It was great to see all of our HS Band students back last week to the first week of camp! The students worked hard on their music and marching to get a great start to the season! Thank you to all of the community for your support at Friday’s March-A-Thon as well! Through the event we marched about 2 miles and raised a little over $1800! 

This week we will have Fall Band Fees due. For returning HS Band members who have shoes that still fit and are in good condition, that fee is $75. For Freshmen/students who need new shoes that fee is $115 this year. The fees cover band shirts/shorts/water jugs/flip folders/lyres and a few other small things. We need at least the $75 coming in this week so we can get everything ordered. Please send a check or money order made out to OEISD by Thursday, August 3rd. If there is a financial issue we can work on a payment plan. Please reach out to us if that is an issue! We never want finances to be a reason students do not do band!

This week our schedule for HS Band mainly shifts to Afternoon/Evenings only due to Athletic practices officially starting. We very much appreciate all of our athletes that do band!!! For the next few weeks, we ask that students attend their practices and then come to band afterward. This week there shouldn’t be any overlap, but if there ever is, we just ask those students to take care of their team obligations and then come straight over to band when they’re done. We wish all of the teams the best of luck as their season practices begin!

This week is a big one for us as we are allowed by UIL to begin setting drill on Tuesday. For this week’s practices we ask that students bring their fully charged cell phones, duct tape (colorful encouraged!), and a sharpie to their evening practices. They need to download ‘UDBapp Pro’ from the iOS or Android App stores so we can get them setup to learn drill this week. (Front Ensemble members do not need this) We are hoping to learn the first movement completely this week! 

Please remember that students need to have a large water jug (half-gallon size or bigger) especially for our evening rehearsals. We will have new water jugs for students, but they won’t be in for another two weeks. Students should come in school appropriate shorts/t-shirts that they can move in, as well as tennis shoes. No crocs or sandals should be worn for student’s safety, as well as marching techniques we’ll be using. 

It’s imperative for our success that students are always present to ‘Be There, Work Hard!’  Please feel free to contact me with any additional questions you may have!

Students who do not have good attendance at summer rehearsals may be made an alternate for the season. Missing summer band completely may result in removal from band at the director’s discretion.

Summer Band 7/31-8/4 Schedule
Full Band Music Rehearsal Inside Guard in Band Hall	3:30pm-5:30pm	Stage/Band Hall
Outside Marching Rehearsal	6:30pm-8:30pm	Parking Lot

This Week’s Schedule (7/31-8/4):

Day:	Event:
Monday:	Summer Band (See Schedule Above)
Tuesday:	Summer Band (See Schedule Above)
Wednesday:	Summer Band (See Schedule Above)
Thursday:	Summer Band (See Schedule Above)
Friday:	No Rehearsals

Upcoming Events:

Day:	Event:	Time:
August 12th	DCI World Championships Watch Party (Optional)	6 pm?
August 16th	Meet the Band	8:00 pm
August 23rd	Beginning Band Instrument Night	4:30 pm – 7 pm
August 25th	Odem vs. Karnes City (Home)	7:30 pm
September 1st	Odem vs. Tidehaven (Tidehaven)
September 4th	Evening Rehearsal (Labor Day)	6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

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