Band Website
Traughber Junior High School, Oswego, Illinois
Description
The website is used as a communication tool for band families and as a source of information for future members and other educators.
Target Audience
Traughber JHS Band Families, 400 student families, Grades 6-8, 64% white, 36% minority, 21% low income, District Financial Capacity to Meet Expectations = 63%,
Overview of Planning and Execution
The band website has evolved over the past 10 years. It started as a simple 3-4 page resources and has expanded to include our curriculum and learner outcomes.
Costs
We use the free Google Site which comes with the education package.
Challenges/Obstacles
Website update is done weekly. Time is scheduled as part of weekly program planning to maintain and keep the site current.
Success/Effectiveness Measurement
We track website statistics of hits and interactions. We ask for parent and student feedback on usefulness and convenience of the site. We have added our weekly assignments and weekly events to the opening page. This has increased parent awareness of the work being done in each ensemble.
Community Impact
The other four junior high schools in our district have modeled their websites after ours. Administrators and community members have access to the site to clarify the band program’s vision, goals and policies. It has assisted in communication and clarity. The site is used in several collegiate music education programs as a sample site. I am routinely contacted by band directors outside of our district with questions about our program and the site serves as a resource.
Advice for others?
Start small with basic communication, calendars and events. Add policy and procedure as the second level of development. The final step is to add curriculum, outcomes and resources.
