Please remember that caregivers who are not walking must use the carpool lane. Parking in the Shawsheen or West Elementary School lots is not permitted, nor is parking in visitor spaces during dismissal. Following these procedures helps ensure safety, courtesy, and respect for those who have queued appropriately.

Dear West El Families and Caregivers,

Last Friday, our West Elementary community came together for a truly special and joyful singalong. Our children delighted in music that honored a wide range of cultural traditions, including Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Diwali, Ramadan, Christmas, and the Lunar New Year. It was a beautiful celebration of diversity and togetherness, and the joy in the room was felt by all—students, staff, and families alike.

We also want to recognize the wonderful job our Grade 3 students did during their Strings performance. They performed with confidence and pride, and it was heartwarming to see how warm and grateful our families were in their support and appreciation. It was truly a proud moment for our school community.

In addition, our Grade 1 students participated in a fantastic PTO-sponsored enrichment experience focused on sound. Through a wide range of engaging, hands-on activities, students explored how sound is created and travels. Be sure to check out the photos below to see their curiosity and excitement in action!

As we head into break, I wish you and your family a restful and rejuvenating time together. I look forward to welcoming everyone back and seeing you in the new year.

Warmly,
Dr. Cobbs

Hello APS Elementary Band Families,

Happy holidays! It is hard to believe that three months have gone by since the start of band lessons, and it is great to see how far the students have come in a short time. We are proud of their hard work and growing confidence as musicians. Their progress is not possible without continuous support from families, so thank you for all that you do!

Please take a few minutes to read this newsletter carefully, as it includes important updates about upcoming concerts, practice expectations, resources for home, and more.

Save the Dates! Upcoming Elementary Band Performances

We are looking forward to concerts in the coming months. All members of the elementary band program are expected to participate in these events. Please save the dates for your child’s school below:

All Bands Night (all schools): Wednesday, March 11 at 6:30 PM

Sanborn Spring Concert: Wednesday, May 27 at 6:30 PM

Bancroft Spring Concert: Thursday, May 28 at 6:30 PM

High Plain Spring Concert: Tuesday, June 2 at 6:30 PM

South Spring Concert: Wednesday, June 3 at 6:30 PM

West El Spring Concert: Thursday, June 4 at 6:30 PM

More details regarding evening concert schedules, call times, attire, and logistics will be shared in future emails. If your child has an unavoidable conflict with a date listed above, please let us know as soon as possible.

What We’re Working On… 4th Grade Band

Our 4th grade beginning band students continue to build strong foundations by focusing on:

• Posture and Breath Support
• Embouchure and Tone Production
• First Notes, Hand Position, and Playing Technique
• Simple Songs, Rhythms, and Introduction to Reading Music
• Beginning Exercises in Essential Elements lesson book

What We’re Working On… 5th Grade Band

It is fantastic to see our beginning 5th grade students work alongside our experienced band members. In addition to refining our fundamental instrument-specific skills, 5th grade band students are targeting the following concepts:

• Music literacy, including note reading and rhythmic fluency
• Developing a characteristic tone with greater control and consistency
• Playing longer exercises in Essential Elements in preparation for more advanced repertoire

After December break, band students will begin to practice music for All Bands Night in March. This concert will highlight our APS band program in grades 4-12. It is a fantastic opportunity for our 4th grade students to play as a large group for the first time, and for our 5th grade students to focus on multi-part music and ensemble playing. Our 5th grade students will also have the opportunity to perform a piece with the APS 6th grade bands! We cannot wait to celebrate the growth of our elementary students. We also look forward to seeing our middle and high school band programs perform at this event. Music will be distributed shortly after vacation.

Reminder: As all lesson groups have now started working in the method book, please be sure that your child has an Essential Elements lesson book, as well as all related band supplies for their instrument: Elementary Band Supply List

Your child may also wish to access the Essential Elements Interactive website at home to supplement practice. Your child will need their own EE book to register. See steps below:

• Visit http://essentialelementsinteractive.com
• Click “Sign Up” in top right corner
• Choose “Individual” for account type
• Enter your information and the access code inside your child’s EE book cover

December Band Bingo

In lessons this week and next, students will receive a copy of December Band Bingo. Students should aim to complete at least five practice challenges on the sheet, or one “band bingo.” We will collect band bingo beginning the week of January 5th! If your child needs a one week extension due to holiday travel or schedule, we are happy to make this accommodation.

See links for your child’s band teacher and corresponding bingo below:

Ms. Sicinski and Ms. Silva’s Lesson Groups:

December 2025 Band Bingo: Year 1 Woodwinds and Brass

December 2025 Band Bingo: Year 2 Woodwinds and Brass

December 2025 Band Bingo: Percussion

Ms. Hardy’s Lesson Groups:

December 2025 Band Bingo: Year 1 Clarinets

December 2025 Band Bingo: Year 2 Clarinets

December 2025 Band Bingo: Year 1 Saxophones

December 2025 Band Bingo: Year 2 Saxophones

Practice Reminders and Resources

Regular practice at home is vital to your child’s success in the band program. Learning a new instrument can provide countless opportunities and benefits, as well as enjoyment and excitement. It is also something that requires patience, persistence, and problem-solving skills. Encouraging your child to stick with it when new challenges arise is one of the most important and helpful things you can do!

Be sure to check and sign your child's practice journal for weekly assignments. You may also review the links below for additional support:

Ways to Support Your Child's Instrumental Music Practice At Home

Band Videos and Resources for Each Instrument

Virtual Elementary Band Room

Congratulations to All-Town Band!

On Tuesday, December 16th, the APS All-Town Band performed at their first concert of the school year. These dedicated students put in great effort to prepare two pieces: Abominable Snowman Stomp and Power Rock. The ensemble played with great enthusiasm and focus. Bravo!

Interested in Joining All-Town Band?
We will accept new members (5th grade band and advancing students) to this ensemble in January. This group meets after school weekly on Tuesdays and provides a great enrichment opportunity for our more experienced elementary band members. We will share registration materials with eligible students and families shortly. Feel free to reach out with any questions in the meantime - we would love to have more students involved!

Note from Emily Silva: Maternity Leave

I want to take a moment to let you know that I will be going on maternity leave around February break through the end of the year. I will be returning to this position in the fall. They will be posting and filling my leave replacement in the next few weeks. I will do what I can to make sure there is as much preparation and consistency as possible for students. I look forward to making music with the students through February as well as when I return in the fall. Please let me know if you have any questions.

As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions. We wish you all a peaceful and rejuvenating break!

As we enter the cooler weather leading into winter, we want students to have a consistent outdoor experience between grades and classrooms. To support this, we have set guidelines for temperature/weather type when deciding outdoor vs. indoor recess for all classrooms. Below are guidelines for outdoor recess.

• Students will be outdoors if the temperature (including wind chill) is 20 degrees or warmer and it’s not raining, sleeting, hailing, or blizzarding. We use Weatherbug.com to determine the temperature.

• On questionable, cold days the office will make an announcement before the first recess announcing outdoor or indoor recess. If no announcement is made then it is outdoor recess.

• If students want to play in snow, they must be wearing snow pants, boots, jackets, and gloves/mittens. If students do not wish to play in the snow, they will remain on the blacktop.

• With a large amount of students out on the playground at each recess, we need to be extra vigilant about safety. There is no throwing of snowballs or ice. A behavior slip will be used to re-teach and discuss the safety concerns if a student does not follow this rule.

• Label each article of clothing so that if something is misplaced, it can be returned to you as quickly as possible.

Please be aware that all students go outside when the weather meets these conditions.

Please send your child to school wearing appropriate outdoor clothing for the weather. We highly encourage you to practice getting dressed in the snow gear as quickly as possible- make a game of it and time it! The expectation is, if your child is well enough to come to school, they are well enough to go outdoors.

Thanks for taking the time to remind students of the winter expectations. Snow play is beloved by many and we want to make sure that everyone has an opportunity to safely enjoy their recess time during these months.