For the members of The Spirit of OHS this week represents our first rehearsals with everyone back! We are looking forward to our ‘Legends of the Alamo’ production getting off to a start this week! This week we’re rehearsing Monday through Wednesday only, due to a band convention that directors will be attending. For those freshmen, or new to the program, students have a sectional through the morning or early afternoon in shifts, then there is an inside full-band rehearsal in the afternoon, and then an outside full band rehearsal on our parking lot. I encourage all students to please be on our Remind account by texting the phone number 81010 with the message @thespiri . Parents are welcome to join as well (Just keep in mind you will get every message we send)

Just because I know it’s likely to be a question this week, in the event of any inclement weather that prevents us from going outside, we generally continue to have rehearsal inside instead. 

Attire and Water Jugs

For all of our outdoor rehearsals, students need to have a past year water jug, or other half-gallon water jug please. For the temperatures that we have here in south Texas a single 16-ounce water bottle is not enough. We also ask that students make sure they have good meals each day of summer band. Marching is a physical activity that bodies need to be nutritionally prepared for! We also strongly discourage Energy Drinks of any type around the marching band through the season. They rarely only contain caffeine, and over the years I have seen more health issues caused by a student being dehydrated and drinking those than anything else!

This week students need to wear school appropriate apparel that they can move around comfortably in. Shirts may not be sleeveless, no crop tops, etc. Students need to wear tennis shoes to all outdoor rehearsals – absolutely NO CROCS or FLIP-FLOPS! This is a safety concern as feet are not properly supported for the movements we are doing. Drum Corps International has a great guide on appropriate shoes they have recommended for DCI and fall marching season. If you haven’t gone back to school shopping for shoes yet, I’d encourage taking a look at the list first. You may find that here: https://dci.org/static/2024-recommended-shoe-list-for-marching-musicians

You will find the full schedule below for Summer Band this week. Please let me know if you have any questions. All students MUST attend summer band to be a member of The Spirit of OHS. If for some reason a student is going to miss, contact me as soon as possible!

Physicals

Just as a reminder Physicals by a doctor are required to be completed for each student every other year for Marching Band, just like with Sports. They may be completed and turned into me, or into the Athletic Trainer. We have access to form information via RankOne as needed there for these forms. These need to be completed by summer band. https://www.uiltexas.org/files/athletics/forms/PrePhysFormRvsd1_10_20.pdf

Additionally, the medical history form (first page of link) must be completed by EVERYONE every year. (It’s information from parent/student) Please send those completed forms with students by the tomorrow – students may not rehearse outside until we receive these! Again, medical physicals by the doctor are good for 2 years, the history form is an annual form. Thanks!

Fall Fees and Band Shirt Extra Orders

Next week (Week of Monday, July 29^th) we need students to turn in their Fall Band Fees

$80 All Returning Marchers Except Guard who don’t need shoes.

OR $125 (total) for Freshmen and Anyone who needs shoes

$580 in Total for Guard (Most paid only the $300 in May) Guard does not pay the other fees.

Please contact me if you have questions about fees or need to work out a payment plan. We work with families on these as much as we possibly can, but do need to get them in so we may order supplies for the marching season. We ONLY accept Check or Money Orders in the Band Hall – Please NO CASH!

Additionally, we do always get requests for our show shirts from parents/relatives/other community members. Due to the setup fee being high, we will only be placing one order for these shirts this year, you may order extras if you would like. This completed form and payment via check or money order by Thursday, August 1^st. http://www.odembands.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2024-Marching-Band-Tshirt-Order-Form.pdf Students do not need to complete this, it is included in their fees and we will get sizes in rehearsals this week.

March-A-Thon – Next Week

Finally, students will receive forms for our Annual March-A-Thon that will take place on Wednesday, July 31^st. Please be on the lookout for it. I have posted it here as well to where you may print it off at home or work too. (http://www.odembands.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2024-Marc-A-Thon-Form.pdf) This fundraiser is a great one to kick off our school year each year. We’ll stop and play a song at an address along the route for $50. If they don’t live along the route we can also stop at the park as an address or in front of the school.

Full Summer Band Schedule here: http://www.odembands.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2024-2025-Odem-Bands-Calendar-Version-1-4-7-2024.pdf

Summer Band Schedule – Week 1

Day:	Event:
Monday:	Sectionals: Front Ensemble: 9:00 am – 10:30 am – Band Hall Guard: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm – HS Cafetorium Woodwinds: 9 am – 11:30 am – Jazz Room High Brass (Tpt/Horn): 10:30 am – 12:00 pm – Band Hall Low Brass: 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm – Band Hall  Battery Percussion: 11:30 am – 1:00 pm Leadership Meeting: 2 pm – 2:45 pm – Band Hall  Full Band Rehearsal Inside: 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm – Stage/Band Hall (Guard)  Outside Marching Rehearsal: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm – Parking Lot
Tuesday:	Sectionals: Front Ensemble: 9:00 am – 10:30 am – Band Hall Guard: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm – HS Cafetorium Woodwinds: 9 am – 11:30 am – Jazz Room High Brass (Tpt/Horn): 10:30 am – 12:00 pm – Band Hall Low Brass: 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm – Band Hall  Battery Percussion: 11:30 am – 1:00 pm Leadership Meeting: 2 pm – 2:45 pm – Band Hall  Full Band Rehearsal Inside: 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm – Stage/Band Hall (Guard)  Outside Marching Rehearsal: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm – Parking Lot
Wednesday:	Sectionals: Front Ensemble: 9:00 am – 10:30 am – Band Hall Guard: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm – HS Cafetorium Woodwinds: 9 am – 11:30 am – Jazz Room High Brass (Tpt/Horn): 10:30 am – 12:00 pm – Band Hall Low Brass: 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm – Band Hall  Battery Percussion: 11:30 am – 1:00 pm Leadership Meeting: 2 pm – 2:45 pm – Band Hall  Full Band Rehearsal Inside: 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm – Stage/Band Hall (Guard)  Outside Marching Rehearsal: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm – Parking Lot
Thursday:	No Rehearsals
Friday:	No Rehearsals

Upcoming Events:

Day:	Event:	Time:
Monday:	Summer Band Begins for All HS Band
July 29th:	Fall Marching Fees Due $80 for All Students Except Guard who don’t need shoes. OR $125 for Freshmen and Anyone who needs shoes $580 in Total for Guard (Most paid only the $300 in May) Guard does not pay the other fees.
July 31st:	Annual March-A-Thon/Pool Party
August 3rd:	National Flute Association Student Day
August 21st:	Meet the Band
August 30th:	First Football Game vs. Ben Bolt at Home

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