Welcome back!

Hi everyone! Welcome to the 2013-2014 school year. I'm very pleased with the amount of enthusiasm and excitement I have received from the students as well as parents within the first 2 days of school, and I am thrilled to be starting another year here at Hillcrest.

Below are links to the syllabuses for each class. and if you haven't already, please email me at npulley@grav.k12.ca.us so I can get you signed up on the email list.

6th Grade Handbook

7th/8th Grade Handbook

I look forward to another fantastic year! See you soon.

Mr. Pulley

--- UPDATE ---

There were a couple of errors in the performance calendar. Here is a link to the updated, correct calendar. Sorry for any confusion.

Performance Calendar

Spring Concert Details!

Our final concert of the year is this week! Details below.

Thursday, May 30, 2013 from 5pm-7pm

Students with last names beginning with letters M-Z, please bring your favorite baked good to donate to the Music Boosters bake sale

6-8 bands, Jazz Band and Strings will be performing

Each section will choose a thematic dress code

Parents - If you are available to help at the concession stand please let me know at the concert.

Participants, please arrive no later than 4:45 PM

 

See you then!

 

Mr. Pulley

Apple Blossom Parade details!

Spring is here, which means it's parade season!

The Apple Blossom Parade is coming up fast. The band is sounding great and I am very excited to march down main street next week. Here is a time schedule for the day as well as other information regarding the event.

·        8:30 AM – Students arrive at the front entrance to Analy High School with instruments and no cases.  Percussion equipment, except for sticks, will already be in the staging area.    At this time students will put on their school provided bow tie and cumber bun, warm-up then line up.

·        10:00 AM – The parade begins. 

·        11:00-11:30 AM – The band will complete the parade and students will be excused.  Parents/Guardians, please make arrangements to meet your student(s) on Calder Ave (off of S. Main St.) immediately after the band finishes the parade route.

Uniform:  All band members must wear a long sleeved, collared, solid white shirt; long, solid black pants; and solid black shoes.  Black tape can be used to cover colors on mostly black shoes.  The school will provide a matching bow tie and cummerbund set for each student.  Please contact Mr. Pulley (npulley@grav.k12.ca.us) if obtaining the uniform creates a hardship, as scholarships are available.

Parents:  You must make arrangements to get your child to and from this event.  Because of the nature of the parade atmosphere the school and school personnel cannot be responsible for chaperoning your child before the marching begins or once the marching is over.  If this is a concern for you or your child please attend the parade and stay with the group.

If any parents are available to help with uniforms, water bottles, and other tasks, please e-mail Mr. Pulley.

News and various other items

Hi again! A couple of updates for you regarding the HMS band program.

The dates for the parades this year are as follows:

- The Sebastopol Apple Blossom Parade will be on Saturday, April 20th. The students are usually required to spend from 9-11:30 preparing and performing.

- The Santa Rosa Rose Parade will be on Saturday, May 18th. The students will be bussed from Hillcrest to downtown Santa Rosa in the morning, returning home around lunchtime.

More specific details will be posted and sent home when the events come closer. As always, if a student is unavailable to make either parade, I must be given a written or emailed note from a parent/guardian explaining why in order for the absence to be excused.

Congratulations to our drum majors - Kimberly Juarez-Rico and Josie Hoover. They were selected through an audition process including 7 other students. 

Flag team information meeting will be for 8th graders Friday, Jan. 25th at 8am in the band room. Auditions will be held the following Friday, Feb. 1st at the same time and place. Both meetings have mandatory attendance if a student wants to be on the flag team.

PARENTS AND FAMILIES - If you have any pictures of past events, pleas email them to me or give me hard copies as I would like to create a pictures section here on the website.

Thanks for reading, and I'll see you soon!

Mr. Pulley

Reference Recordings of Music

Hello and happy new year to you all!

I wanted to create a space where the students can access recordings of the music we are playing so they can further study it while at home. Listed below are links to webpages that have recordings for almost every ensemble. This page will be updated when more music is distributed to the students.
(Not all of the pieces have recordings available)

Marching Band

Don't Stop Believin

Hawaii Five-O

6th Grade

Tomb of the Pharoh

7th Grade

Aztec Fire

8th Grade

Among the Clouds
Stargazer
Disco Lives

Jazz Band
Burritos to Go

String Ensemble
Beethoven Inc.
Best of Green Day

Looking forward to a great 2nd half of the school year!

Mr. Pulley

Winter concerts!

Hello all!

There are 2 winter concerts coming up for the Gravenstein Union School District.

On Thursday, December 13th at 5:30pm, the Hillcrest band program will be performing.

On Tuesday, December 18th at 5pm, the Gravenstein Elementary music/band program will be performing.

More information can be found by clicking the links below.

Hillcrest Concert Info

Gravenstein Concert Info

Both concerts are free! Looking forward to seeing you there!

Mr. Pulley

Analy Fall Festival Information

Hello all!

The 7th and 8th grade bands have been confirmed for the Analy Fall Festival for Saturday, October 27th. This event is a great opportunity for the students to perform works for collegiate band directors, who in turn provide feedback to the bands. 

Below are links for information regarding times, concert dress, and other details for each band.

Parents are encouraged to stay and watch the bands perform. I also will need some parent help with the bowties and cummerbunds immediately before and after the event.

7th Grade Info

8th Grade Info

I'm looking forward to a great fall festival!

Mr. Pulley