Thank you to everyone who came to our contest on Saturday. We appreciate your support! From that performance we received some very helpful comments from the judges that we will be using to guide our rehearsals moving forward in the season! Hopefully many of those adjustments will help benefit us for this coming Saturday’s competition in Katy. 

We perform that day at 2:45pm at Legacy Stadium in Katy as part of the Bands of America Regional Competition that day. Students need to be at the Band Hall at 5:30am that morning for a quick warm-up and loading anything else that we don’t get loaded the night before after our game. Parents who help us with props will be able to get in with us for free to Prelims only. Otherwise, if you wish to attend to watch you will need to purchase tickets for the event. They offer a pass for just prelims ($23), or prelims and finals ($36). Children 10 and under are admitted free of charge. There is also a $5 parking fee, and please note that Katy ISD has a ‘Clear Bag’ policy. 
BOA is also offering a live stream through Box5tv. More information may be found here at that contest’s site: https://marching.musicforall.org/event/westhouston21/  We plan to stay for Finals with the band no matter if we are fortunate to have a second performance that day or not! 

Students will be able to watch some amazing large school bands at this event, and we look forward to getting feedback from some nationally recognized judges! Since Finals are scheduled to go late into the night it will be a very early Sunday morning return for us. We are still nailing down some final details on our itinerary and will provide those in the next couple of days. Students will not be released to be picked up until after Finals.
Please help us make sure that students arrive on time that day with their Water Jug, Long Black Socks (Tube Length at shin or higher), their Black Marching Shoes, Band Shorts, and Show Shirt. They should also bring some money for something to eat at the concession stands/snacks along the route. We plan to provide lunch and dinner for the students.

Moving back to the night before, on Friday we will host Taft at Owl Stadium in what is supposed to be the first fully opened game of our new stadium. Bleachers are scheduled to be completed prior to this game and we expect a full crowd for this rivalry game. We need parents to help at the concession stand this week for certain! Please contact Mrs. Mandi Edwards if you can help! 
Finally, we would like to make sure that everyone is also keeping October 9^th clear for our annual Marching Clinic Rehearsal. We will be bringing in recently retired band director Mr. Eddie Benitez. He has had a very successful teaching career with bands at the 3A and 4A level competing at the UIL State Marching Contest numerous times! He will work with our students at Owl Stadium from 3pm-6pm that day.

Odem vs. Taft (Friday)

Students should arrive at the Band Hall by 5:15pm this day. A band shirt (not this year’s show shirt) and either last year’s pair of marching shorts or another pair of equivalent athletic shorts should be worn. After the game concludes we will load all of our equipment for the next day. Students should be ready to be picked up around 10:15pm or so depending on the length of the game.

Bands of America – West Houston Regional

BOA tends to be a competition geared towards much larger schools than us, and we anticipate being the smallest school present Saturday. That being said this is a fantastic opportunity to have a large panel of judges evaluate our students and offer their criticisms and suggestions as we move towards our UIL Region/Area competitions in the next few weeks. Students MUST arrive with their LONG BLACK socks, Gray Band Shorts, Show Shirt, Water Jug, and Marching Shoes. Guard needs to arrive with their specific items as well. (Ms. Wicks will set their arrival time and it may be earlier)

5:30am Warm-up/Walkthrough 
6:00am Load Anything Needed
6:45am Board Buses/Depart
We will stop at Buc-ee’s in Wharton and possibly in Katy. Final Details enroute are being worked out
12:00pm Arrive at Stadium
1:40pm Warm-Up Begins
2:25pm Leave Warm-Up Area
2:35pm Report to Stadium
2:41pm Enter Field
2:45pm Perform
5:00pm Prelim Awards
5:30pm Dinner
7:00pm Return to Stadium
7:45pm Finals Begin
11:00pm Finals End
11:30pm Depart
~3:00am Arrive at Odem HS

This Week’s Schedule:

Day	Event	Time
Monday:	Performance/Judges Comments Shown Evening Marching Rehearsal	5:00pm 6:30pm-8:30pm
Tuesday:	Band Hall Open for Sectionals	3:30pm-4:30pm
Wednesday:	After School Marching Rehearsal	4:00pm-6:00pm
Thursday:	Evening Marching Rehearsal	6:30pm-8:30pm
Friday:	Odem vs. Taft (Home) 5:15pm Students at Band Hall7:30pm Game Begins10:00pm Game Ends/Load for Saturday ~10:15pm Students Picked Up
Saturday:	Bands of America – West Houston Contest 5:30am Warm-up/Walkthrough  6:00am Load Anything Needed 6:45am Board Buses/Depart We will stop at Buc-ee’s in Wharton and possibly in Katy. Final Details enroute are being worked out 12:00pm Arrive at Stadium 1:40pm Warm-Up Begins 2:25pm Leave Warm-Up Area 2:35pm Report to Stadium 2:41pm Enter Field 2:45pm Perform 5:00pm Prelim Awards 5:30pm Dinner 7:00pm Return to Stadium 7:45pm Finals Begin 11:00pm Finals End 11:30pm Depart ~3:00am Arrive at Odem HS

Upcoming Events:

Day	Event	Time
October 1st	Odem vs Taft (Odem)	7:30pm
October 2nd	Bands of America West Houston Regional Marching Contest (Katy – Legacy Stadium)	2:45pm Performance
October 8th	Odem vs. Banquete (Banquete)	7:30pm
October 9th	Annual Marching Band Clinic at Owl Stadium	3pm-6pm
October 14th	Homecoming Parade and Burning of the O	Dusk
October 15th	Odem vs. Monte Alto (Homecoming)	7:30pm
October 16th	UIL Region Marching Contest (Beeville)	5:30pm Perform
October 22nd	Odem vs. Skidmore (Skidmore)	7:30pm
October 23rd	UIL Area Marching Contest (Beeville)	TBD
October 29th	Senior Band Night (Odem vs. Hebbronville)	6:40pm
October 30th	Host UIL 2A Area E Marching Contest at Owl Stadium	11am-7pm

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