You may not realize it, but the end of this week will be the halfway point of our season from when we started pre-camp on July 26! It is hard to believe that so much time has passed and how quickly we are closing in on our final performance on October 30th. All of our students have been doing great work to this point, but we all need to continue to give our very best every day for us to realize our fullest potential as the Purple Regiment. We have a couple of exhibition performances coming up in a few weeks, which will give us a good idea of where we are and what we need to work on to improve our performance. Our goal for this month is to finish adding all the details to the show, so the last few weeks of the season are dedicated to perfecting what we already know.

Our first marching band trip is next Saturday, September 18th, to Nation Ford High School! This is an exhibition performance, but we will still benefit from a panel of adjudicators providing commentary for us. Students will report to the Northwestern practice field at 8:30 that morning for rehearsal. We will feed students lunch at school and change into full uniform before we leave for Nation Ford. We do not have an exact performance time, but it will be late afternoon. We will post a full schedule and ticket information on the website as soon as possible. After the performance, we will have a clinic with one of the adjudicators. I anticipate we should arrive back at school around 6:30 pm.

Updates for this week:

• The game this Friday against Nation Ford High School has been canceled
  • The football team has scheduled a game against Chester High School in Chester. We will NOT travel to Chester for this game.
  • We hope to reschedule middle school band night for October 1st
• We still need help to finish constructing props. Please get in touch with Patrick Crane ([email protected]) if you would like to help
• Also, we are still looking for 3 more white, wooden rocking chairs similar to what you would see on the porch at Cracker Barrel. We will need these through October and return them to you when our season concludes on October 30. Please get in touch with Mr. Yost if you have one to lend us or if there are questions
• As we start our competition season, we are asking for donations of soda cans, water, individually packaged snacks, and individually packaged desserts
  • We will purchase a sandwich for all students when we travel, but these extra items will help make a complete meal!
• Parent show shirts should arrive this week. Kimberly Shaw will contact you if you placed an order. If you did not order a shirt, please contact Kim at [email protected]. If we have enough to place another order, we will do so.
• Please remember to sign up for a time slot to volunteer at the Olde English Tournament of Bands on Saturday, September 25!
• Ads are now for sale in the Olde English Tournament of Bands program!
  • Click here to see ads that have been printed in the past
  • Click here for information on purchasing and creating an ad for the program
  • Also, if your employer might be interested in supporting the contest, click here for details about business ads
• Please be sure your student keeps up with their work in the band and all their classes. We will have weekly recording assignments through the end of the month, so you should hear your student practicing at home!
• EVERY STUDENT NEEDS A WATER BOTTLE. We will always have water on the field so you can refill your water bottle.
  • Students also need athletic shorts, shirts, sneakers, and a hat for rehearsal.
  • Please be sure you’re eating a nutritious breakfast and lunch so you have the energy to make it through the school day and all of our rehearsals.

I know this is a great deal of information, and there is still much more information to share as we go through the next few weeks. We will get this information to you as it becomes available but feel free to contact us if there are questions or concerns. Thank you again for all your support, and I hope to see all of you at Nation Ford on the 18th.