So proud of every girl in the program and so thankful for Guard parents who support their daughter every step of the way. We appreciate the focused attention to detail and willingness to learn, change, and go with the flow during this season.
Important Fall Dates...
Saturday, October 12th...JSU Contest estimated timeline is 9 am to 10 pm
Saturday, October 19th...Hoover Contest estimated timeline is 9 am to 10 pm
Monday, October 21st...Dinner & A Show @ OGHS estimated timeline is 5 pm to 8 pm
Saturday, November 2nd...Alabama Marching Band State Championships timeline TBA
Friday, November 22nd...Summit Christmas Parade details TBA
Friday, December 13th...Band/Guard Christmas Party details TBA
Other Important Reminders...
All Tig rules, regulations, policies and procedures apply now and during the remainder of the school year. Those already on probation need to be very mindful from now until end of May that another visit to ISS or a suspension...for any reason...will remove you from the squad.
Tigerette Budget...Guard money was spent & financial sheets for Fall 2019 will go home with girls last week of October.
Band Fees...all took care of this...Thank You!!
Home Concessions...parents worked or prepaid buyout OR owe a no show fee NOW...Thank You!!
Off Season Fundraising...Our 15 Concert Band girls are required to continue to participate in band fundraisers. Our 14 WG girls are required to fundraise for WG.
Spring Band/Guard Trip...payments are due monthly...watch NYC Remind texts...please keep those notifications turned ON!!
The Summit Christmas Parade is Friday, November 22nd...REQUIRED EVENT. Info on this event will be announced as soon as we have details confirmed. Timeline and costuming TBD.
Band/Guard Christmas Party is Friday, December 13th...it is required!! Cute Christmas Casual dress. Students will bring an assigned dish to share...there will be dancing & karaoke. It is always a blast!! Moms welcome...no siblings or non-band friends. More details posted closer to event.
Tigerette Tryout sign up for next year is in December!! A new physical form will be required for tryouts. No late forms will be accepted. Girls must have everything done, ready, and turned in on time or they will not be permitted to participate...this includes returning vets!! Tigerette Tryouts = January 13-17, 2020. A NEW doctor signed physical form will be due at tryouts. Sign up and more tryout info will be given out first week of December. Captains will be needed daily afterschool that week to assist with teaching tryout material and rehearsal.
Concert Band and Winter Guard begin on Tues, Nov 5th. Guard girls will receive a grade 1st 9 weeks that reflects their work as a Tigerette on the field. Looking ahead their work ethic in class along with unexcused absences or checkouts from band class will also impact 9 week grades first semester. The only “excused” absence from band & wg class remains the same...medical excuse, court excuse or death in immediate family...a “Principal excused absence” for a college day is also acceptable for Seniors in the spring semester. Band/WG 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 either class to complete work in other classes you have scheduled. Band is not an off period or study hall. 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.
Holiday Concert, District Concert, Spring Concert...all TBA...these are required events!! Employers can’t require a student to miss a required school event or a rehearsal for an event. If written verification for employer is needed see your BD immediately. It is STUDENT'S responsibility to inform the employer about school required events in a timely manner...failure to do so will not excuse your absence. Please make sure that you listen to Band Directors for information announced about these events.
2nd Semester Schedule Changes...please be reminded that any member 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 schedule changes are permitted mid-first semester. Written request from Parent for 2nd semester changes are due in the guidance office during November. If you are not following procedure/rules, if you tell others you don’t like guard, or if you are posting negative comments/pics/snaps on social media...you obviously might want to consider leaving at semester. We want every girl to be happy with their life choices. As stated and signed for/notarized prior to tryouts...Captains who choose to leave the program at semester (regardless of reason) will receive a grade penalty for second nine weeks and obviously would not participate in either the spring trip or band banquet.
Off Season Grades...Tigs 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/maintain an overall 70%.
Off Season Conduct...Tigs 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 those issues are being logged and you must understand fully that those type issues can impact leadership decisions in the future.
Off Season Hair...Tigs 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. Again...know that continual hair issues can impact leadership decisions down the road.
Weight Gain...extra pounds weaken your ability to move & perform with ease. PLEASE eat healthy, drink water & keep moving...we need you healthy now and tryouts for next year are in just about 12 weeks.
Skills...please take an honest look at skills in all areas and work for continued improvement. Flags, weapons, and body!! Girls are not guaranteed a spot on next year’s squad. We have several girls who are working but are struggling to keep up...it would really be in their best interested to take private spin lessons from one of our Juniors or Seniors during November & December to help grow their ability & performance skills.
Tigs and Winter or Spring Sport Participation
Coaches are recruiting our girls because of their strong work ethic. We have NO PROBLEM with Tigs being involved and participating in other school extracurricular activities as long as all involved (student, parent, coaches) understand the following...
1. Tigerette and Band commitments including all in school/out of school practice and all events scheduled for the groups must be the #1 priority. (Winter Guard members are not permitted to participate in other sports during NOV DEC JAN FEB MARCH)
2. Sharing time is not an option when a conflict arises. Tigs must honor the first commitment they made and that was Band/Guard last January when they tried out and made Tigerette/Fall Guard.
3. All Tigerettes must be in their assigned band class all year long. Tigs will not be excused from their assigned band class for anything other than team travel to an off campus game, meet, or match at the time designated by coach in faculty email. They may not miss a band or wg class to practice another sport.
Please remember as well...
Tigerettes will be involved in tryouts for just over a week in January and Tigerette Tryout Clinic attendance is now required by Jefcoed so there is NOT an option to "choose or share" time that week.
And last but not least...one of our VERY favorite things...
END OF SEASON GIFTING!!! UPDATED 10/28/19
We will celebrate the end of fall season on the bus ride TO Hoover on Saturday, November 2nd.
Each of the 28 girls will need to bring their own JUMBO shopping bag and ALL are expected to bring something gifty to put in everyone's bags. Doesn't have to be a certain price or a certain type thing, just needs to be girly & fun!! Let your wallet be the guide on what you purchase/make and be sure you send at least 28 of whatever gift you choose...see below. Please remember we have 5 Seniors who deserve some extra special treatment!! (We will not do food this year)
Gift items must be individually packaged, bagged, or wrapped...packed for travel.
We will have girls bring in boxed/bagged gift ON SATURDAY. Everything MUST be prepped & ready for distribution when they arrive. Each girl will share her gift with others on the ride TO HOOVER...our Seniors and a few others will share their final thoughts on their time as a Tigerette at OGHS.
Senior gifts may be personalized with names (Morgan, Kalli, Zoey, Allyson, Mallory) but all other gifts should be exactly the same without names or grade level markings.
ps...pic frames & season photos are nice but girls already have tons of those via social media. AND HANDLING THINGS THIS WAY WILL ALLOW TIGS TO CHECK OFF THE BUS AS NORMAL TO GO EAT WITHOUT HAVING TO GO HOME TO OG AND THEN DRIVE BACK!!
