It seems like not long ago I was sending out my weekly posting welcoming everyone to the new school year, and today I’m sending my one to conclude it! We still have upcoming events for this school year over the next couple of weeks, but for most students this is the final week and their summer begins! We would like to extend our thanks to all of the parents, students, and community members that have helped support the Odem Bands through this school year! Because there are so many different puzzle pieces to the end of the year, I have included sections below. Please make sure to completely read through any sections that pertain to your student!

Seniors: 

This week if students are graduating, but not attending the Florida Trip or State Solo and Ensemble, we will be checking in instruments/accessories from them tomorrow. Please ensure that all school equipment, including tuners/flags/flag poles/uniforms, etc. has been returned. For students who are attending State S&E, but not the trip we will check their instruments in when we return from State. The same will be true of students returning from the trip when we get back on the 5^th. 

We appreciate all of the seniors hard work over these past years, and look forward to celebrating their graduation on Friday!

For 6^th-11^th Grade Students: 

Students in HS Band and Symphonic Winds will perform on Friday at Graduation. School instruments should be checked in with us following that event if they are not attending the trip or State Solo and Ensemble. Otherwise we will collect instruments after their final event there. For Beginning Band students and Concert Band students we will collect school instruments in class on Tuesday, and send home personal instruments at the end of that day. All personal instruments MUST go home for JH students Tuesday after school!

For those students who use a school instrument, they may/are encouraged to practice at home over the summer. We have a school summer instrument check-out form that must be completed before they take those instruments home though. We have additional forms in our offices. This form must be signed by a parent/guardian for us to allow the instruments to go home!

9^th-11^th Graders and Symphonic Winds:

Graduation is Friday at 8pm at Owl Stadium. We are going to rehearse from 5pm-6pm on the field, before having pizza for dinner with those students. Students will need to be in their chairs on the field by 7:25pm when we will begin a small pre-ceremony concert. I anticipate the event concluding by 9:30pm at the latest. Students who are going on the trip but not State Solo and Ensemble will drop their instruments off at the JH Band Hall. Everything else will go back to the Band Hall it belongs at. Please note that every student in the HS Band is required to perform, while we strongly encourage Symphonic Winds members to perform as well. This helps us ensure we have a quality performance for our seniors!

Concert attire for this evening is ‘dress nice.’ No jeans, and clothing should be within school dress code for lengths/blouses/sleeves.

UIL Texas State Solo and Ensemble

We will depart on Sunday for Pflugerville at 1:30pm. Once we check into the hotel we will go to Main Event for dinner and to hang out for the evening. We will return to the hotel and students will be in for the night. On Monday morning we will be eating breakfast at the hotel, having quick rehearsals, then after an early lunch will be going to Hendrickson HS where the event will take place. We’re aiming to get to the high school in time for unloading, warm-up, and giving students a chance to prepare for their performances. Parents are welcome to attend the performances providing there is room inside the rooms. (There usually is) Just please note that no recordings may be made inside the room.

I anticipate eating a quick dinner on the way home and returning around 11:30pm or so to the Band Hall. We will have a per diem for food, but they will want to bring money for activities at Main Event, extra snacks, and state patches/shirts available at the contest.

Florida Trip

I will be sending a more detailed update to the trip participants this week, but please note the departure place/time has changed. We will need students to check in at the JUNIOR HIGH Band Hall from 5:45am-6:15am. This was an update due to Summer School beginning and an earlier departure being suggested by our bus company. We will be departing at 7am now. 

If students have not returned their forms we need those filled out and returned Monday evening at the latest! We will be having a mandatory trip rehearsal for attendees from 6pm-7pm tomorrow night (Monday). 

Other Upcoming Events:

That’s a lot of things coming up in a short while, but that will wrap up our 2021-2022 year and we’ll begin our start on the 2022 Fall season! Guard/Drum Major/Leadership Camp students will be going up to TAMU-Commerce June 19^th-23^rd. We need Drum Major and Leadership team members fees for that camp if they have not been turned in! 

2022 Summer Band Schedule

You may find our 2022 Summer Band Schedule linked below, as well as listed our major competition dates for the fall at the bottom. Please note that Summer Band is mandatory for participation in The Spirit of OHS! If a conflict arises with a date we ask that you reach out to us early so we can be aware, and maybe make something work out to make multiple things happen. We try and be as flexible as possible on many things, but with marching band it is important to have every spot on the field covered. (Any missing members in drill can result in deductions for us as a band at contests!)

Please help us make sure students have the best possibility of being successful this next year! 

This Week’s Schedule:

Day:	Event:	Time:
Monday:	Trip Rehearsal	6pm-7pm
Tuesday:	Finals 7th/8th Periods JH Instruments go Home for Summer Owl Band Booster Meeting	7pm
Wednesday:	Finals 1st-3rd Periods/Early Release
Thursday:	Finals 4th-6th Periods/Early Release
Friday:	Graduation Rehearsal 5pm-6pm In Seats at Field 7:25pm/Begin Pre-Ceremony Performance Graduation Begins at 8pm ~9:30pm Equipment Put away and Students Released

Upcoming Events:

Day:	Event:	Time:
May 27th	Graduation (Required HS Band and Encouraged for Odem JH Symphonic Winds)	8:00pm
May 29th-30th	UIL Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest (Depart at 1:30pm Sunday)
June 1st-5th	Odem HS Trip to Florida
June 19th-23rd	Texas A&M University Commerce (Drum Majors, Guard, and Volunteer Leadership)

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