Announcements 12/11/16

1)  Christmas Concert is Monday at 7 pm at the Middle School Gym.  Free admission.  Concert attire - no jeans, ties are optional, conservative dresses for ladies.  Jazz Band needs to report at 6 pm and everyone else needs to report at 6:15.  

2)  We will have a fun finger food party immediately after the concert in the Middle School Gym Lobby.  Bring your favorite snack, drink, and/or dessert and set it on the table at the beginning of the concert.

3)  The Yankee Candle supplies have been shipped and should be arriving on Monday.  Just be sure to get them picked up and taken home to the customers by Friday.

Mid Week Announcements

1)  Due to an oversight, we are going to have to have our Christmas Concert at the Middle School Gym.  There is a home basketball game in the SGC Gym that night.  It's still on Monday at 7 pm, just in the Middle School Gym.  Report time will be 6:15 pm, concert attire (no jeans or tennis shoes, ties are optional).

2)  The Fruit will be delivered this Friday at noon.  Try to find a way to get them home either by having your child bring them home or by coming by and picking them up.  I will not be able to stay past 4 pm on Friday.  However, I will be here all morning on Saturday for Breakfast with Santa if you want to pick them up then.

3)  There will be an End of the Semester party right after the Christmas Concert on Monday.  You are invited to bring finger foods and drinks so that we can celebrate a successful Fall Semester!  We will set up the food in the Middle School Gym Foyer.

Announcements 12/4/16

1)  Jazz Band Rehearsal Tuesday from 3:30 to 4:30

2)  Afterschool rehearsal Thursday from 3:30 to 5:15 for Band and Percussion to get ready for next week's concert.

3)  Breakfast with Santa this Saturday.  I will need a few student volunteers.  Report time for workers will be 7 am on Saturday, we will be done by 11 am.  For those not working at the event, you need to bring the following donations to the Band Room by Friday:

Woodwinds: Plastic knives, spoons, styrofoam and/or plastic cups.

Trumpets and French Horns:  Quart sizes of White milk

Low Brass: Quart sizes of Orange Juice

Percussion: Quart sizes of Chocolate milk

Guard: Candy canes

Drum Majors: Parchment paper

4)  All West Auditioners - You need to pay the $10 for the audition by Friday.

5)  Our 2016 Christmas Concert will be next Monday, December 12 at 7 pm in the Gymnasium.  Admission is free.

Announcements 11/27/16

1)  Jazz Band Rehearsal on Tuesday from 3:30 to 4:30.  

2)  Afterschool Rehearsal for ALL Band, Percussion, and Guard members Thursday from 3:30 to 5 pm.  This is the one rehearsal that we have before the parade.  Everyone needs to be there.

3)  Band Booster meeting this Thursday at 6:30 in the Band Room.  We will be finalizing details for Breakfast with Santa and picking the dates for the Spring fundraisers.

4)  Christmas Parade this Saturday.  The Parade begins at 4 pm.  We will not have a bus taking us to the parade, you will need to meet at the Lighthouse Church at 3 pm.  You have two options: Take your uniform and horn home with you on Friday and meet us at the Lighthouse Church, or meet at the Elementary school to get your uniform and horn off the trailer then walk down to Lighthouse church.

Announcements 11/13/16

1)  For those interested in playing in the Jazz Band, we will begin meeting on Mondays from 3:30 to 4:30 starting tomorrow.  There are no extra fees or requirements for the Jazz Band, it's just a chance to expand your musical repertoire and play some fun music.

2)  Remember that Fruit orders and Yankee Candle orders are both due this Thursday.  We will need to get those orders in before Thanksgiving Break so the items can be delivered by Christmas Break.

Annoucements 11/6/16

1)  I want to thank everyone for a great marching season!  Students and parents worked hard to make this a successful season, culminating in a 4th place finish at State.  I know the hours and weekends that you put in this year, and I appreciate your commitment to this great program that represents SGC with class in everything we do!

2)  We will be starting two fundraisers at the same time on Monday - the Fruit sale and the Yankee Candle sale.  Both will start tomorrow and end on Nov. 17.  We need to do well on these so that we can finish paying our bills from marching season and have a good start to the many things we will have to pay for over the next few months including instrument repairs, Guard flags for parades, new sticks and heads for percussion, and transportation for parades.

3)  The Soccer team is selling Auto Decals for SGC sports teams, including a specially designed decal for the Marching Band.  They are $5 and order forms can be picked up in the band room or in the school front office.  Deadline for orders has been extended to Friday, November 11.

4)  Chair placements for Christmas concert will be this Thursday and Friday.  Tryout music will be passed out Monday.  Make sure you have your concert instruments.  Guard will begin preparing for the Christmas parade as well.

State Contest Itinerary

Itinerary for Division II State Championship

Stewart’s Creek High School, Smyrna, TN

Saturday, November 5^th, 2016

 

4:15 am                Band report to band room.  Go to the restroom before we leave!

4:45 am Depart SGCHS.  Make sure you have your hat box, gloves, long black socks and shoes.

7:15 am                Arrive at Stewart’s Creek High School.  Equipment will need to be unloaded.  Pit trailers and props will be put together.  Snacks will be provided.  Use this time also to go ahead and start focusing on your musical and visual aspects of the performance.  We must be at our best to make finals!

8:15 am                Group stretch, Breathing exercises, and Fundamentals.

8:40 am                Start putting on uniforms and getting instruments.

9:05 am                Line-up and travel to warm-up.   

9:15 am                Warm- up.  During this time there is to be no talking. 

9:45 am                Travel to Stadium.  Keep your chin up and shoulders back the entire time.  Do not talk.  Focus on the upcoming performance. 

10:00 am              Perform.  Don’t try to do anything special, simply perform what you know.

12:15 pm              Arrive back at bus.  Change out of uniforms, put instruments in cases.   At 4:00, the seniors will meet with the directors behind the home stands to go to the field.

4:15 pm                Recognition of Judges, Announcements of Scholarship participants and Finalists. 

4:45 pm                Gather at the buses where you will be given the itinerary for the evening performance. Finals performances are based on random draw.  We will not know the order until 4:45.

7:00 pm                Finals performances start. 

10:00 pm              Awards and Final placements.  We will load the buses as soon as these are over.

11:30 pm              Depart Stewart’s Creek High School.

2:00 am                Arrive SGCHS.  After everything is put up properly, we will be dismissed together.    

 

Announcements 10/30/16

1)  We are asking for water one more time for this coming week and weekend.  I couldn't have imagined asking for water the week of State, but it's been a weird, hot fall.

2)  For more information about the Division II State Championship competition, you can go to tnsmbc.com

3)  Band Booster meeting this week.  We will be discussing State, upcoming fundraisers, and Breakfast with Santa.

4) We will not be attending the football playoff game this Friday, nor will we have a Friday night rehearsal.  Please get some rest and some sleep.  We will need to be at school really early for a very long day on Saturday.  

5)  A full itinerary for State will be posted on Monday.

Choctaw Classic Itinerary

Itinerary for Choctaw Classic (Dyer Co. Contest)

Saturday, October 29^th, 2016

 

12:00 noon          Report to Practice field with instruments.

1:00 pm                End Rehearsal.  Load instruments and equipment, use restroom, eat snacks, load buses.

2:00 pm                Depart SGCHS.

3:00 pm                Arrive at Dyer County High School. Unload instruments.  You have this time to go in and watch bands.  Do Not Travel Alone.  Don’t eat too much while you are in the stadium. 

5:00 pm                Put on uniforms, get instruments.          

5:20 pm                Line-up and travel to warm-up.   

5:30 pm                Warm- up.  During this time there is to be no talking. 

6:00 pm                Travel to Stadium.  Keep your chin up and shoulders back the entire time.  Look proud!

6:15 pm                Perform.  Don’t try to do anything special, simply perform what you know.

6:30 pm                Put instruments in cases.   Properly fold and hang your uniforms.  Leaders be at the field ready to go on for awards by 7:55.

8:00 pm                Awards Ceremony.  We will clap and support everyone as the awards are handed out.  There will be absolutely no booing or loud negative responses. 

9:30 pm                Depart Dyer County High School.

10:30 pm              Arrive at SGCHS.  Everyone will be dismissed once everything is put away properly.

Announcements 10/23/16

1)  Senior night is this Friday night.  Seniors - remember to pay for your Senior Banners if you want to keep them after the game Friday night.

2)  Report time Friday night is 6 pm.  We might need a handful of extra parents to help with the field show since the parents of Seniors students will be sitting in the stands to watch the show.  

3)  Report time for Saturday is 12 noon at the practice field.  We perform at 6:15 at Dyer County High School.  A full itinerary will be posted tomorrow.

Mid-Week Announcements

1)  We are in need of some small to medium size grills for Saturday.  Propane is best.  The burgers have actually already been cooked and frozen, we will just need to warm them up and cook the hot dogs.  We will also need water for this Saturday.  We have plenty of everything else - chips, candy, plates, napkins, condiments.  I also have a place on Tiger Lane (beside the parking lot) reserved for us to cook and serve the food.  We should be able to fit the grills on the big trailer, but if not I may be asking someone to transport them if you are already driving down there.  We will be getting the food ready as soon as our performance is over.  It will be over at 5:45.  

2)  The Bandmasters competition will be live-streamed at www.banddirector.com. You can find the competition schedule at http://www.tigerbandalumni.com/Bandmasters/regbands.htm.   Last year, they also had an online vote of some sort for Favorite Band.  I will let you know about that as soon as I find out. 

3)  Make sure the students eat luch before they arrive on Saturday at 11:45.  There will not be a lot of time to eat in between our practice and loading up the buses.

Bandmasters Itinerary

Itinerary for Bandmasters Championship at the Liberty Bowl

Saturday, October 22^nd, 2016

 

11:45 am              Be on practice field for a short rehearsal.  Beginning of the show.  ACT Participants are not required to be a part of this rehearsal.

12:45 pm              Use the restroom and load buses

1:00 pm                Depart SGCHS. 

3:00 pm                Arrive at Liberty Bowl.   Eat some snacks since you won’t be able to eat supper until after we perform.  Props and pit trailers will need to be put together during this time.

4:00 pm                Get Uniforms on and get instruments out.

4:30 pm                Line-up and travel to warm-up.   

4:45 pm                Warm- up. 

5:15 pm                Travel to Stadium.  Keep your chin up and shoulders back the entire time.  Look proud!

5:30 pm                Perform.  Don’t try to do anything special, simply perform what you know.

5:45 pm                Take off uniforms, load instruments.   Boosters will feed you hamburgers and hot dogs.

9:45 pm                Awards Ceremony.  We will clap and support everyone as the awards are handed out.  There will be absolutely no booing or loud negative responses.  After awards, get on buses and prepare to leave after roll is called.

10:45 pm              Depart Liberty Bowl.

12:45 am              Arrive at SGCHS.  After all instruments are unloaded and put in their proper place, you will be dismissed.

Announcements 10/16/16

1)  What a great job you did on Saturday!  I received numerous compliments from Directors, students, parents, and other attendees about our hospitality, our organization, and our clean bathrooms!  This has become one of the finest competitions in West Tennessee and it is because of the hard work that our students and parents put into it.  I cannot even begin to thank you enough!

2)  A change of plans for this coming Friday - We will not be attending the Dyersburg game. Dyersburg will be announcing their Senior Night Bios during Halftime, leaving us no time to perform. Instead, we will have a Friday Night rehearsal on our football field from 7 to 8 pm.  We will pack up after the rehearsal for the competition on Saturday.

3)  We will still meet early on Saturday.  I want to do a marching run-through of the show at the practice field just to have it fresh in our heads.  We will not be using instruments, flags, or props.  Just a marching rehearsal.  

4)  Our performance time Saturday has changed slightly.  We will be performing at 5:30 instead of 5:45.  A full itinerary will be posted on Monday.

Announcements 10/16/16

1)  What a great job you did on Saturday!  I received numerous compliments from Directors, students, parents, and other attendees about our hospitality, our organization, and our clean bathrooms!  This has become one of the finest competitions in West Tennessee and it is because of the hard work that our students and parents put into it.  I cannot even begin to thank you enough!

2)  A change of plans for this coming Friday - We will not be attending the Dyersburg game. Dyersburg will be announcing their Senior Night Bios during Halftime, leaving us no time to perform. Instead, we will have a Friday Night rehearsal on our football field from 7 to 8 pm.  We will pack up after the rehearsal for the competition on Saturday.

3)  We will still meet early on Saturday.  I want to do a marching run-through of the show at the practice field just to have it fresh in our heads.  We will not be using instruments, flags, or props.  Just a marching rehearsal.  

4)  Our performance time Saturday has changed slightly.  We will be performing at 5:30 instead of 5:45.  A full itinerary will be posted on Monday.

Announcements 10/16/16

1)  What a great job you did on Saturday!  I received numerous compliments from Directors, students, parents, and other attendees about our hospitality, our organization, and our clean bathrooms!  This has become one of the finest competitions in West Tennessee and it is because of the hard work that our students and parents put into it.  I cannot even begin to thank you enough!

2)  A change of plans for this coming Friday - We will not be attending the Dyersburg game. Dyersburg will be announcing their Senior Night Bios during Halftime, leaving us no time to perform. Instead, we will have a Friday Night rehearsal on our football field from 7 to 8 pm.  We will pack up after the rehearsal for the competition on Saturday.

3)  We will still meet early on Saturday.  I want to do a marching run-through of the show at the practice field just to have it fresh in our heads.  We will not be using instruments, flags, or props.  Just a marching rehearsal.  

4)  Our performance time Saturday has changed slightly.  We will be performing at 5:30 instead of 5:45.  A full itinerary will be posted on Monday.

Mid-week announcements

1)  Amro's representative cannot make it this Saturday to grill at the Director Hospitality tent.  I need a couple of people assigned to concessions to man the Director hospitality tent.  You will just keep a cooler full of drinks and grill some burgers for the directors.  

2)  We will be wearing our Band T-shirts Saturday.  Besides that it doesn't matter about the pants and shoes.  Try to wear something SGC related or black when it cools down that night.

Announcements 10/11/16

1)  Hope everyone enjoyed your Fall Break!  We will have our regular afternoon rehearsal on Thursday afternoon, but not Tuesday.

2)  Report time for Friday's game will be 5:45.  It is 8th grade night, so we will warm-up with the 8th grade band at 6:15.

3)  The students who were in the RTI Chamber Ensemble class - we need to meet as often as we can during Intermission this week to prepare for Saturday.  

4)  On Saturday, report time for students and parents will be 11 am in the Cafeteria.  I will go over some brief announcements and then send everyone to their jobs.  We anticipate the first bands arriving at noon.  We will clean everything up after the awards.  I anticipate us being done around 10 pm.

5)  On Saturday, please park at Mt. Zion Church.  I need someone from the Cleaning/Maintenance team to provide transportation from Mt. Zion to SGC by way of 4-wheeler and trailer.  Last year, we even had some hay on there to put a little fall fun in it!

6)  Parents, the students will be thoroughly trained in their jobs during class this week.  If you are unsure about parts of your job, they will be able to answer them for you. Also, keep in mind that I assign enough people per job that there will be opportunities for breaks or watching some bands that you want to watch.  The most important thing is that everyone does their job to continue to make this event one of the most successful competitions in West Tennessee!

Upcoming competitions

1) I just found out our performance time at Bandmasters is 5:45 pm.  An itinerary will be posted in the near future.  I don't know about Dyer County yet.

2)  We perform at 9:45 am at Division II State.  Report time will be 4:45 am.  

3)  With the saxdoctor.com website being down, it's been hard to find results and schedules for contests.  I have found this website that will serve the same need for the time being: http://tnmarchingbandscores.weebly.com/

Announcements 10/2/16

1)  Band Booster meeting this Tuesday at 6:30 pm.  If you can be there, this is the one you need to be at.  It's the last one before our Hornet Invitational.  You will learn more about your jobs and what they entail.  We have done a great job with this event the last two years and it is because of the hard work the parents and students put into the event!  

2)  We will be having our normal rehearsals on Tuesday and Thursday.

3)  Football game Thursday night at Westview in Martin.  We will leave at 5:30 pm.  What this means is that we will stop rehearsal early, eat, and then put on uniforms and leave.  Parents, I need you to help provide the food.  We will need sandwiches, finger foods, drinks, cookies, chips, plates, cups, and napkins.  I will be talking more about this at Tuesday's meeting.  I plan on eating around 4:30.  A full itinerary for Thursday's game will be posted on Monday.

4)  We have nothing planned on Friday or Saturday this weekend.  Fall Break is next Monday and Tuesday.  There will be no rehearsal on that Tuesday of Fall Break.  

5)  It's still not too late for more trophy sponsors for the Hornet Invitational.

Gibson County contest Itinerary

Itinerary for Gibson County Contest

Saturday, October 1^st, 2016

9:30 am Report to Practice field with instruments.

10:15 am              End Rehearsal.  Load instruments and equipment, use restroom, eat snacks, load buses.

11:00 am              Depart SGCHS.  Make sure you have hat box, long black socks, shoes, and gloves.

11:45 am              Arrive at Gibson County. Loading crew will unload.  Props and trailers will be assembled.  Use the extra time to go in the stadium and watch bands.  Do not travel alone! 

1:35 pm                Put on uniforms.  Get your instruments.

2:05 pm                Line-up and travel to warm-up.   

2:15 pm                Warm- up.  During this time there is to be no talking. 

2:45 pm                Travel to Stadium.  Keep your chin up and shoulders back the entire time.  Look proud!

3:00 pm                Performance.

3:30 pm                Arrive back at bus.  Put plumes back in plume box, put instruments in cases, put uniforms up properly.  Leaders will keep uniforms on for Awards.  Make sure you are back in the stadium by 4:30.

4:30 pm                Awards Ceremony and announcements of finalists.   

Performance time for Finals is based on Random Draw.  A schedule for Finals performance will be

announced at the buses following the Awards Ceremony.

10:00 pm              Finals Awards Ceremony

11:00 pm              Load equipment and buses.

11:50 pm              Arrive at SGCHS.

Announcements 9/25/16

1)  I want to thank everyone for a great first weekend of competition.  Throughout a hot day I heard zero complaints, everyone was prepared for the heat, and everyone responded to the adversity with great results!  Our students represented SGC with great behavior and excellent performances.  Keep it up this weekend as we go to GC!

2)  Report time for Friday's home game is 6 pm.  Be ready to play for the Homecoming pregame festivities.

3)  Report time for Saturday will be 9:30 am at the practice field.  A full itinerary will be posted on Monday.

4) No Design team meeting this Tuesday.  The uniforms and props looked awesome this weekend!!!!

Announcements 9/18/16

1)  Our first contest day is this Saturday.  A full itinerary will be posted Monday.  Report time will be 8 am at the practice field ready to do a run-through.  You will be changing in and out of your uniform during the day, so bring clothes to wear when you are not in uniform.  Also bring money for two meals (with concession prices, that is usually around $10 per meal.)  We will be staying at Liberty all day Saturday performing, resting, and watching other bands - a great day to immerse yourself in the Marching Band world!

2)  Design team will meet Tuesday night at 6:30.  We need to finish up some small projects with the props to make sure it is ready for Saturday.  The props and uniforms looked and operated great Friday night!

3)  Parents who are working with the pit crew this Saturday, plan to bring all black clothes to wear during the performances.  Also bring clothes to change into after the performances.  A reminder that if you are not working as a chaperone or as a pit crew member, you will have to pay to get into these competitions.  I will let you know the prices later this week.

4)  We are in need of water again this week.  If you can bring some water to help keep the students hydrated during the week and at the competition, please bring them into the band room at any time.

McNairy Game Itinerary

I just learned today that the start time for the game has been moved to 7 pm.  We will leave as close to 5:15 as we can, but I know some parents who help carry equipment and trailers may not be able to get there at that exact time.  We will do our best and I will work with those who might need a few more minutes to get here from work.

Itinerary

Away Football Game vs. McNairy

Friday, September 16, 2016

4:30 pm – Report to Band Room, put on uniforms.   Use the restroom before we leave.

5:00 pm – Load up on to your assigned bus.  Chaperones will call roll.

5:15 pm – Depart SGCHS.

6:45 pm – Arrive at McNairy’s Stadium.  Chaperones, leaders and Percussion will get off the bus first to unload the trailer and box truck.  Get your instrument case, and line up.  We will march in with cases and unpack when we get to the stands. 

7:00 pm - Game Begins.  Pay attention to the game, cheer for the team, act in a professional manner.  Be ready to play pep songs at any time.  NO CELL PHONES!  During the 3^rd quarter, you will be able to get concessions.  Only water, hamburgers or hot dogs with no condiments, and nachos with no cheese.

9:45 pm - Approximate end of game.  Line up and march back to buses.  Take your instruments to the truck to be loaded and then load the buses.

10:30 pm - After all equipment is loaded and students are on their assigned bus, we will depart.

12 midnight – Arrive at SGCHS.  After instruments and uniforms are put up properly, you will be dismissed as a group.

Announcements 9/11/16

1)  This Tuesday's rehearsal will be from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the Football stadium.  We will not have the 3:30 to 5:30 rehearsal on Tuesday.  Parents, if you want to help out with props or in the pit crew at any point this season, this is a great time to learn all the different jobs associated with the pit crew.  This band has had great parent work and support in the past, and we look forward to continuing having a sideline full of parents cheering on our kids!  

2) We will have the normal 3:30 to 5:30 rehearsal on Thursday.  

3)  Away game this Friday.  We will be wearing uniforms.  Make sure you have long black socks. Remember that you cannot wear makeup or jewelry when wearing the band uniforms.  Full itinerary will be posted Monday.

 

Announcements 9/4/16

1) Parents of Seniors: If you would like to purchase a Banner with your child's picture on it, here are the details:  You will need to purchase them for between $40-$50.  The final price will be given once the banners are done and a total cost is given to us.  Payment will be due by September 16.  The Banners will be place along the fence of the football field for the rest of the season.  It will include the School and Band name, their name, and 2016-2017.  You will be able to keep the banner after the football season is over.  The student will have their picture taken on Tuesday immediately after school wearing their uniform (but no hat, so make sure the hair looks good) and holding their instrument.  This is not mandatory.  If your child gets their picture taken on Tuesday, I assume they will be purchasing a banner.

2)  I am going to be changing the rehearsal on Tuesday, September 13 to a night rehearsal.  Instead of rehearsing from 3:30 to 5:30, we will be rehearsing from 6:30 to 8:30 on the football field.  This will help parents get ready to move props and help set up our show as we move toward competitions.  Parents:  if you plan on helping out this year in the pit crew, this is the time to learn how you can help.    This rehearsal is for you!

3)  Design team meeting at 6:30 on Tuesday night at the Band Room.

4)  Home game this Friday against Trinity.  Game will start at 7 pm.  We will not be wearing uniforms.  My plan is to wear them at the McNairy game the following week.  Report time this Friday will be 6:15 pm.