Fall Inservice Conference

Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Oxford Area High School
705 Waterway Road
Oxford, PA 19363

Thank you to all all who participated in the November 2007 In-service Conference held at Oxford Area High School. There were 218 participants this year, with 24 clinicians. There were many positive comments concerning the conference as well as several terrific suggestions.

Let me say thank you to Dr. Mary Jane Gales, Oxford Area School District and in particular, Principal David Madden and the Oxford Area High School staff. The facility is fabulous and I know some of us went home a little green with envy.

A very big thank you goes to Jean Bender who had the facility so organized for us , and handled the food service and and the clinicians room assignments. The maps and signs were very much appreciated. There were 12 Tri-M students who gave a a day off from school to work as the musicians in the early morning, and later as bell hops, guides and go-fers.

The music teachers from Oxford Area School District gave more than 100% to the conference - Erin Kauppila for sharing instruments,chairs and stands, Rebecca Welk for schlepping Orff Instruments, Julia Farber for schlepping Orff Instruments, children and parents! Christine Gehring, our elementary C/I, who prepared student musicians for the morning and worked behind the scenes organizing, setting up and trouble-shooting. Thanks to Maggie Farber for instruments as well.

Thanks, too, to all those who worked the registration desk – Sue Dickinger, Nancy Pedrick, Maggie Farber, Christine Gehring, Pat Giordano, Beth O'Leary, and Brooke Abrahams. Forgive me if I did not remember all the helpful souls. Thanks too to those who introduced clinicians at each session.

District 12 had quite a representation as clinicians – Marty Beech, Don McCleary, Julia Farber, Anthony DiLella, Rose Grellis, Matt Hill, Mark Jacoby, Ann McFarland, and Thomas Lloyd., Dwight Weaver, our secretary/treasurer and Scott Cullen, our president. Kudos!

It was great to see retired members Bonnie Strang and Kenneth Laudermilch at the conference.

One last bit of housekeeping. Act 48 reporting requires signing in and out, using your PDE# and filling out an evaluation sheet. All must be present in order to receive credit. Sad to say, some participants were missing some of the requirements.

Anne

“Music teaches the 21st century skills which will prepare students for success in the competitive global economy.”