École Handsworth Secondary
North Vancouver School District
Handsworth Music Parents Association (HMPA)

​​​​​Music Parents

Please check the Music Performance and Events Calendar for the latest updates.


Hello Music Parents

Welcome to the new school year!  We look forward to a great year in the Music Department at Handsworth Secondary. 

Here is some information to help you navigate the music program.

Teachers:

Our band teacher is Mr. David Bradshaw.  Mr. Bradshaw teaches all of our concert bands, jazz bands and the Handsworth Choir.  Our strings teacher is Mr. Sab Kabok.  Mr. Kabok teaches all of the Handsworth strings ensembles and also teaches in a number of elementary schools in the Handsworth family of schools.  Mr. James Diakuw teaches music therapy and strings.


Contact information:

David Bradshaw                dbradshaw@sd44.ca

Sab Kabok                          skabok@sd44.ca

James Diakuw                   jdiakuw@sd44.ca

                                                

Concerts

We have a variety of concerts throughout the year.  Our concerts in the fall and spring are spread over three nights with each group playing on one of the three nights.  Our big fundraising concert of the year, Sweet Music, is held in early December and is the only concert in which all of our groups perform.  In February/March, we have a series of concerts where each type of group (Concert bands, Strings and Jazz bands) has its own concert.  In total, you can expect your student to participate in 4 major school concerts each year.  All students are expected to attend every concert where they are scheduled to play.  Please see the Handsworth Music Concert Calendar which is on the Handsworth website (Parents section – Handsworth Music Parents Association).

Concerts are held at the school or at local venues.  For most concerts, entry is by donation.

At our concerts, parents help out in a variety of ways – greeting guests, donating baking for the refreshment table, helping with student supervision etc. Once again we are going to use SignUpGenius to assist us with concert organization.

Along with this letter, we attach the list of concert dates for this school year.  Please add them to your calendar. 


Festivals

Many groups will participate in at least one festival over the course of the year.  Some groups go on a weekend trip, others do not.  It varies from year to year.  There is a major trip alternating years for senior students.  This year our senior students are traveling to Italy during Spring Break.

 

Concert Attire

Each student will receive a vest from the school as part of their uniform.    Students are expected to take care of their vest and return it at the end of the year. 

Each student is required to provide their own pair of black dress pants, black dress socks (long enough that no skin shows when the student is sitting down) and black dress shoes.   Students are also required to provide a long-sleeved dress shirt with a collar and cuffs.  For the junior groups, this shirt is white and for Senior Winds, Senior Jazz and Chamber Strings, the shirt is black.  The goal is a uniform, professional look for all groups. 


HMPA (Handsworth Music Parents Association)

The HMPA exists to help support the music program through volunteering, raising money and participating actively in the music program.  We meet about five times per year, usually on a Monday evening. As a parent of a music student, you are automatically a member of the HMPA.   Even if you don't have a lot of time, helping out at concert or taking on one responsibility makes a big difference.


Volunteering

Accompanying this newsletter is a list of all of our volunteer opportunities.  While we do have a core group of parent volunteers we could use some more to help out in a variety of area. 

 

Fundraising

We do several types of fundraising to support the music program.  Our most profitable fundraising events are our semi-annual bottle drives.  We collect bottles and other refundable containers from the neighborhood and turn them into money.  Bottle drives are held in October and April.  All students are expected to participate for part of the day.  Parents are also need to help out during the day, especially with driving the routes and collecting the bottles.

 

We also have our Sweet Music fundraising concert where we have a popular bake sale, raffle, 50/50 draw and other fundraising opportunities. 

 

Funds raised are used to support the music program in several ways, including purchasing large, hard-to-rent instruments, music stands, traveling cases and uniforms etc. 

 

Student Fundraising

Through the annual sale of Purdy's chocolates, students are also able to raise funds for their own trip accounts to help pay for festival fees and other music trips.  This sale occurs in October/November. 

 

Communication

Communication can be a bit of a challenge in the music program.  In addition to receiving e-mail from the teachers, we encourage all of you to sign up to receive e-mails from the HMPA.  Please send your name and e-mail address to TBD to be added to the e-mail distribution list.  I will be doing a new list for this year, so even if you were on the list last year, please send me your email.  Please also visit the HMPA link on the Handsworth website http://www.sd44.ca/school/handsworth/ProgramsServices/departments/music/hmpa/Pages/default.aspx for information about the music program.

 

​David Bradshaw, Band Teacher and Choir Teacher

Sab Kabok, Strings Teacher

James Diakuw, Music Therapy and Strings

Elize Nel, HMPA Chair 



Music Bottle Drive
Support your Handsworth Music Programs by donating your refundable bottles and cans to our Bottle Drive.  The Music Bottle Drive is a bi-annual fundraiser organized by parents of music students in the Spring and Fall of each year.  Please check here for our next Handsworth Music Bottle Drive.

We will be picking up donations from homes in the area bounded by Paisley Road and Grouse Mountain, Mosquito Creek and Capilano River. 

Please place your bottles and cans outside your home in a bag or box with our flyer attached (visible from the street but NOT at the curb) by 8:30 AM and we will pick it up! 

If you live outside the collection area but would like to donate, please drop your donation off BEFORE 1:00 PM at our Bottle Drive (located by the loading bay, east end of the school by the woodwork and gym entrance off of Handsworth Road).

Thank you for your support!
Handsworth Music Parents Association
For more information please contact handsworthbottledrive@gmail.com.

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Greetings Handsworth Music Parents,
 
 
HMPA is the organization for parents of students in the Handsworth Band and Strings programs. It operates under the umbrella of the Handsworth Parent Advisory Council (HPAC) and its aims are:
  • To strengthen the Handsworth music program through education and fundraising activities
  • In collaboration with the music teachers, to organize performances and tours that showcase the students' work
  • To communicate with Handsworth families, staff, and the community on activities of the music program
We have a dynamic team of parent volunteers, but are always looking for more help. Parent involvement is what makes our music program so outstanding.
 
How can I get involved?

Volunteer code - handsworth.pdf

hmpa volunteer driver form.pdf



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