Band Camp Postponed
2020 Louie Louie Band
2020-21 Key Positions
Wow! Latest Band News, 3-18-20
2020-21 Color Guard Announced!
Spiritwear Design Contest
Section Battle Winners!
2020 Color Guard Auditions
Recognizing Dr. Bill Thomas
2020 Senior Awards
Band Camp Postponed
2020 Louie Louie Band
2020-21 Key Positions
Wow! Latest Band News, 3-18-20
2020-21 Color Guard Announced!
Spiritwear Design Contest
Section Battle Winners!
2020 Color Guard Auditions
Recognizing Dr. Bill Thomas
2020 Senior Awards
Band Camp Postponed
2020 Louie Louie Band
2020-21 Key Positions
Wow! Latest Band News, 3-18-20
2020-21 Color Guard Announced!
Spiritwear Design Contest
Section Battle Winners!
2020 Color Guard Auditions
Recognizing Dr. Bill Thomas
2020 Senior Awards
Band Camp Postponed
2020 Louie Louie Band
2020-21 Key Positions
Wow! Latest Band News, 3-18-20
2020-21 Color Guard Announced!
Spiritwear Design Contest
Section Battle Winners!
2020 Color Guard Auditions
Recognizing Dr. Bill Thomas
2020 Senior Awards
Band Camp Postponed
2020 Louie Louie Band
2020-21 Key Positions
Wow! Latest Band News, 3-18-20
2020-21 Color Guard Announced!
Spiritwear Design Contest
Section Battle Winners!
2020 Color Guard Auditions
Recognizing Dr. Bill Thomas
2020 Senior Awards
Band Camp Postponed
2020 Louie Louie Band
2020-21 Key Positions
Wow! Latest Band News, 3-18-20
2020-21 Color Guard Announced!
Spiritwear Design Contest
Section Battle Winners!
2020 Color Guard Auditions
Recognizing Dr. Bill Thomas
2020 Senior Awards
Band Camp Postponed
2020 Louie Louie Band
2020-21 Key Positions
Wow! Latest Band News, 3-18-20
2020-21 Color Guard Announced!
Spiritwear Design Contest
Section Battle Winners!
2020 Color Guard Auditions
Recognizing Dr. Bill Thomas
2020 Senior Awards
Band Camp Postponed
2020 Louie Louie Band
2020-21 Key Positions
Wow! Latest Band News, 3-18-20
2020-21 Color Guard Announced!
Spiritwear Design Contest
Section Battle Winners!
2020 Color Guard Auditions
Recognizing Dr. Bill Thomas
2020 Senior Awards
Band Camp Postponed
2020 Louie Louie Band
2020-21 Key Positions
Wow! Latest Band News, 3-18-20
2020-21 Color Guard Announced!
Spiritwear Design Contest
Section Battle Winners!
2020 Color Guard Auditions
Recognizing Dr. Bill Thomas
2020 Senior Awards
Congratulations to ALL our seniors. We’re so sorry we didn’t get to have a proper send-off for you. But here are our award winners:
Continue readingBand Camp Postponed
Unfortunately, with the delay in the start of school, we have had to postpone band camp; we are unsure of exact schedules at this point. Please stay tuned for more information as we have it!
2020 Louie Louie Band
Hello Viking Band Families and Alumni–
You may be wondering about the Louie Louie Band at the Lenexa Community Days Parade this 4th of July. Unfortunately, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the parade has been canceled this year. Lenexa is still hosting a form of the celebration in the form of a Porch Parade.
People and businesses along the parade route are encouraged to decorate their front yards and porches for the holiday, and guests can drive the route and enjoy the decorations. The Porch Parade is from July 1-4. I encourage you to take a drive through Lenexa this weekend to check it out!
Hopefully, we’ll be able to resume our Louie Louie marching tradition in 2021! Have a great 4th!
2020-21 Key Positions
Band parents and family – yes, we’re getting ready for the 2020-21 West Pride Band year! We have some key positions that need to be filled to make the Band year the best it can be for your students!
The Band Aides are looking for a few people to chair some events next year. If you’re interested, please contact Dawn Schnake at dawnschnake@gmail.com .
August Car Wash – Secure the sites, publicity
July 31 Ice Cream Social – Make a flyer, lead the serving
Oct Red Wheel Fundraiser – Collect forms, place order, etc
West Area Outreach – Connect with Elem and Westridge Band Families
Bulletin Boards – We have a bulletin board that needs updating every month or two.
Photographer – Take pictures of the students at events, semi-professional or professional photographer would be best.
Wow! Latest Band News, 3-18-20
Are you as shocked as I am? This is crazy, but here we are. I know you have lots of questions, as do we as teachers and parents.
Let me give you what I know at this point about our band.
KSHSAA events (Solo and Ensemble & State Large Group) events have been canceled, right along with school. Soloists, I have heard of some of our local colleges will be hosting virtual festivals in which you can record yourself and send to them for feedback. More to come.
London – Do not worry at this time. We are still months away. Direction will be coming.
Flower fundraiser – many of you have been collecting money and orders to raise money for our London trip. At this point, please contact your buyers and let them know that we will not be able to follow through with the fundraiser and that you need to shred their check. You could send them a picture of their shredded check for proof. That way you don’t have to see them face to face to return the check.
Teachers are getting direction on Friday (I think) about what is coming next week. We WILL be talking to each other again either visually or at least via email. Stay tuned. If you did not take your instrument home, we will have direction in the coming days of how you can pick it up. As of now, all school are closed to students as well as teachers.
Please know that we care about you and your family’s safety. Wash often! Stay home! I want you all back when school starts! We’ll chat soon.
Bill Thomas and Kevin Hupe
Shawnee Mission West H.S.
(913) 993-7852
2020-21 Color Guard Announced!
After excellent tryouts and a hard set of decisions, the Shawnee Mission West Pride Color Guard has been chosen! Congratulations to:
- Bettendorf, Samantha (Captain)
- Buckley, Angelina
- Bush, Madison
- Glean, Natalie (Captain)
- Hansen, Signe
- Holmes, Elexus
- Johnson, Maggie
- Kloster, Gracie (Officer)
- Lendos-Chinchilla, Alex
- Roundtree, Curtis
- Spivey, Jewel
- Wagner, Kira and
- Willis, Olivia
Thank you to all who auditioned. We look forward to an excellent season! The revised date for the team meeting is Wednesday, March 4 at 7:30 PM in the SMW band room.
Spiritwear Design Contest
The Band-Aides booster club for the Shawnee Mission West Band is sponsoring a Spiritwear design contest. The winner gets their design on the next round of Spiritwear!
Deadline: Turn in to Dr. Thomas, Mr. Hupe, or email to dawnschnake@gmail.com by 3:00 pm on Monday, March 2nd. That is two weeks away!
Format: jpg, pdf, or drawn by hand. Large enough to put on a shirt.
Guidelines:
- Identify the school. West or Shawnee Mission West
- Use 3 colors or fewer and include school colors.
- Background color of the shirt can be white, black, grey, or gold.
- No dates. For example, don’t use 2020-2021 in the design.
- Humor is okay, but keep it positive.
- Full band program, not just marching band.
- Both students and parents can participate.
- Collaborations are okay.
- Multiple entries per person are okay.
- The shirts will be for both students and family members to wear.
Please let me know if you have any questions,
Dawn Schnake
Section Battle Winners!
Tonight at the Chili Supper and Concert the BAW had a SECTION BATTLE! The purpose was to raise money to purchase a trailer for the band to haul equipment on the field for marching festivals and performances. Donation tubs were on the table in the gym. Bills counted towards the total, and coins added to the tubs subtracted from the total for each section. The winning section will receive a donut party during sectional practice.
Continue reading2020 Color Guard Auditions
Are you interested in auditioning for the 2020 Color Guard? Here’s all the information you will need about the audition, pre-audition, clinics, and a brand-new audition process!
Pre-Audition Meeting
We will be holding a pre-audition meeting on February 11, 2020. It will be held in the band room at West at 7pm (Room 149). This is a meeting for both students and parents where we will go over this information! If you have questions, ask them on the 11th! If you have a question, I bet someone else does too, so go ahead and ask!
Pre-Audition Clinic
The following times are the pre-audition clinics. It is very important that you be at each clinic because this is where we learn and perfect the audition material! If you have a conflict, let me know ASAP. Wear clothing you can move in and tennis shoes. We will have some dance technique involved as well as flag (please no jeans or boots).
- Monday, February 17 (No School) – Main Gym from 7:30-9 AM
- Tuesday, February 18 (No School)- Main Gym from 7:30-9 AM
- Wednesday, February 19- Stage Gym from 6:30-7:30 AM
- Thursday, February 20- Stage Gym from 6:30-7:30 AM
- Friday, February 21 (NO EARLY MORNING CLINIC)- Audition begins at 4:30 PM in the Main and Aux Gyms
Please be on the bridge prior to 4:30 in order to warm-up and get checked in. We will begin at 4:30 when the gym is available following basketball. As you will learn, “To be early is to be on time. To be on time is to be late!” Please wear all black and tennis shoes, so we can see your lines clearly.
Audition Process
The audition process will be BRAND NEW this year, so both veterans and new recruits alike will see something a bit different. The audition will be comprised of two components or stations: Technique and Fight Song AND Routine. To be in accordance with SMSD rules, we will have a panel of seven judges: three for technique, and four for routine. These are color guard/dance coaches and teachers from both the school district and across the state. They are very knowledgeable and eager to help build our best team for the 2020-2021 school year. More info regarding the breakdown of scores will be discussed at our pre-audition meeting.
Final Words
Bring your questions, comments and concerns on February 11 at 7 pm! (If you have a question that absolutely can’t wait, my email is below.) Yes, there’s a lot of details. Please don’t let the process scare you away from this awesome program!
I look forward to seeing you at the meeting on February 11 at 7pm!
Coach Thomas briannalthomas13@gmail.com
Recognizing Dr. Bill Thomas
Dr. Thomas has spent the last three years working on his doctorate degree – he completed this year, and the BandAides West executive board presented him with a special recognition during the 2019 Winter Band Concert!