First of all, I want to wish you and your families a very happy Thanksgiving. We certainly have a lot to be thankful for. I look forward to seeing all of you at our Christmas Concert on December 8, at 2 PM. We will have one after school rehearsal to put everything together on Tuesday, December 3, from 2:45 – 4:15. This rehearsal will be on the stage. Members of the Jazz Ensemble are asked to bring “dress” clothes for their on stage, “dress” rehearsal on Wednesday, December 4 during their regular class time. Mrs. Self will be taking some video footage to use as a promotion for our concert and for Moonlight and Jazz.

Speaking of Moonlight and Jazz, we have officially kicked it off and you should have received information about that. These make great Christmas gifts for family and friends! If you know of someone who would be a good candidate for a sponsor of the event, please let me know. I will attach an invitation, a Christmas Flyer, and a Sponsorship letter to this blog post.

Finally, it is time to get the ball rolling for our Disney Trip in the Spring. I have also attached information to this post. I’m sorry it took so long to get this out. The Radisson Hotel finally sent me a contract with pricing information.

Once again, I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Musically,

Doc

Moonlight and Jazz Christmas Flyer

Moonlight and Jazz Invitation 2020

M & J Sponsorship page 2020

Disney Trip Cost 2020

Dear Band Parents, Friends, and Alumni,

I sure don’t have to tell you we’ve had a very busy past couple of weeks. The good news is, after this Saturday, we can come up for air! You need to know that this week’s after school rehearsals will be our last marching band rehearsals. We will, however, have a rehearsal or two in November to prepare for our Christmas Concert. I will also take interested students Christmas caroling at a couple of nursing homes (to earn those coveted “A” hours) in early December, so be on the look out from your children for that.

Here are the details for this Saturday:

• Busses will leave St. Michael at 7:30 AM.
• We perform in Natchitoches at noon.
• It’s going to be very cold so students need to dress appropriately. They will be spending a lot of time in the stadium watching some of the elite high school bands in Louisiana.
• They will need to bring $10 in cash to me to pay for their lunch buffet. We will go to the cafeteria on campus for lunch after we perform (also to get out of the cold).
• We will provide some sort of protein bar or a fruit and grain bar with a small bottle of water for them to eat on the way to Natchitoches.
• We will provide a quick “grab and go” chicken wrap and water for the ride home, which will be after the awards ceremony which is scheduled to begin at 7 PM.
• We will make a quick, bathroom only (no purchasing drinks or snacks) on the way there and then again on the way back.
• Students should also bring money to purchase snacks, burgers, hot dogs, chili, hot chocolate, etc. in the stands during the competition.
• If students feel like they need to “graze” on the bus, that’s fine. Bring their halloween candy etc. with them.
• Admission for non-performers is $5.

I hope this answers all your questions.

Doc

Congratulations to Junior French Horn player, Steven Reed for not only earning all state this year, but by earning the TOP SPOT as the first horn player in the All State Orchestra. I am extremely proud of Steven and his hard work that has earned him this prestigious honor. Steven will perform in concert during the LMEA state conference at the Crown Plaza Hotel in November.

Way to go, Steven!!

 

Doc

Dear Band Parents, Friends, and Alumni,

Our performance for the Dutchtown Marching Band Festival is 10 AM Saturday, October 19, at Dutchtown High School. Here are details for the event:

• Parents will need to provide transportation to and from Dutchtown High School for the event.
• Students need to report NO LATER than 8:50 AM. Please assemble by our white band trailer.
• Students will need to bring clothes to change into after our performance and money for lunch.
• Students will be dismissed AFTER the awards ceremony, which is scheduled for 3:15 PM.

We have worked very hard to get to this point and I am very excited to see the progress our young musicians have made. We have the potential to be one of the best bands I’ve ever put on a field! My plan is to take the judges’ comments from this festival and use them to polish our show for the “Classic on the Cane” festival November 2.

Please be reminded that Open House is right around the corner as well. Members of the Jazz Ensemble and the Drum line will be performing for this event. The event is Wednesday, October 23, and will begin at 4:30. Your child will be given more instructions as the event gets nearer.

I am looking forward to putting all our hard work to the test at Dutchtown. Thank you to the parents who have relentlessly helped to make this event special.

Finally, our dates for our Disney trip have been locked in. We will leave St. Michael Wednesday at 7 PM on the evening of April 1 and will return to home Sunday morning, April 5th around 8 AM. We will be staying at the Grand Orlando Resort at Celebration in Kissimee (2900 Parkway Blvd, Kissimmee, FL 34747). I will be sending more information home in the future.

Doc

 

Dear Band Parents, Students, and Alumni,

We will have our annual Homecoming Pregame Performance Friday, October 4, at Olympia Field. All alumni are welcome to join us! You should have received something from our Alumi Director. Please email me kandry@smhsbr.org if you need more information (how to download music, etc.)

Here are some important dates for my current parents:

This Wednesday, the 25th, our Jazz Ensemble will perform for about 7-10 minutes for the District Student Counsel Rally. Please report to the band room for 6:15. We will play at 6:30 and be finished by 6:45. Dress will be casual, jeans but no shorts.

You should have the marching band festival dates already, but I wanted to make sure you have:

Dutchtown Marching Band Festival – October 19

Classic on the Cane Marching Band Festival – November 2.

We will plan on having a “Hammer and Nails” party, Tuesday, October 1 after band practice (start at 5 PM). We will be making our “star” props for our contest show and we can start working on the shelves in the band room for our trophies. Please email me if you are able to help so I can get an idea how many will be working. I have some tools but will also be needing some extra hammers and nails, and maybe a couple cordless drills. I will pick up supplies this weekend.  I hope this covers it for a few weeks. It’s going to be a busy couple of weeks ahead.

Thanks,

 

Doc

Dear Band Parents,

The pep band shirts and shoes have been ordered. The shirts came in yesterday and were distributed today. I expect the band shoes by the end of this week or the first part of next week. The costs (including taxes and shipping where necessary) are as follows:

Band shirt: $37.40

Dinkles marching band shoe $29.50

Please make all checks payable to St. Michael. Also, I passed out band pictures last week and told the students to have them returned to me by tomorrow. If your child didn’t show you his/hers, please ask to see them. My students are VERY photogenic 🙂

Only one more week until our first game. They will get instructions during the week about departure times, pregame meals, postgame meal etc. If you haven’t paid you band fee, which pays for meals your child eats during band camp and the five post-game meals, please send that check in ASAP.

Musically,

 

Doc

First of all, I want to thank everyone who came out yesterday to help begin our moving process. We got a lot done in a short amount of time because we had good help 🙂

There has been a CHANGE IN PLANS!  The foreman told us this morning that we cannot move Friday. Sooooo we will move Monday afternoon at 1 PM. Those of you who are familiar with construction will not be too surprised by this. Again, I’m asking for help Monday. I know many of you work and cannot help, but if you can somehow get your children here, we will knock this out in one afternoon.

There is another change in next week’s schedule. We will not be able to take our formal pictures on Thursday so we will be taking our picture for the yearbook and football programs Wednesday at 3 PM. Please have your child report to the band room (hopefully the new one) by 2:40. There, we will change into the formal uniform and take a group photo at 3, which will be followed by small group and individuals, beginning with seniors and working our way down to freshmen. Freshmen should be finished by 4 PM.

Finally, our first after-school rehearsal will be Thursday, August 8 from 3 – 4:30. Remember, these after-school rehearsals are mandatory (students earn a participation grade). We WILL need hydration.

Thanks again for your understanding and your help. It’s going to be a great year!

Doc

Dear Band Parents,

The time has come to begin our move from our current bandroom to the new facility. I just received word that we will begin our move this Friday, August 2nd. To help facilitate our move, I will need volunteers! I need some volunteers this evening (6 PM) to begin to move instruments and equipment from the band room to our band trailer. I will also need volunteers Friday morning, at 8:30 AM to help facilitate our move. This will be your first chance to be able to see the new facility!!

Please email me if you plan on being there Friday (students and parents are welcome). If you can come this evening, then I will see you then.

Thanks,

Doc

Dear Band Parents, Friends, and Alumni,

I just wanted to pass on a few more dates for you. Our Fine Arts Evening (Art show, fashion show, and band concert) is May 1. The Art Show will be in the Commons Area. The Fashion Show will begin in the cafeteria at 6 PM.  The band concert begins at 7 PM and will be in the gym. We want to invite any alumni who still play their instrument to join us for our finale, Amazing Grace.

Our Awards Convocation is scheduled for 6:30 PM on May 9 in the Cafeteria. We will feed each current student and 2 adults. Dress for the convocation is the school dress uniform.

The last important date (May 17) is graduation. I will send home excursion forms when we get closer to that date.

I am putting together dates for next year and will be publishing my Warrior Band Newsletter after the Easter break. Speaking of Easter, I want to wish each of you a blessed Easter. I hope you get to spend quality time with family.

Musically,

 

Doc

Dear Band Parents, Friends, and Alumni,

I guess you have figured by now that we will be moving this year’s Moonlight and Jazz indoors because of the 100% chance of rain for Sunday. I know that you and others support this event because 1) the music is outstanding 2) the food is awesome 3) the wine is…well as much as you can safely drink and 4) the White Oak atmosphere is beautiful. Well, Mother Nature has thrown us a wicked curveball again and we will have to move our event to St. Michael this year. So numbers 1,2, and 3 will be the best ever! 4 won’t happen but that’s not why you come in  the first place. So there will be a little change to our lineup for the weekend.

Tomorrow (Friday), we will have some dads (and bulldog moms) meet at school for 6 PM to move tables and a small stage over from the cafeteria to the gym. The protective floor covering will have already been put down. We are going to set up the stage for our performance. Gentlemen (and my bulldog moms)… we will feed you (fried fish dinners) and we will have some adult refreshments (the variety made with barley and hops). Please RSVP me via email if you will be able to help tomorrow. I want to be sure to have enough fried fish dinners and refreshments for you. We really don’t want the kids there. They will work Sunday! Plus, we are going to be serving barley and hops 🙂 We will NOT be bringing truck-loads of plants and flowers from Clegg’s Nursery this year. However, if you have a couple of plants (can be live or fake) that you will let us use to decorate the stage (only), please feel free to bring them Friday evening or Sunday at 2 PM. Otherwise, we will meet as planned at SMHS for 2 PM Sunday. Moonlight and Jazz will be a success again this year because of your support and the efforts of these kids extremely talented kids.

Musically,

 

Doc