St.

Johns High School

Tyler D’Hondt | 501 W Sickels St, St. Johns, MI 48879 | (989)227-4273 | dhondtt@sjredwings.org

December 7, 2020

Greetings everyone!

Seeing as this is my first year teaching, I thought it would be appropriate to give

you all a written introduction to myself. Feel free to contact me at any time by
email. I would love to hear from you all! Any advice I can get is appreciated! I
check it regularly and respond promptly. My classroom phone is also available,
but I request that this is only used during dire situations.

My name is Tyler D’Hondt, Mr. D for short is okay, and I graduated from Siena
Heights University in Adrian, MI, with my degree in instrumental music
education. I am principally a percussionist, but I also take great pride in my
ability to play other instruments as well.

I graduated from St. Johns High School in 2019 so I can confidently say that I am
familiar with our band program. All of my brothers were part of the band, so I
have had the pleasure of taking part in our program from a very young age. I
will do my absolute best to carry on our quality of work, student experience,
and service to the community.

I fundamentally base all of my decisions on our motto: Pride, Passion, Tradition. I

hope to continue to instill pride in our school and our community, passion within
my students, and uphold the traditions that we have built for ourselves over the
years. We build a family every year through all of our experiences. We all
always have come together to produce some great work and a positive
environment.

Let’s have a great year together!

Sincerely,

Tyler D’Hondt
Band Director
St. Johns High School
Tyler D’Hondt | 501 W Sickels St, St. Johns, MI 48879 | (989)227-4273 | dhondtt@sjredwings.org

December 7, 2020

Greetings Mrs. Ross,

This is just a quick reminder that Parker has signed up to be one of our 6th Grade
Camp counselors. He should already have a detailed hard copy of everything
that he needs to accomplish, but just as a reminder I send the parents of our
student volunteers a checklist.

Please make sure that Parker has completed and/or submitted all of these tasks
7 days in advance to our date of departure:

❑ School Background Check (Submit to Mrs. Gray in the front office)

❑ Complete the online training courses (Visit school website for access)
❑ Pack Accordingly (Clothes, Swimming Attire, Bedding, Bug Spray,
Sunscreen, etc.)
❑ Register ALL medications (prescription and non) with the school nurse.

I’m very excited to get this all in motion!

Sincerely,

Tyler D’Hondt
Band Director

2
St. Johns High School
Tyler D’Hondt | 501 W Sickels St, St. Johns, MI 48879 | (989)227-4273 | dhondtt@sjredwings.org

December 7, 2020

Greetings everyone!

Your students should already be coming home with a written description of our
upcoming field trip, but I would like to personally give a brief summary.

• Our trip is to the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.

• Concerning transportation, all students MUST ride the bus TO AND FROM
the musem. In order to take your student home independently, there is a
transportation release form that will be attached to the permission slip.
The student WILL NOT be released unless the form is turned in.
• We will depart from the school at 7:45 AM and return at 5:00 PM. In order
to properly execute our itinerary, please have your students here NO
LATER than 7:30 AM so that we can make sure everyone came prepared,
load the busses, and do a roll call before departing. Please be on time to
pick up your students as well.
• There is an admissions fee of $10 that the school will not be allocating
funds for. If you are not able to afford this, please contact me
individually. Everything will remain professional and private.
• Lunch will be eaten together outside of the museum. All students must
bring their own lunch/lunch money. Refrigeration will NOT be available.
• There is a gift shop that we have time for the students to explore shortly
before we return to the school. Souvenir money is absolutely optional.
• If anyone would like to chaperone this field trip, contact me for details.

Thank you all for allowing your students to join us in this experience!

Sincerely,

Tyler D’Hondt
Band Director

3
 SCHOOL FIELD TRIP PERMISSION SLIP
Dear Parent or Guardian,

Your child is going on a field trip. Please read the information at the top of this
form, then sign and return the permission slip at the bottom of this form by
___________.

Field Trip Information:

Date: Cost: $10.00 Cash or check payable to: St. Johns Public Schools

Location: Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History

Means of transportation: Dean Transportation (St. Johns Public Schools)

Leave school: 7:45 AM Arrive back at school: 5:00 PM

Special Instruction: Please arrive early so that we can load the busses and
leave on time.

Save this part of the form for future reference

Cut Here---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Cut Here

Sign this part of the form and return it to your child’s teacher

_________________________________________________ has permission to attend a

field trip to the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History on

______________ from 7:45AM to 5:00PM. Enclosed, please find cash/check in the

amount of $10.00 to cover the cost of the trip. I give my permission for

_________________________________________________ to receive emergency

medical treatment. In an emergency, please contact:

Name: ________________________________________ Phone: ____________________

Parent/Guardian Signature: _______________________________________________

Date: ___________________________

4
St. Johns High School
Tyler D’Hondt | 501 W Sickels St, St. Johns, MI 48879 | (989)227-4273 | dhondtt@sjredwings.org

December 7, 2020

Greetings Mrs. Ross!

I am contacting you to inquire about your son, Parker’s glasses. He is an

excellent student, and a delight to have in class, but recently he has been
coming to school without his glasses. Things like this do happen, so I moved him
to the front of the class to accommodate his vision. He has had a deficit in his
performance both in class and in his work without his glasses, but that was
presumed to be only temporary.

This happened, as I am sure you are aware of, several weeks ago. I am
reaching out now to see what the status is on his new glasses. Seeing as this is
affecting his ability to perform, it is a very pressing issue. Not to overstep my
boundaries, but if there are any reasons that the arrival of Parker’s new glasses
is delayed, please do let me know. I would love for us to work together in
finding a solution to get him back up and running the way that we both know
he can!

Thank you so much for your cooperation!

Sincerely,

Tyler D’Hondt
Band Director

5
St. Johns High School
Tyler D’Hondt | 501 W Sickels St, St. Johns, MI 48879 | (989)227-4273 | dhondtt@sjredwings.org

December 7, 2020

Greetings Mrs. Taylor!

I would like to extend my appreciation in a letter of thanks on behalf of myself,

the school, and the students in my classroom. Your donation of books and
magazines has been an invaluable contribution to the quality and variety of
exposure that these children can get in the classroom. We certainly will make
good use of them!

In honor of your donation, if you are willing, I would like to get a picture with you
alongside the literature and the class for a picture to place next to our library
and commemorate your donation.

Your part in building this classroom is cherished. You are always welcome to
come in at any time to be a guest in our classroom and see a direct result of
your charity.

My deepest gratitude,

Tyler D’Hondt
Band Director

6
St. Johns High School
Tyler D’Hondt | 501 W Sickels St, St. Johns, MI 48879 | (989)227-4273 | dhondtt@sjredwings.org

October 29, 2020

Greetings everyone!

Here is the November edition of This Month in Band:

November 1-10: Continue preparations for Winter Concert

November 11: Veterans Day Parade

The Redwing Marching Band will be excused from their Seminar and 3rd periods
to participate in the parade through downtown to the cemetery. Lunch will be
eaten upon returning to the school. Normal class resumes for 4th period.

November 12-19: Continue preparations for Winter Concert

November 20: Silver Bells in the City!

The Redwing Marching Band will report to band room early enough that we
can be on the road to Lansing by 5:15PM. Following the parade, we will return
to the school, usually around 8:30pm.

EARLY is on time! On time is LATE!

November 21-24: Continue preparations for Winter Concert

November 25-29: Thanksgiving break!

November 30: Continue preparations for Winter Concert

Thank you for your dedication to the program!

Sincerely,

Tyler D’Hondt
Band Director

7
St. Johns High School
Tyler D’Hondt | 501 W Sickels St, St. Johns, MI 48879 | (989)227-4273 | dhondtt@sjredwings.org

Jun 4, 2020

Greetings everyone!

What a ride this year has been! I want to thank you all for taking part in forming
this family that we have built this year. We have all struggled and triumphed
together to carry on our traditions. We have all shed blood, sweat, and tears
through our pursuit of great music and we are all closer for it. We accomplished
everything that we said we would accomplish. Straight I’s in both marching and
concert band festivals for the 43rd consecutive year!

I cannot put into words just how proud I am of all of you. From the bottom of my
heart, thank you to my students, thank you to their families who support them
and support the program!

To my seniors,

I wish the best of luck to you in your future endeavors. I have had the absolute
pleasure of watching you all grow into fine young adults. Never forget where
you come from and never stop looking to the future.

To those of us not returning to the program,

Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication this year. I hope that you
can say that this was a memorable time and that you carry those memories
with you going forward.

To everyone else,

See you next year!

Sincerely,

Tyler D’Hondt
Band Director