End of Fall Reminders!!

Tigerette Budget...Guard money was spent & a sheet for Fall 2014 will be sent home this month! Band Fees...all took care of this...Thank You!! Home Concessions...parents worked or prepaid out or will owe $50 before tryouts. Spring 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!! 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!! #BeTheSolution 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. Those already on probation must be extra careful about conduct issues. 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 about 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 12 - 16, 2015....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. Concert/Intermediate Band and Winter Guard rehearsals have begun...Guard girls received a grade 1st 9 weeks 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 a certain number of unexcused absences per semester. Please make sure you keep your attendance records up to date. Understanding that Fall Guard members in grades 9-12 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. In addition to in-class requirements, unexcused absences/check-outs will affect your band grade and consequently your overall grade average. Remember as well, your grade/attitude 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. Private Lessons...a note is going home with beginning and intermediate band students this week about Guard Girls giving private lessons @ $20 per hour between now and tryout time. The only Tigerettes who should be paid to give lessons in our opionion are our current Juniors and Seniors who have enough experience to truly help a child get ready to tryout. Having the older girls handle the private lessons in the community also sheilds our younger members from accusation and hurt feelings when the students that are helped but don't make the squad "sound off" about who's fault it is in January...in reality all of our girls should be more concerned with improving their own skills and making the squad again at this point.