Thanks to our Captains for their great leadership, thanks to our Guard Parents for their great support, and thanks to each & every Guard Girl for every ounce of effort they put forth to make the fall show fabulous!!
Our last football game will be Friday...game instructions will be announced in class this week...please make sure you listen up!!
This will be the our final Guard blog post until after our new Guard is selected at tryouts in January. Winter Guard will get their info/updates via email or text from Donna or Rebecca. Symphonic Winds/Concert Band will now get all their info/updates from Henson/Adams.
End of Season Reminders for Tigerettes & Parents!!!
We no longer have marching rehearsals Tuesday nights/Thursday afternoons.
Tigerette Budget Info...hardcopy spreadsheet for Fall 2012 guard spending will go home with Guard Girls on Nov 1st. Parents please email if you have
questions.
Band Fees...all taken care of...thanks!!
Home Concessions...Guard Parents worked/prepaid out OR will owe the payout fee for no-show before tryouts.
Disney World...please make sure you get payments to Mr. Henson the first of each month. Next trip payment is due on or before November 10th.
Holiday Concert, District Contest, Spring Concert, Winter Guard, etc. Employers can’t require students miss a required school event or a rehearsal. If written verification for employer is needed see a director immediately. It is student's responsibility to inform employer about school required events in a timely manner...failure to do so will not excuse absence from band activities.
Off Season Grades...all must maintain an overall 70% average each grading period. 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...all are still expected to maintain Satisfactory conduct. Stay out of the office!! Follow dress code, no tardies, do not skip class, do not cheat, do not lie, be respectful, keep lips (and everything else) to yourself, be a kind, sweet, cooperative young lady at school, in your social life, and at home!!! Keep social media clean!!!
Off Season Hair...all agreed to maintain a shoulder length hairstyle. While we feel sure some may need a good trim as the season ends, do not think for a second that chin or shoulder length hair or drastic color change is okay...it is defiance. COLOR = NATURAL!!! Please have hairdressers do highlighting or lowlight coloring by working off your natural hair color...the real color of your hair is the one growing at the roots. (note as well that continual hair issues are documented)
Off Season Weight...extra pounds weaken ability to move & perform with ease. PLEASE eat healthy & work to get in shape...tryouts start 11 weeks from today!!
Off Season Skills...take an honest look at skills in all areas and work to improve in the off season. Flags, weapons, and body!! Guard Girls are not guaranteed a spot on next year’s squad.
Tigerette Tryouts = January 7-11, 2013...tryouts will take place in one week this year!! We will do the clinic Monday - Thursday and tryout on Friday. A new physical form will be due at that time. Seniors will be needed daily afterschool to assist with tryout activities.
Report Card...Guard Girls received a grade first nine week that solely reflected their fall job as a Tigerette. Factored into that grade were 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. JefCoEd only permits 5 unexcused absences per semester.
Transition to Winter Activities...
As we reach the end of football season this week our transition to the winter setting now takes place. Tigerettes not involved in Winter Guard will bring in instruments this week to rejoin the horn line to begin work for the upcoming Christmas Concert, and also begin preliminary preparation for scored performances at the Alabama District Festivals held in February or March.
The next phase of band works like this...
Concert Band (grades 7-8) will have class 7th Period with Mr. Adams for the rest of this semester. The class will change to 6th Period next semester.
Symphonic Winds (grades 9-12) will work with Mr. Henson during 7th period for the rest of the year. Band Blog updated today with their schedule.
Winter Guard members (grades 7-12) will continue their work with McKinney/Hope during 7th period the entire school year.
Note: Spring Trip rehearsals will take place during school and/or afterschool as needed.
Instrumental Ability:
Knowing that Guard members have missed out on months of “instrumental instruction” Mr. Henson and Mr. Adams will focus on making the upcoming transition as easy as possible for the Tigerettes. There are however some very clear expectations:
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 fall field. They are expected to be attentive & to show work to 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 to this point.
All Guard Girls involved must keep a positive attitude about the winter season & playing their horns. If they are unable to fulfill that part of required duty as a Tigerette they should consider leaving the band program at the end of the semester. Home practice, scheduled afterschool rehearsals, and of course performance events are required. Attendance will be taken daily during band class. In addition to in-class requirements, unexcused absences/check-outs will affect band grades. Band is a scheduled class and a graded subject.
Guard Girls should not show up late with a pass from other teachers, and should not ask to leave the band class to do work for other classes or to practice for other extracurricular activities. Band is not an off period or study hall.
Guard girls involved in other school sponsored extracurricular activities will be excused from band class ONLY to participate in competitive events that do not conflict with competitive band activity and only those games/matches that are confirmed by coaches.
For clarity here are observations made by Mr. Henson and Mr. Adams regarding Guard Girls during Symphonic Winds & Concert Band last year...
On every grade level they had Guard Girls who worked very hard in the winter setting. They had girls who were seated in high chair placements when skills tests were given, they also had girls who while not skilled enough to be seated high when the rankings were done clearly gave 100 percent in class everyday. This was evidenced thru attendance, attention, and attitude in band. Sadly they also report having Guard Girls on every grade level who did not do their best. Tardies, talking, failing to follow instruction of directors and/or section leaders, legs crossed, no shoes, note writing, texting, laughing, playing off sounds on purpose, sleeping, and lastly girls who did all in their power to miss band class as often as they could.
We can all agree that even the the most generous band directors (and full time horn players) can only view the poorer behaviors mentioned above as what they are...lack of respect/effort coming from Guard girls they normally see go above and beyond the call of duty. Band grading will be done fairly the remainder of the year, but do not expect Directors to overlook blatant disrespect in word or deed.
Attendance does count!! Please also remember that Band Directors have much input as to those chosen for leadership roles in coming years...a girl who is “stellar” on the field but a “ stinker” in the band hall should not expect selection for leadership roles. Rebecca and I encourage each of our girls to make sure that their actions, attitude, and attendance remain up to par.
Parents we will appreciate your help with this before any girl’s grade or current/future leadership role is harmed by lackluster performance during concert season.
As always...Seniors are expected to continue to lead the way with a good attitude, good effort, good behavior, and good attendance. Juniors and Sophomores are expected to show leadership intent with a good attitude, good effort, good behavior, and good attendance. 7th, 8th, & 9th Graders are expected to show respect with a good attitude, good effort, good behavior, and good attendance.
Schedule Changes or Not Trying Out Again??
Every fall we have a girl or two that no longer wish to participate as a guard member. Some decide to continue with band as a full time horn player, and others decide to leave the guard/band program entirely. Neither choice is a big deal...we completely understand, we know that for a multitude of reasons guard is simply not for everyone. In or Out of the guard program we just want the girl(s) to be happy!!
So, any girl who plan to leave the band program at the end of the first semester needs for their parent to handle that schedule change request in the Guidance Department in December before Christmas holidays, and any girl who does not want to tryout again simply does not sign up for the next tryout when we put the list up. :0)
