A communication of the Lakota West Upbeat Club
This Week in Band covers:
- the Cedar Point/BOA Regional Competition trip this September 30 through October 2,
- text alerts,
- Lakota Local Schools’ decision to reduce by half the fees for marching band and athletics,
- spiritwear orders,
- Kroger Community Rewards,
- need for Swing Dance Co-Chair,
- this week’s schedule and
- next week’s schedule-at-a-glance.
Cedar Point/BOA Regional Competition Trip This Friday through Sunday
This Friday the Marching Firebirds will embark on a whirlwind three-day trip for a night of waterpark play at the Kalahari Resort, a day at the Bands of America (BOA) Toledo Regional competition, and a day at Cedar Point amusement park. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- If you have not already paid for your teen’s trip fee and Cedar Point admission ticket through HAC, please do so no later than Monday, September 26.
- All permission forms and waivers must be turned in by Monday, September 26. Your teen should have brought them home to you late last week.
- Students have been officially excused from school for their 11am Friday departure by Principal Elgin Card.
- On Friday, freshmen will be bused together from the Freshman Campus to LWHS for departure with the sophomores, juniors and seniors.
- Students should bring a packed lunch with them to school on Friday, as they will eat it on the bus en route to Kalahari Resort.
- Students should bring some spending money for lunch at Cedar Point, dinner on the way home from Cedar Point, and any souvenirs they’d like to have from the trip.
- Parents, if you’re planning on going to the competition, please refer to this website and this information packet for specifics on directions, tickets and schedule. The Marching Firebirds will perform in the Preliminaries at 9:45am Saturday. Around 5pm Saturday we will learn if the Marching Firebirds will perform in the Finals and, if so, when.
- The best way to stay informed of trip specifics such as competition results and expected arrival times back at LWHS is through subscription to our text alerts: see immediately below.
Sign Up for Text Alerts
The Upbeat Club has set up a text messaging account with Remind — a leading text-messaging solution for teachers and extracurricular activity leaders. The purpose of this account will be to:
- inform you of cancellations or changes due to weather or unexpected circumstances,
- give parents “We’re departing now” alerts upon return from trips or competitions,
- give parents “We’re ~about 15 minutes away” alerts upon return from trips or competitions,
- deliver competition results and
- deliver urgent reminders (e.g., “Bring $14 today to pay for your cummerbund and bow tie.”)
If you have a smartphone, alerts will come across as push notifications from the free Remind app (if you install the app). If you have a cellphone or do not want to install the free Remind app on your smartphone, the alerts will come across as text messages.
To subscribe to text alerts/push notifications:
- Marching Band: Send the message @bloomerz to 81010.
- Symphonic Winds: Send the message @fourthbell to 81010.
- Symphonic Band: Send the message @whitecoats to 81010.
- Concert Band: Send the message @redjacket to 81010.
If you have trouble texting to 81010, texting the applicable @ code to 513-729-9047.
If you do not have a mobile phone, go online to sign up for email notifications:
- Marching Band: http://rmd.at/Bloomerz
- Symphonic Winds: http://rmd.at/fourthbell
- Symphonic Band: http://rmd.at/whitecoats
- Concert Band: http://rmd.at/redjacket
Good News from Lakota Local Schools
Read this article and this article to learn more about Lakota Local Schools’ decision to lower marching band fees.
You Can Still Order Spiritwear!
NEED FRESHMAN OR SOPHOMORE PARENT TO VOLUNTEER TO COORDINATE NEXT YEAR
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 as soon as possible to be included in our next bulk order with our supplier. Questions? See our spirit wear shop or email spirit@lakotawestbands.org.
Also, if you’re a freshman or sophomore parent with an interest in leading the spiritwear effort next year, please contact Rachel Butler. Proficiency in Microsoft Excel is required.
Sign Up for Kroger Community Rewards
Check the bottom of your most recent Kroger receipt. If it says, “You requested Kroger to donate to Lakota West Upbeat Club,” great! If not, please click here to request that Kroger make donations to the Lakota West Upbeat Club. Making the donation request is quick, free and easy, and it goes a long way toward helping with our annual fundraising goal.
Also, if you have family and friends in cities as identified on the above map, please ask them to sign up for Kroger Community Rewards and request donations to Lakota West Upbeat Club.
Swing Dance Co-Chair Needed
On Friday evening, December 9, Lakota West Bands will host its annual Swing Dance fundraiser. We decorate the West Side Diner (LWHS Cafeteria) to look like a Jazz Club. Refreshments are served, and our jazz bands perform throughout the evening. To top it off, we bring in a swing dance instructor for the students and, at the end of the evening, we hold a dance-off. It’s truly a can’t-miss event and, in the words of many of our students, more fun than either Homecoming or Prom. If you’re interested in co-chairing the event, please contact Cindy Merk.
This Week’s Schedule
- Monday, September 26: LWHS Stadium: Marching Band rehearsal from 6:30 to 9pm
- Tuesday, September 27: LWHS Main Band Room: Marching band sectionals from 3 to 4pm
- Wednesday, September 28: LWHS Parking Lot: Marching band rehearsal from 3 to 5:30pm
- Thursday, September 29: LWFS Stadium: Marching band rehearsal from 6:30 to 9pm
- Friday, September 30: Students depart LWHS at 11am, arriving late afternoon at Kalahari Resort in Sandusky for an evening of indoor waterpark fun
- Saturday, October 1: Students depart Kalahari Resort at 6am bound for the University of Toledo’s Glass Bowl Stadium where they will perform at 9:45am in the Preliminaries of Bands of America (BOA) Toledo Regional. After the Preliminaries performance, the band will spend much of the afternoon at the University of Toledo’s Recreation Center. Results from the Preliminaries will be announced around 5pm. If our band is among the top 10, the students will perform in the Finals at a time TBA in the evening. If our band is not among the top 10, we will stay to watch the Finals. When the Finals conclude, we will travel to Upper Sandusky, where we will spend the night at the Breakers Express.
- Sunday, October 2: Students will enjoy Cedar Point amusement park through mid-afternoon prior to returning to LWHS. The preliminary estimated arrival time at LWHS is 8:30pm.
Looking Ahead
- Monday, October 3: No rehearsal
- Tuesday, October 4: No rehearsal
- Wednesday, October 5: LWHS Parking Lot: Marching band rehearsal from 3 to 5:30pm
- Thursday, October 6: LWFS Stadium: Marching band rehearsal from 7 to 9pm
- Friday, October 7: home football game vs. Oak Hills
- Saturday, October 8: Kettering Classic marching band competition; rehearsal in late afternoon at Ridge Jr, time tba. Performance time is 8pm or later.
Stay in the know by subscribing to our calendar; following Lakota West Bands on Facebook, Instagram, Flickr and Twitter; and regularly checking Mr. Carr’s class announcements.