October 9, 2007 (edited with corrections)

Hello from the Band Office!

Here’s this weeks news.

Spaghetti Dinner This Saturday! We still have spots that we need parents to serve as well as students. Parents can sign up through Nancy Allen and students can sign up in the morning in the band room. PLEASE make sure you check in at your time and location. Students will receive lettering points for their time. We have a ton of great items up for auction. Please check the web site for a PDF of pictures and descriptions of items being offered. Also, please forward this to your friends and co-workers! That is why this is on the site. We don’t expect the parents to purchase all of these items. We want outside people to help fund the band through their donations and purchases. Dinner tickets can be purchases at the door on Saturday evening. If you would like a poster to put up I will put one on the Charms site for you to download and print. This is a HUGE undertaking – thanks to all who are helping organize and work. “The strength of each wolf is the pack, and the strength of the pack is each wolf.” We need each other!

REMINDER TO ALL STUDENTS / PARENTS ... please don't forget to donate 2 pies or 1 cake for the Spaghetti Dinner this Saturday. Please deliver your desserts to SMW between the hours of noon and 4:00 pm. A collection table will be set up just outside the cafeteria.

Trash bags have been ordered. The plan is to order some extras. If you did not turn in your order yesterday, we will still have some for a while. Please contact Laura Guy. Pick up will be this Thursday after school on the dock on the west side of the school.

Trombones – There is a wonderful clinic in Andover (a suburb of Wichita) coming up shortly. If you are thinking of auditioning for District or State honor bands, you should really consider making the trip. Check out the details in the Downloads Section of the Charms site.

District Honor Band – I am sending the District honor band names today. If you have not signed up, see me tomorrow! I can still get you in without a late fee.

Wednesday, October 17 is the Shawnee Mission District Marching Festival for the marching band. Please come see and appreciate the hard work your kids have been putting into the show. They have done excellently!

  • 5:15     Report Time at West - Load and change
  • 5:45     Depart for South
  • 6:00     Arrive/unload
  • 6:20     Warm-up, prepare
  • 6:50     Into the stands
  • 7:00     Show begins: East, North, West, Northwest, South
  • 7:30ish   West performs
  • 8:15     Show concludes
  • 8:45     Load truck and busses - return to West
  • 9:30     Everyone at home

Friday, October 19 is Senior Night and Flashlight Show at the football game. Senior parents, please plan on attending and walking across the field with your son/daughter to honor them for their years of dedication to the SMW Bands. Meet on the far side of the field prior to half-time. Most parents do dress up for this event. Pictures will be taken. The band will be performing their show in the dark after the game decked out in flashlights and glow sticks. Done miss it! This is always a highlight!

Saturday, October 20 is the K-State Marching Festival. We will depart at 10:45 a.m. The students should eat an early lunch. We have a clinic with the K-State marching staff at 2:00 p.m. We will provide an early dinner (4:00ish) and then dress for our show. We perform at 6:45 p.m. We will stay for awards that will take place after the K-State band performs at about 8:00 p.m. We should be home by about 10:30 p.m.

  • 10:30     Call Time
  • 11:00     Depart for Manhattan
  •   1:30     Arrive and unload
  •   2:00     Clinic with K-State Marching Band Staff
  •   3:00     Water & Snack, watch other bands
  •   5:15     Dinner / change into uniform at the busses
  •   6:00     Warm-up
  •   6:45     Perform on turf at Snyder Family Stadium
  •   7:30     Back into stadium to watch last couple of bands and receive awards.
  •   8:00     K-State Band performs
  •   8:30     Load busses and return to West
  • 11:00     Arrive back at West and Unload

Freshman Concert Band, Jazz Lab and OE concert, Tuesday, Oct 23, 7:00 p.m.

No more 7:00 a.m. rehearsals for the marching band after Oct. 20.

Basketball Pep Band rehearsals are coming in November. ALL bands students are invited to join in this fun time. Pep Band is much more relaxed than marching band; no uniforms, less time needed, less stress, more flexibility in scheduling. Lettering points are awarded for attending all rehearsals and performances.

Audition music for Marching Band (chair placement for concert band) coming soon.

___________________________

Bill Thomas

Director of Bands

Shawnee Mission West High School

email: wethomas@smsd.org

voice: 913-993-7852