Congratulations to each and every one of you!! BOA Regional @ JSU 3rd Place in Class A, Best in Class & 2nd Highest Guard Score of the day at Hoover, and best of all BOA ATLANTA SUPER REGIONAL CLASS A CHAMPIONS!! BRAVO!!!!
Thanks to every Guard Girl who worked hard every day to make the things listed above happen. Your attitude, your work ethic, your ability to follow the rules, your sincere care for the Guard program are the key...it's never beauty and a smile that make them happen. It is Guard Girls who display great character everyday that make the program work, that make the program win, and it is those girls who make the whole fall process a pleasure.
Thank you to every Guard Parent who helped do any and everything this fall. Your support of your daughter's efforts are essential to her success on the field and off, and are the only reason a program of our caliber will work.
THANK YOU ALL FOR A GREAT FALL SEASON!!
We do have a pep rally Friday at school and a home playoff game Friday...info will be posted here by 1 p.m. on Wednesday for Friday events.
End of Season Reminders for Tigerettes & Parents!!!
Playoff games = Required. They continue until our team does not win. We will no longer have marching rehearsals 4th block or Tuesday nights/Thursday afternoons.
Tigerette Budget...Guard money was spent & sheets for Fall 2010 were sent home earlier.
Band Fees...all took care of this...Thank You!!
Home Concessions...parents worked or prepaid out or will owe $50 before tryouts.
Orlando Trip...please make sure you get your payments to Donna at the first of each month. Your next trip payment is due now...on or before November 10th.
Holiday Concert, PreDistrict Concert, Spring Concert...TBA...these are required events!! Employers can’t require you to miss a required school event or a rehearsal for an event. If written verification for your employer is needed see one of us immediately. It is your responsibility to inform the employer about school required events in a timely manner...your failure to do so will not excuse your absence. Please make sure that you listen to your Directors for information that will be announced about these events.
Schedule Changes...be reminded that any student requesting a schedule change out of band for 2nd semester automatically removes themselves as a member of the band program & from their position as a Tigerette. NO BAND = NO GUARD!! If you are not following rules, telling others you don’t like guard, or posting on social sites how much you hate everyone involved...you obviously might want to consider leaving at semester. We want you to be happy and we honestly only need girls involved in the program who enjoy what they are doing and want to be there!!
Off Season Grades...you must maintain an overall 70% average each grading period. Your parents will be notified in writing if there is a problem with grades. Members on “Grade Probation” will be dismissed from the squad if they do not improve and maintain an overall 70%.
Off Season Conduct...remember that you are still expected to maintain Satisfactory conduct. Stay out of the office!! Follow the dress code, do not be tardy, do not skip class, do not cheat, do not lie, be respectful, keep your lips (and everything else) to yourself, be a kind, sweet, cooperative young lady at school, in your social life, and at home!!! If school, social, and home problems are impacting your Guard involvement you need understand fully that those type issues can impact leadership decisions in the future.
Off Season Hair...you agreed to maintain a shoulder length hairstyle. While we feel sure that some of you may need a good trim as the season ends, do not think for a second that a chin or shoulder touching length hairstyle, or drastic color change is okay...we view this as defiance. Very simply stated, it is not what you agreed to do when you tried out last year so don’t do it!!! COLOR = NATURAL!!! Please have hairdressers do any/highlighting/lowlighting/coloring by working off your natural hair color...the real color of your hair is the one growing at the roots. Know as well that continual hair issues play a role in leadership decisions down the road.
Off Season Weight...remember that extra pounds weaken your ability to move & perform with ease. PLEASE eat healthy & work to get in shape...tryouts are in 9 weeks.
Off Season Skills...please take an honest look at your skills in all areas and work to improve in the off season. Flags, weapons, and body!! You’re not guaranteed a spot on next year’s squad.
Tigerette Tryouts = January 4-14, 2011....we scheduled tryouts in January again this year to avoid conflict with district contest dates. New physical due at tryouts. More info in December. Seniors will be needed daily afterschool to assist with teaching tryout material.
Symphonic/Intermediate Band and Winter Guard rehearsals begin next week...Tigerettes bring instruments next Monday!! Guard girls received a grade at the Fall Midterm which solely reflected their work as a Tigerette on the field. Factored into that grade were any unexcused absences...which by JeffCoEd definition are all parent excuse absences and/or any unexcused absences. The only “excused” absence from class are ones labeled “P”. These are given for example when the student produces a doctor’s excuse or when the student is given a “Principal excused absence” for a college day or something similar. The county only permits 5 unexcused absences per semester. As we reach the end of the football season our transition to the winter setting will now take place. Tigerettes not involved in Winter Guard will bring in instruments, rejoin the horn line, begin work in preparation for the upcoming Christmas Concert, and also begin preliminary preparation for scored performances at the Alabama District Festivals held in February.
The next phase of band works like this...for now all non-WG stay in one band to prepare for the Christmas Concert. Then...
1. The Intermediate Band (grades 7-8) will have class 2nd Block 2nd Semester preparing for District Contest.
2. Symphonic Band (grades 9-12) will work with Henson/Adams during 4th block.
3. Winter Guard members (grades 8-12) will continue their work with McKinney/Hope
during 4th block.
4. Christmas Parade and Spring Trip rehearsals will take place during school and/or afterschool as needed.
Understanding that Fall Guard members have missed out on months of “instrumental instruction” the band director’s focus will be to make the upcoming transition as easy as possible for the Tigerettes. Simply stated....a Guard member is expected to play to the best of her ability, to exhibit good effort in the daily class, to have good attendance, and to attend class with the same type attitude that they exhibit on the field...of course they are encouraged to be attentive & improve their
playing skills, but be assured they would never be “called out”, punished or their grade penalized because their role in band has been a visual one up to this point.
Keep a positive attitude about the winter season & playing your horn or the workouts required for WG. If you are unable to fulfill this part of your duty you should consider leaving the band program at semester break. Starting 2nd semester, 7th & 8th Graders will be with Henson/Adams in Intermediate Band 2nd block. 9-12 with Henson/Adams in Symphonic during 4th block. WG with Donna & Rebecca 4th block. Home practice, scheduled rehearsals, and of course all performance events are required. Attendance will be taken daily during 2nd/4th blocks.
Rebecca & I will be monitoring attendance. In addition to in-class requirements, unexcused absences/check-outs will affect your band grade and consequently your overall grade average. (5 parent/unexcused absences per semester) Remember as well, your grade/attitude during winter season also play a role in Guard leadership choices. Band is your scheduled class and it is a graded subject. Do not show up late with a pass from other teachers, & do not ask to leave the band class to do work for other classes you have scheduled. Band is not an off period or your study hall.
All that stated we must report the following based on winter observations last year...
We are pleased to report that on every grade level we had girls who worked very hard in the winter setting. We had girls who were seated in high chair placements when skills tests were given. We also had girls who while not skilled enough to be seated high when the rankings were done but were clearly giving 100 percent in class...this was evident via their attendance, attention, and attitude in their band class. The same 100% was true for most girls involved with WG.
We sadly report that we also had girls on at every grade level who did not do their best. We had girls involved in talking when they should have be working, failing to follow instruction of section leaders, legs crossed, no shoes, note writing,
texting, laughing, playing off sounds on purpose, sleeping, & lastly girls who missed band class very frequently. We are sure that you would agree that even the most generous directors (and our full time horn players) can only view these
behaviors as what they are...lack of respect from Guard girls who they normally see go above and beyond the call of duty.
We will be fair in grading the remainder of the year but should not be expected to overlook a student’s blatant disrespect in word or deed. Attendance 2nd/4th block does count. Please also remember that our BDs also have input as to those chosen for leadership roles in coming years....a girl who is “stellar” on the field but a “ stinker” the remainder of the time should not expect selection for leadership roles. We encourage each of our girls to make sure that their actions, attitude, and attendance are up to par...we expect efforts to be the same as we saw on the
field. Parents we will appreciate your help with this before any girl’s grade or leadership role is harmed by lackluster performance during the remainder of the year ahead.
Lastly...
Our Seniors are expected to lead the way with a good attitude, good behavior, and good attendance.
Juniors are expected to show leadership intentions with a good attitude, good behavior, and good attendance.
Underclassmen are expected to show respect for the program with a good attitude, good behavior, and good attendance.
