 3rd grades this week
• Junior High Band and Guitars are playing Friday morning as elementary students enter chapel
• A special thanks to the classroom teachers for all their hard work and extra effort to make the Christmas Concert so God glorifying
• Music students are reqwuired to practice over the Christmas break

EMERGENCY NOTE:

I now have 1 french horn and 8 (yes, eight!) guitars that have been left on campus. These instruments must be taken home over the break and not left here at school. Students' grades will suffer dramatically and instruments might be lost if they are not taken home by Friday.

IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!!

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GUITARS AND BAND INSTRUMENTS

MUST BE TAKEN HOME

OVER CHRISTMAS VACATION

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ONCE AGAIN INSTRUMENTS HAVE BEGUN

TO BE LEFT AT GRACE SCHOOL OVERNIGHT

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I HAVE RUN OUT OF ROOM TO COLLECT THEM

OR

STORE THEM SAFELY AND SECURELY

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PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR STUDENT TAKES HIS/HER

INSTRUMENT HOME OVER THE BREAK

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I already have a number of guitars and band instruments

that have not been claimed in the past couple of weeks.

Every day a student comes to class without his/her instrument,

he/she receives an 'F' for the day as well as misses that day on the Practice Card.

To get their instrument back the student must write and turn in, to me,

a one-page paper on stewardship and the care of their instrument.

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Please reminder your son/daughter to take good care of these musical tools that are used for God's glory.

December Hymn of the Month

I Need Thee Every Hour

I need Thee every hour

Most gracious Lord

No tender voice like Thine

Can peace afford

I need Thee, O I need Thee

Every hour I need Thee

O bless me now, my Savior

I come to Thee

1st, 2nd and 3rd grades will be tested on the above during the week of December 13.

American Heritage Day is next week

All guitar students must have their capos this week!


ALL GUITAR STUDENTS

5th-6th Elementary Guitar Class, Junior High Guitar Class & Worship Team

This is a reminder that all guitar students will need to have a capo for their guitar by this week’s class time. We will be using the capos for the American Heritage Day program, November 19.

• Capos can be purchased at any music store that sells guitar, guitar strings, picks and other guitar accessories

• They range in price anywhere from a few dollars on up to well over one hundred dollars. The inexpensive ones will work just fine.

• There are different styles of capos, from simple elastic bands through elaborate mechanisms.

• Capos for nylon-string, classical style guitars are different that those for steel-string guitars. Make sure you let the store know for which kind of guitar you are getting the capo

I would suggest you compare and buy the one that fits your price range.

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Hymn Of The Month Test

is also next week

for 1st, 2nd and 3rd Grade classes

The Blog Is Back!!!!!

Here are the words for the November Hymn Of The Month

‘Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus


verse 1
‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus
Just to take Him at His word
Just to rest upon His promise
Just to know, “Thus saith the Lord.”


refrain
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus
O for grace to trust Him more



First, Second and Third Grades are required to know verse 1 and the refrain

The test will be on Wednesday, Nov. 17(1st and 3rd grades)
and Thursday, Nov. 18 (2nd grade)

It's the Final Blog

for the year

Let me encourage you to make music a part of your summer.

Spend time

• listening to quality music in all styles
• singing to the Lord at every opportunity
• playing your guitar or band instrument or recorder to His glory

Don't put it on the back shelf or take a vacation from this wonderful thing God created!

The next post will be in a couple of months - be ready. . . . .

School Instrument & Music Check-in

for Elementary Band

is this Wednesday, May 19 at 1:45pm

please bring your music book and school-loaned instrument on that day

The Office cannot accept either music or instruments- they must be turned in to Mr. Nelson personally.

fines and charges will be assessed due to damage or misuse and must be cleared prior to the final day of classes.

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This Wednesday is also the last Elementary Guitar Class meeting of the year.

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The Hymn Of The Month test is next week for grades 1, 2 and 3.

May Hymn Of The Month

Ye Servants Of God


verse 1
Ye servants of God, your Master proclaim,
And publish abroad His wonderful Name;
The Name all victorious of Jesus extol,
His kingdom is glorious and rules over all.


verse 2
God ruleth on high, almighty to save,
And still He is nigh, His presence we have;
The great congregation His triumph shall sing,
Ascribing salvation to Jesus, our King.




First Grade is required to know verse 1
Second and Third Grade are required to know verses 1 & 2

The test will be at the end of the month

SPRING CONCERT

is NEXT Week

Tuesday, May 11 at 7:00-8:00pm

in the Worship Center

Remember that attendance is mandatory for:

• Elementary Band
• Elementary Choir
• Junior High Choir
• Junior High Concert Band
• Worship Team
• select Piano students
• select Poetry students

The Junior High Band will have a special pre-concert rehearsal at 5:20pm
The Worship Team will have a special pre-concert rehearsal at 5:45pm
Both groups will then enjoy pizza before the Concert

HYMN OF THE MONTH TEST

IS NEXT WEEK!!!

Because of SAT testing this week, the Hymn test is postponed until next week. The 1st through 3rd grade classes will take a practice test on this Wednesday or Thursday and the actual test next week.

Remember the words are listed on this blog so that you may study them prior to the test.

WHAT'S NEXT?

There's hardly time to catch your breath as we enter the last 7 weeks of school

FIRST up is the Hymn of the Month test for 1st through 3rd grades; that will take place during the last week of April.

THEN the Spring Concert follows quickly on Tuesday evening, May 11, at 7:00pm in the Worship Center

NIGHT OF PRAISE
IS THIS FRIDAY, APRIL 16!

7:00-8:00pm

All student guitarists

• Worship Team
• 5th-6th Guitar Class
• Junior High Guitar Class

are required to attend and participate in this evening of praise and song

APRIL HYMN OF THE MONTH

We Are God’s People

verse 1
We are God’s people, the chosen of the Lord
Born of His Spirit, established by His Word
Our Cornerstone is Christ alone
And strong in Him we stand
O let us live transparently
And walk heart to heart and hand to hand


verse 3
We are the body of which the Lord is Head
Called to obey Him, now risen from the dead
He wills us be a family
Diverse, yet truly one
O let us give our gifts to God
And so shall His work on earth be done




First Grade is required to know verse 1
Second and Third Grade are required to know verses 1 & 3

The test will be during the last week of the month

HYMN OF THE MONTH TEST

IS THIS WEEK

The 1st-3rd grade students will take practice tests on Monday and Tuesday

The actual tests will be on Wednesday and Thursday.

Remember the necessary lyrics are listed on an earlier blog.

Band and Guitar students will be required to practice their instruments over Easter Break!

This week brings the end of the 3rd Quarter!


As we can almost see the finish line for the end of the school year, remember:

• Don't neglect learning the Hymn of the Month (March's test is next week)
• Weekly Practice Cards are the best way to improve your grade
• Forgetting your instrument carries the same penalty as forgetting your homework

Night of Praise is next month, Friday night, April 16, 7:00pm

Spring Concert is just around the corner, Tuesday night, May 11, 7:00pm

Music Listening Tests

• are next week - at the end of the 3rd quarter
• study/preparation is "in class" only

Hymn Of The Month Tests

• are in 2 weeks - at the end of the month
• study using the take home/blog lyric sheets

March Hymn of the Month

verse 1
Lo, He comes with clouds descending
Once for favored sinners slain
Thousand thousand saints attending
Swell the triumph of His train
Alleluia, alleluia
God appears on earth to reign


verse 3
Now redemption, long expected
See in solemn pomp appear
All His saints, by men rejected
Now shall meet Him in the air
Alleluia, alleluia
See the day of God appear

• The test will be at the end of the month
• 1st grade must know verse 1
• 2nd & 3rd grades must know verses 1 & 3

IMPORTANT CHANGES - PLEASE READ

Dear Parents,

We are pleased to offer our students – your children – a complete instrumental music program. This is a very important part of the complete education service that we offer your family. Unfortunately, we consistently struggle with one important part of this program - safe, secure, and efficient instrument storage. Our plan, pending available funding, is to build cabinets for instrument storage in our music room or other suitable location this Summer.

Until then, we are pleased to announce the following change in student instrument storage for the rest of this school year. Please read these instructions carefully; please read them to your children - with your children.
Effective, Monday, March 8th, GCS students are to store their instruments in J175. J175 is on the first floor of the J Building, closest to the Gym. (This room is currently used for Extended Supervision.)
Students are to store their instruments on the floor or on the counter in the narrow part of the room between the counter and the wall.
Students MAY NOT store their instruments in any other part of the room.
This room is scheduled to be open from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Students may store their instruments in this room only between these hours.
GCS faculty and office personnel will not collect instruments left in J175 outside of these hours. (GCS will not assume any responsibility for student instruments left in J175 after hours.)
Although GCS will extend every possible means to protect student instruments, please understand: students leave their instruments in J175 at their own risk. Just as with the junior high lockers, GCS cannot assume responsibility for any lost, stolen or damaged instruments left in J175.
Once again, it is our goal to consistently pursue excellence in our service to you, our GCS families. With that in mind, we hope to construct cabinets for instrument storage in our own music room, or other suitable location. (Your support of GCS fund-raising efforts contributes greatly towards that end.)

Thank you for your cooperation and support of this program.



Tom Chaffin
Grace Community School

A FEW REMINDERS:

• Hymn of The Month Test for grades 1-3 is this week
• Don't forget to fill out and turn in Practice Cards each week
• Elementary Band, JH Band and JH Guitar have playing tests this week
• Shepherds' Conference is next week (Practice Cards are still due the week after)

HYMN OF THE MONTH TEST

is next week

• Wednesday for 1st & 3rd grades
• Thursday for 2nd grade
• 1st grade needs to memorize the first verse and the refrain
• 2nd & 3rd grades memorize the first and third verses as well as the refrain

Grandparents Day Program
is this Friday, February 12 at 10:30am
in the Worship Center

Hymn Of The Month

It Is Well With My Soul
(verse 1)
When peace like a river attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot Thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well with my soul

(refrain)
It is well with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul

(verse 3)
My sin, O the bliss of this glorious thought
My sin, not in part, but the whole
Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul

It is well with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul


Students will be tested during the last week of the month
1st grade needs to know only the 1st verse and the refrain
2nd & 3rd grades need to know both verses 1 and 3 and the refrain

• HYMN OF THE MONTH TESTS

are this week

1st & 3rd Grades on Wednesday

2nd Grade on Thursday

• COMMITTMENT SHEETS

are also due back this week

signed by both

student and parent

A New Beginning - The 2nd Semester

a couple of reminders:

• Hymn of the Month lyrics are sent home at the beginning of each month and are also available on this blog
• Practice Cards are due every week, at the beginning of the first class meeting of the week
• Commitment Sheets for performance groups need to be read, signed and turned back in to me during this first week of the new term.
• Students are responsible for their instruments at all times and may not leave them in room F113 after 3:30pm for any reason (that includes sports practices or games)

Practice Card reminder

Parents,
Remember that you must initial EACH daily box for your student to get credit for practicing on that day.

• Your initials, only
• no check marks, X's or minute amounts will be accepted.
• NO LATE CARDS

A New Year and a New Hymn

January Hymn of the Month




Be Thou My Vision

verse 1

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best thought by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my Light

verse 4
High King of heaven, my victory won
May I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heav’n’s Sun
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O Ruler of all




First Grade is required to know verse1
Second and Third Grade are required to know verses 1 & 4

The test will be during the last week of January