Thank you for turning out to cheer for the Marching Firebirds in their debut performance on Friday evening. Thanks, also, for supporting your teen through the three weeks of Band Camp. It was hard work, but worthwhile in preparation for the looming marching band competition season. Last, but not least, thank you for supporting our Thirty-One fundraiser.
With school getting under way in just two days, the schedule this week will be different from previous weeks. Here’s what you need to know and/or do:
- At your convenience this week, we encourage you to:
- sign up to become part of our pool of bus chaperones for marching band competitions and special events. Note that signing up doesn’t mean you have to chaperone for every bus trip;
- stay in the know by subscribing to and/or downloading our calendar, and following us on Facebook, Instagram, Flickr and Twitter; and
- take stock of your Marching Firebird spirit wear needs for football games and marching band competitions. If you already placed an order, it will be available at Silvers (Thursday evening rehearsals) as soon as it is delivered to our Spiritwear coordinator. If you’re able to come to Silvers, your teen can check immediately after Silvers practice; alternatively, you can email Rachel Butler to see if your order is in. If you have not placed an order, please do so by this Friday to be included in our place our next bulk order with our supplier: here’s the order form. This will help ensure that you have spiritwear for most of the football and marching band competition season. Questions? See our spirit wear webpage or email Rachel Butler.
- Monday, August 15:
- Pre-10am to ˜12 noon: LWHS (MAIN CAMPUS): Group photo session and individual photo sessions in uniform. Students should arrive well before 10am already dressed in under-uniform clothes — black T-shirt, black athletic shorts, black crew or knee-high socks, and Drillmasters — PLUS CARRYING THEIR RED UNIFORM BAGS WITH ALL ACCOMPANYING UNIFORM PIECES IN IT. They will need time to obtain their marching band uniforms from the uniform room, put them on, walk to the stadium, and line up from tallest to shortest — all before 10am. After the group photo is taken, those who wish to have their pictures taken in uniform individually may line up to do so. If you would like to order group and/or individual photos, your teen must bring payment on Monday morning. Here’s the order information provided to us.
- 1 to 5pm: LWHS: Rehearsal
- Tuesday, August 16 (first day of school):
- 3 to 4pm: LWHS (MAIN): Sectionals for students who have not yet passed off (Passing off is individually performing marching band music [memorized] to the satisfaction of one’s section leader.)
- 7:30 to ˜8:30pm: Lakota West Upbeat Club Monthly Meeting at the LWHS Main Band Room: Parents, Upbeat Club meetings are your opportunity to learn about upcoming band matters before you see them in weekly bulletins, and to share in the decision-making and planning efforts. We welcome your presence at these meetings!
- Wednesday, August 17:
- 3 to 5:30pm: LWHS (MAIN): Rehearsal
- Thursday, August 18:
- 7 to 9pm: LWFS (FRESHMAN CAMPUS): Rehearsal: This is our first Silvers nights of the season, which means that during the last 15-20 minutes of rehearsal the Marching Firebirds will likely do a full run-through of the competition show for family members in the stands. Everyone’s welcome!
Looking ahead:
- Monday, August 22: LWHS: Rehearsal (7 to 9pm)
- Tuesday, August 23: LWHS: Sectionals (3 to 4pm)
- Wednesday, August 24: LWHS: Rehearsal (3 to 5:30pm)
- Thursday, August 25: LWFS: Rehearsal (7 to 9pm)
- Friday, August 26: UC’s Nippert Stadium: perform at Lakota West’s football game vs. Moeller with bus transportation provided to/from LWHS
- Saturday, August 27: LWHS: Rehearsal (9am to 4pm)
EZPay Convenience Fee Temporarily Waived
Good news! Through October 31 the school district is waiving the convenience fee for using EZPay for student and marching band fees. This should make it easier for you to take care of back-to-school financial business.
Freshman Parents: Do you know about the Activity Bus?
The school district provides free school bus transportation each school day for freshmen who have after-school activities at Lakota West’s Main Campus. It’s called the Activity Bus, and freshmen board the bus immediately after dismissal. The bus drops the freshmen off at the Main Campus by 2:45pm, meaning they can get to their Tuesday sectionals and Wednesday rehearsals without your help.
Remember that your freshman doesn’t need to board the activity bus for this Tuesday’s after-school sectionals if s/he already passed off (performed show music to the satisfaction of the section leader).