Good Sunday Afternoon! Here we go… back to school! I will provide weekly updates through Marching Season because there are so many moving parts that affect so many people. After Marching Season comes to a close in late October, I will pull back to twice a month. The goals is to provide all the information parents and students would need for a successful and stress-free band experience. For new parents to our program, most middle and high school music groups will have one performance (maybe two if they are busy) per nine weeks. Our band is highly involved in school activities, and our booster club, Band~Aides West is busy fundraising and providing incredible opportunities for our students. With that in mind, I will try to highlight information in my emails to the group is is most pertinent to see.
Freshmen & New students to West – Tomorrow is your first day of high school! Welcome aboard our Viking ship! All you need tomorrow is your curiosity. No instruments needed. Have fun!
Pep Band Members – please join us in the band room at 1:00p to warm-up. We will move to the gym at 1:20 to play for the pep assembly. Please wear some West spirit wear. Your band t-shirt is great. This will go until 2:30.
ALL Students – Tuesday – All Classes – is our first Full day with everyone. Please bring your instrument. We will get lockers assigned. Marching Band, we will play through our show and pre-game music. If you have your Forms/Fees packets, please return those today.
Wednesday – All Classes
Thursday – Even Blocks
Friday – Odd Blocks– First day of early morning rehearsals for the Marching Band. Colorguard/Dance Team you’ll start your first early morning on Monday. Be prepared with appropriate tennis shoes and other attire; we will probably go outside on Friday to review pregame and opener drill.
NEXT WEEK
Tuesday – Marching Band Rehearsal 6-8p All, 6-9p Percussion
Wednesday – Marching Band pics during class
Saturday – MEGA Car Wash, 9a-4p – ALL band, color guard, dance team students
Fountain City Youth Brass Band Academy
I just learned a few months ago, that there are opportunities for brass and percussion students to be involved with the Award- Winning Fountain City Brass Band through their youth academy! There are various levels of engagement tailored to meet the needs and desires of many students. Sectionals and group lessons are provided by members of the Fountain City Brass Band. Such an Incredible opportunity! Please see the attached PDF for more information.
MEGA Car Wash – ALL Band, Color Guard and Dance Students
– Coming up on Saturday, August 23is our annual MEGA Car Wash. We divide the students between two Westlake locations – 87th and Grant, and 87th and Lackman. We need ALL students all day (from 9a-4p). We will wash over 300 vehicles. We need everyone to obtain pledges of 2, 3, 5, 7or 10 cents per car, or obtain flat donations. Then we need to tell everyone we know to bring their cars and get them washed. Last year we raised over $18,000 dollars! Being that close and this being the trip year, I KNOW we can make it $20,000! Even if your student is not going to London this year, we need your help. This fundraiser also helps fund other parts of our program, allowing us to bring in clinicians for all band members and supplying other needs. Students can also pay their band fees using their profits from the car wash. We will split pledges/donations 70/30 with the students. They keep 70% of their fundraised money for their trip or fee needs.
Parents – we’re trying to update Cut Time financials but have run into a little snag with inputting the data. We are waiting on the programmers to help us understand how to enter it properly and exactly. Please continue to be patient with us as we learn this new software.
London Travelers
Scholarships – BAW has set aside part of their budget to help 8-10 students struggling to raise the necessary funds for the London trip. You can see from the application; preference is given to students (and parents) who have been active participants in the growth and work of the band and Band~Aides West Booster Club. I have attached a Scholarship Application for your convenience. Scholarships will only be awarded to students who parents are members of the BAW booster club ($10 family fee per year). The completed application is due in the band office On or before Monday, August 25 in a sealed envelope with the student’s name printed on the outside, and the words London Scholarship Committee. The applications will then be provided to a committee to review and awardees notified on or around Monday, September 8. After notification, budget transfers to be made to the student’s trip account.
Passports – If you have not gotten your passport, you need to apply ASAP. There is now no need to go someplace to get your passport photo taken. You can take it for free at home with your cell phone. Instructions can be found at https://www.usa.gov/passport. If you already have your passport, please bring it to the band office. We need to begin working on the trip manifest and we must have your full legal name as it appears on the passport AND your passport ID, birthdate and expiration date. It will be stored in our safe in the band office. Chaperones, this is for you as well. When we take possession of your passport, we will give you a receipt for the passport so there is record of who’s we have in our possession. If you are traveling over the next few months for work, we need to obtain a color copy of your passport.
We’ve found that applying at the Stillwell Post Office is the most efficient location – same day appointments, even if it is a bit of a drive. 19800 Metcalf Ave, Stilwell, KS 66085