Happy Summer!!

Grades were checked this morning...yippeee...no problems found!! Congrats to the following young ladies who worked hard in the classroom to earn "All A Averages" for 2nd Semester...Joyce Bousack, Allison Eason, Kristin Ferguson, Gracie Johnson, Abby Praytor, Bailey Snow, Autumn Stewart, Angel Vanderburg, & Allyson Odom. Have a great summer everyone...play nice, play safe...see you all on July 21st!! Donna & Rebecca :0)

Happy Spinning!!

We will NOT be making a mass weapon purchase for this year's fall guard. Girls who do not have weapons and are interested in spinning rifle & saber next winter with the A Guard or B Guard or any time in future years will need to purchase their own practice equipment if they need it. (Purchase of weapons of course does not guarantee a spot on any winter weapon line!!) Our Fall & Winter Guards spin "KING" equipment on the field & floor. Sabers are 36 inches. Rifles are 36 inches, white with silver clip, no strap, white pads, and are 2 pounds in weight. You MUST specify 2 pound rifle weight when you order. No need to order their tape to wrap rifles or tape sabers...you can use white electrical tape for those jobs. Visit this web site to order KING equipment... www.designsbyking.com And yes, we do know you can find cheaper sabers, but if your daughter has her mind set on eventually making weapons line a King Saber purchase is worth it in the long run...as stated above it won't determine whether or when she makes the weapon line...there are no guarantees...but it will make what she attempts to learn on saber easier for her to do...the King saber is that good!! As well you must understand that wooden rifles break...especially for beginners. If breakage worries you...you may want try X Factor. It is a new rifle product (that we have NOT tested) designed to avoid rifle break problems. Again you would buy the white rifle, silver clip, no strap and buy as is...no extra weight. Base weight of the plastic "virtually unbreakable" is 2.25 pounds...just a tad heaver than King Rifles we use. Here is that link if you are interested... http://www.algyteam.com/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=EQ4512&Display=1&RelProduct_Code=RELA-EQ4512&Category_Code=EQUI&Store_Code=algyteam&Offset=&Product_Offset=17 As always...flag, saber, and rifle spinning should be done outside on a level grassy area or in a gym sized area. Thanks and happy spinning!!

End of School Reminders!!

Grades...exams are this week. See your teachers for exact dates & times. Report cards should be mailed home the first week of June. You will be contacted that week if we find problems with your academic progress that requires probation or summer school or renders you ineligible as a performer. Off Season Hair...all agreed to maintain a shoulder length hairstyle. While we feel sure that some of you may need a good trim as the school year ends, do not think for a second that a chin length hairstyle is okay...no matter your grade level we view this as defiance...hair must be shoulder length or longer when prepared for performance...very simply stated, it is not what you agreed to do when you tried out last January so just don’t do it. Hair Color...NATURAL!!! A few of you have gone too dark or too light...make sure this is corrected before you come back for summer band camp. HAIR COLOR CHANGE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED DURING THE FALL OR WINTER SEASON. Please have real hairdressers do highlighting/lowlighting/coloring and have them work off your natural hair color...fyi...the real color of your hair is the color growing out of your head at the root...lol. Fall Hair Style...down & straight in uniform...messy bun in costume...PLEASE NO BANGS. Please learn how to do a messy sock bun this summer...also make sure you find a way to do the straight hair thing...practice makes perfect. Off Season Weight...remember that extra pounds weaken your ability to move & perform with ease. Please eat sensibly & stay in shape...uniform/costume alterations are paid for by parents. Fitness 1440 in Hueytown offers a $99 summer special for students age 13+...it includes use of gym equipment and tons of fun classes like zumba & spin class to help keep you strong & healthy!! 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 dance!! Former OG Guard Captain/current UA MDBCG member Sydney Johnson is available to teach private lessons this summer. She is well skilled in all areas...flag, weapons, and body. The cost is $20 per hour per person if you come to her home OR $25 per hour if she comes to your home. CASH payment is expected at the time the lesson is given. Moms please contact Sydney @ 532-7258 to schedule lessons. UA Alta Marea is also hosting spin clinics this summer...go to www.alabamacolorguard.com for the details...Tigs would sign up individually and parents are responsible for transportation, etc. Weekly private lessons and attending spin clincs are optional but they sure are great, fun ways to grow and build skills this summer!! Social Media...in today’s world, social media plays a huge part in our day-to-day lives. In efforts to keep our social media profiles showing nothing but our best, here are a few tips to keeping your profile clean, powerful, and positive this summer. First, avoid using offensive or derogatory language on social media sites such as FB, Instagram, or Twitter...also avoid retreating or liking items that contain questionable content/words. Lots of people have access to these sites and you want to be sure that you always present the best YOU possible. Next, keep personal arguments & venting off social media sites. Keep your photos clean & respectable. Social media sites are no place for mean words nor the place for photos that suggest anything other than a positive image. One last online behavior to avoid is a current trend in social media--posting a location, status, or photo that "appears positive" but in reality is only being put out there to jab at someone or hurt their feelings...a location, post, or picture intended solely to let others know they are NOT included is an example of a very negative trend that we should all work hard to avoid. So please, consider all these things & think before you post...the old saying still rings true...if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all!! (these apply to texting and email as well!!) Staying Informed...parents & Tigs please make sure you keep Remind 101 working on your cell phones. If you need to know something we should be able to get you the info very quickly that way. Remind 101 and this blog has replaced almost all notes sent home. It is a quicker and more effective way for us to get you the info needed. Tigerettes are held accountable for everything sent/posted. (Fake and/or non-members will always be deleted from Remind 101) Please note for clarity: The Guard blog and Guard Remind 101 may contain different info from the Bands...Tigs always follow instructions found on the Guard blog and the Guard 101. Those who schedule private lessons understand there is a risk of accident or injury involved in spinning/dance...they do so with the understanding that they bear full responsibility and the person(s) or company providing the service will not be held liable should accident or injury occur. :0) Philippians 4:8...finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. :0)

May Reminders!!

Band Spring Concert is tomorrow night at 6 p.m. ATTENDANCE REQUIRED. Band Banquet is this Saturday night on May 10th and is a required event for all Tigerettes 6-12. Tickets are on sale in the bandroom until Wednesday @ 3. $15 per person/ticket required to enter...see Mr. Adams to purchase, checks should be made out to: OGHS Band. Church or party dresses are appropriate to wear. The event will be held at Oak Grove 1st Baptist Church Family Life Center for Band Members, Tigerettes, & Parents only...no siblings/no friends. We will recognize Seniors, review accomplishments of the past year, announce leadership for next year, and of course announce our show plan for Fall 2014!! (Seniors pleeeeeeeease make sure Mr. Adams and Mr. Henson have the information and photos needed for the Banquet Senior Video & for your plaque...deadline for that info is now...lol) Guard Spring Clinic--required!! Tigerettes Grades 6-11 will participate in a Guard Clinic during their regularly scheduled band class every day during the week of May 12-16th. The flag/dance clinic during the school day is required and girls MUST have a doctor's excuse to miss any band class scheduled that week. Veteran Girls interested in trying out for the fall weapons line should be prepared to stay afterschool everyday that week until 4 p.m. to work on weapons skills. Girls will need to be prepared daily to change quickly into a t-shirt and shorts in the guard room. Athletic shoes (no dance shoes, no converse, no vans) are required for class. Girls must bring a bottle of water with them each day, and pending weather issues may need sunglasses and sunscreen for outside. Tigs who forget practice clothes, shoes, etc. will not participate and their failure to participate will be considered an unexcused absence. Any unexcused absence = suspension from performance...1 performance per U-absence. We will supply a properly weighted flag that girls will take home at the end of spring clinic for summer practice...no gloves needed for flag/dance. Those interested in weapons will have to supply their own equipment (see below*) and gloves. Flag/Dance Work will be taught in routine form to a specific song so the girls can easily work on things all summer. We will also provide info/list of requirements for girls interested in trying out for various parts in the fall show during the week...fall weapons tryout will be the first Monday of Summer Guard Camp. FINAL CALL...we will hold the beach trip open for sign up until this Friday at 8 a.m. for those who forgot their money last Friday morning, for those who didn't get paid until this week, and also for those who may have changed their mind following our fun filled surprise day last Friday. $100 per person (cash) to Rebecca this week will get your name on the list to travel with us. *weapons note: if you are a veteran member (no rookies) considering trying out for the 8 - 10 member primary weapons line next fall you are required to participate in the weapons portion of the clinic until 4 everyday during spring clinic week. The weapons portion of the clinic is only required if you plan to tryout, if you prefer flag/dance only you do not have to stay. Those interested must bring their own rifle & saber and will need old weapons gloves too. (Our seniors Leah, Taylor, Brianna, Lauren, Peyton, and Kaylee along with former members Logan Brown, Autumn Bates, Megan Burchfield, Miranda Hill, Nikki Morgan, Sera Powers, Jamie Mareno, Danielle Russo, Allison Salter, Kayla Simpson, Maci Swindle, Meagan Simpson, Makenzi Valentine, & Savannah Hicks may have used equipment they are willing to sale. A used rifle should be $20-$25 each, used saber around $50 each. Please contact them on your own if interested.)