We begin this week by congratulating the Odem High School Wind Ensemble members on earning a Sweepstakes at the UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Evaluation this past week! They successfully earned a Superior rating from all six judges, which, combined with their Superior at Marching Contest, resulted in their distinction! The Odem JH Symphonic Winds earned a Superior Rating in Sight-Reading, as did the Odem HS Symphonic Band. We were also quite proud of the Odem JH Concert Band students for their performance and first appearance at UIL in many years!  

This week will be light for the bands, with only Guard and Leadership meetings after school for after-school events. State testing begins this week, so we won’t have many extra events until later in the month.

We still need basket items for Windi and Jazzi. We ask each student to bring in one $10 item that fits the theme so we can assemble the baskets for the silent auction. Please look below for that information. Please bring those items this week!

Finally, we begin nominations for officers for next year this week at the Owl Band Booster meeting. (Voting takes place in May.) We have a couple of graduating officers this year, and we ask that you consider volunteering your time to help the bands. The Owl Band Boosters are incredibly important in maintaining the Odem Bands’ success! Please contact one of the current officers, Ashley Bates, Belinda Contreras, Jesenia Ferguson, or Valerie Pena, if you have questions!

Windi and Jazzi ‘Magical Adventures’

We are preparing for Windi and Jazzi, on May 3^rd. Tickets are now on sale here: https://odemhsband.ludus.com/. The ticket covers the entrance to the performance, Chicken Fried Chicken or Chicken Fried Steak, Sides, Drinks, and Dessert for $15-$25, depending on the seat in the Cafetorium.

We have assigned students theme items to bring by section. We ask that every member of the group please bring one item of around $10 in value that fits the theme to make silent auction baskets. Please help us ensure we have received these items by Tuesday, March 25^th. Windi and Jazzi traditionally is a great fundraiser for us, and these baskets are a big part of that!

Flutes/Clarinets: Baking Basket (Baking Sheets, Cake mixes, cookbooks, cookie cutters, etc.)
Saxes/F Horn/Bass Clarinet/Percussion: Spa Basket (Candles, Bath soaps, etc.)

Trumpets: Movie Night (Movies on BluRay or DVD, Snacks, Popcorn tubs, etc.)
Trombones/Euphoniums/Tubas: Outdoor BBQ (BBQ Cooking Utensils, Aprons, Sauces, Grill accessories, etc.)

Junior High Students: Gardening Basket (Seeds, Gardening tools, Gloves, etc.)

Additionally we are looking for businesses to donate items, tickets, gift cards, etc. If you would please ask anyone you know who might be in a position to donate those we would appreciate it!

Spring Band Fees

Spring Band Fees are now past due at both the High School for all band students and at the JH for 7^th/8^th grade band Students. This fee, $25/student, helps offset expenses in the spring for the program. Checks or money Orders should be made payable to OEISD—no cash, please! 

2026 Florida Trip

For all trip participants for 2026, please ensure you have registered on the Bob Rogers Travel site. Current 8th-11th 11th-grade band students are eligible to travel on this. I show that we are currently just two travelers short of making the next price breakpoint that will drop the trip cost by about $200. If you have considered signing up but haven’t, please do so now! In two weeks, we will make a payment from the boosters to lower the trip cost for every registered/deposited student from the boosters.

If you missed the meeting, you may find a copy of the packet here: https://tinyurl.com/msrnkua6 . Registration is still open on their site: https://bobrogerstravel.grcoll.co/v2/go/odem26 

Payment options and forms are handled through their website there. I encourage students to attend this trip; it will be an amazing experience for them, and it is only really possible for most of them as a group like this!

This Week’s Schedule

Day:	Event:
Monday:	Band Hall Open Guard 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Tuesday:	Band Hall Open Leadership Training: 3:45-4:15 Drum Majors: 4:15-4:45Band Booster Meeting at 6 pm in HS Cafetorium
Wednesday:	Band Hall Closed
Thursday:	Band Hall Open Leadership Training: 3:45-4:15 Drum Majors: 4:15-4:45Guard 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Friday:	Band Hall Closed

Upcoming Events:

Day:	Event:	Time:
May 2nd:	South Coast Jazz Festival
May 3rd:	Windi and Jazzi “Magical Adventures”	5:30 pm
May 12th:	HS Bands and Odem JH Symphonic Winds Spring Concert	6:30 pm
May 13th:	Odem JH Beginning Band and Concert Band Spring Concert	6:30 pm
May 19th:	Odem HS State Solo and Ensemble Send-Off Recital	6:00 pm
May 25th-26th	UIL Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest (Pflugerville – Hendrickson HS)

Thank you for your help and support of these amazing students! Please contact us if you have any questions!