-Parent Guide- Wando Color Guard-

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1 -Parent Guide- Wando Color Guard- Welcome to the Wando High School Color Guard program! The guard program is made up of two performing ensembles; the fall guard is an integral part of the marching band, while the winter guard program competes after marching band season ends. The ultimate goal of the program is to provide our students with a lifelong understanding and appreciation for music, dance, and all the performing arts. Basics: Guard is an auxiliary unit which performs both with the band during marching season and on its own during Winter Guard season. It involves elements of dance, marching and equipment work (flags, sabres and rifles). Color guard auditions are open to all interested students. No prior experience is required. Clinics are offered prior to audition week. Members are chosen by our color guard staff. Marching Season July through November During the marching season, the guard is focused on learning the equipment work (e.g. flag work sabres and rifles) and marching. These are performed during official competitions on weekends, and also at non-competitive events such as football halftime shows. Guard is very exciting for the students and parent spectators alike! Each guard member must buy their own warm-up jacket and pants. These are worn at football games and competitions. Color guard members often change clothes on the bus, which is why they must purchase unitards to wear under their uniforms. A call sheet, listing times and other information, is sent out each week. It is very important that you read all s coming from the band. The guard is part of the band, therefore, if you receive an that the band has practice, you should understand that means guard and band; they are not separate. There are several weekend practices called MINI CAMPS, where everyone participates. We have several practices annually at the Old Wando so that the kids get a chance to practice on the stadium field. The Calendar is already set for this season and can be found on the Wando Band website ( or in this handbook. Winter Guard Season Late November through March - Winter Guard auditions occur in late November. - Winter Guard is the guard unit performing competitively in a gym. - There are approximately 5 competitions from Late January through late March. They are on Saturdays; some of the competitions are local and some require travel. - Fair Share for Winter Guard is $400 and does not cover out-of-state competition costs. - The time commitment on event days is usually 8-10 hours. 1

2 - Practices are on Tuesday s and Thursday s from 4:30-7:00 pm at the National Guard Armory building located on Mathis Ferry near the Ravenel Bridge. Schedule commitments for Students Students are expected to attend all rehearsals and performances. If there is a situation that will prevent this, an excuse form (found on the band website) must be filled out BEFOREHAND. After-school rehearsals are on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. The Wando teacher sponsors/contacts for guard are: Judi Newton: Judith_newton@charleston.k12.sc.us Nancy Lane: Nancyr_lane@charleston.k12.sc.us If a student is absent from school on the day of an after-school rehearsal, this does not automatically excuse the student for that afternoon. Either the student or the parent must contact the sponsors. DO NOT LEAVE A MESSAGE WITH ANOTHER STUDENT. Summer practices begin on Monday July 22 ND from 6-9 pm. Rookie Camp is for all new members of the guard & band, please refer to the full schedule. A lock-in will be scheduled with the date and location to be announced. Please see the Summer / Fall schedule for all dates and times. Rookie Band camp is July 29 th August 3 rd. No Vacations Now. During marching season, after school practices are on Monday (5-7:30pm), Tuesday (5:30-7:30pm) and Thursday (5:30-7:30 pm). Starting the 3 rd week in September all practices will be from 5:00 7:30pm. There are times when the guard will start earlier to work on their routines. There are always veteran members willing to help new members. Make sure that your child knows that they need to do some or all of their homework after school. It is very important that your child succeeds in their academic classes. Students may stay after school in the cafeteria or in the library and get their homework done. Students will be chaperoned. A permission form will be provided at the beginning of school. The cafeteria will usually sell chicken sandwiches so that the kids can have a snack. 2

3 Parent Involvement The Wando band/guard has very strong parent support, of which we are very thankful. It is important to realize the value of parent help. It would be extremely difficult to achieve the high standard that we have come to expect from our students, if we did not have the commitment from parents throughout the year. There are many committees to get involved with, so please check the website and contact the chairperson if you d like to help out. The main committees are: - Flag sewing- This group constructs some of the flags that are used throughout the year. If you don t sew, you may also volunteer to cut fabric or pin fabric together. - Uniforms- They are responsible for maintaining the guard uniforms (washing them), and assisting students to suit up, before football games and competitions and to suit down after these same events. This group is also responsible for altering uniforms if needed. - Equipment- This group helps to make any props that Michael dreams up. This group if made up of moms and dads who tape, glue, build and paint. This group also helps with loading the equipment trailer before football games and competitions. - Water Warriors- This group provides water to the band during all of their practices and events. - LCI-All band families are asked to sign-up to volunteer for this event which is held at the Wando Stadium. The Wando Band hosts other bands from around the state. Please feel free to sign up for more than one committee, and if these don t catch your fancy, please feel free to sign up for other opportunities available within the band program. Last year, the Uniform and Equipment committees worked hand-in-hand because it took all of us to get everything done. So if you sign up for one committee, you might get an to help out with another project. We work during the after-school practices, and we have a lot of FUN. This is a time of work and fellowship, and when marching season is over, it is often sad because we don t see each other on a regular basis. Sometimes, we schedule dinners just to catch up. Competition Attendance Parents are strongly encouraged to attend and MANY do! We are famous for our large cheering section. Please note that we cheer for every band, but we might cheer for ours the loudest. Color Guard: Sweet girls with big metal sticks! The harder you work the harder it is to give up. You have six feet of pole and 48 inches of silk, you better catch SOMETHING! 3

4 Money Matters Checks for "fair share" fundraising and other payments are made to Wando Band Boosters and can be left in the locked dropped box in Mr. Handel s office. You can also mail them to the following address: Wando Band Boosters, P.O. Box 927, Mt. Pleasant, SC Guard "fair share" for marching season is $ This does not include costs for trips that are out-of-state. Each guard member will need to also purchase additional items such as jazz shoes, Ever-Dri gloves (for sabres only), make-up, warm-ups, etc. See the additional items list in the back of this handbook. Do not purchase any of these items until there is an announcement telling the girls what they really need. If a student only participates in fall guard, payments for "fair share" begin in July and end in October. Otherwise, they occur throughout the year. Please see the band handbook for additional information. You can find this under Financial Obligations. If your child is in band and guard, your "fair share" is the band cost, which is $795. This does not include costs that are associated with winter guard. Only 4 % of the band budget is paid by Charleston County. We try to keep costs down as much as possible, and we offer many opportunities for fundraising. Please take advantage of these opportunities, especially the "Harmony" program; consult the band website. Other Money Matters In addition to the guard fees, other costs associated with the band include, but are not limited to: - Shoes - Gloves for sabres - Practice uniforms and guard bag - Warm up outfit with monogram - Money for meals on days of events (remember these are fundraisers for the host school.) - Bands of America in Atlanta - Unitards, to be purchased by the individual girls. - Make-up - Nickname t-shirt: During marching season, the girls are given a nickname and t- shirts are printed. These can be used as a practice t-shirt. - Items to go in the guard bag. A list will be ed to you. - We always have something that we might miss. 4

5 Odds and Ends There will be a mandatory band parent meeting in early August. You will receive the band handbook at that time. This handbook is VERY IMPORTANT!! It has everything that you will need to know. - Transportation to home football games is up to the parents, watch for call times. - Hair and makeup should be done before you arrive at the event site. - Parents do not get into football games free; this is a fundraiser for the sports boosters. - You can take PE through the South Carolina Virtual School. If you need information about this, you can contact the Wando Guidance department for information. - Transportation to winter guard competitions will be on an activity bus. - Marching band competitions are arranged by classes. Wando is in Class 5A, which is the highest classification. - Wando High School Marching Band has won class 5A state championship for the last eight years. The Wando teacher sponsors/contacts for guard are: Judi Newton: Judith_newton@charleston.k12.sc.us Nancy Lane: Nancyr_lane@charleston.k12.sc.us This is a lot of information, but the most important message you will hear is WELCOME TO THE FAMILY. Color guard is spending 15 to 20 hours a week marching up and down a 50 by 70 foot area spinning a 3 pound saber or a 5 1/2 foot flag. It's your free time to strive for perfection and hearing; "That's wrong! Pay attention! Try harder!" over and over. It is riding countless hours on cold bumpy buses and eating in more fast food restaurants than you care to remember. Sometimes you march with blisters on your feet, splints on your fingers, when you're sick or when every muscle in your body aches. It means being willing to try again. Then another Saturday night comes! Judges, instructors, other guards, and 5000 or 6000 spectators are waiting for your performance. For five or six minutes, every ounce of your strength and concentration are dedicated to making our family, friends, school, and town proud of our competitive unit. The demanding, endless hours of practice have been a prelude to this moment. There is the hope in your heart, "Please, let this one be ours!" But color guard is much more than work and intense competition. It is closeness between young people that cannot be described. It is doing your best and knowing that you have your very own group of "fans" who will always encourage and support you. (This was copied from a color guard web site.) 5

6 2013 SUMMER / FALL SCHEDULE WANDO HS MARCHING BAND SUBJECT TO CHANGE All GUARD summer rehearsals will be scheduled by Mrs. Newton and Michael Gray and will be published at a later date. See additional percussion summer rehearsal dates below: July Perc. Summer Dates 22 Guard Rehearsal 6 9 PM 25, 26 Leadership Work Days 8 AM - 4 PM June 17th 29 Rookie Camp / Leadership 8 AM - 3 PM {Bring Lunch} July 1st 29 Guard & Perc. Rehearsal 6-9 PM July 15th 30 Rookie Camp / Leadership 8 AM - 3 PM {Bring Lunch} 30 Guard & Perc. Rehearsal 6-9 PM 31 Sectionals for Everyone 1 1/2 hours per section 31 Guard & Perc. Rehearsal 6-9 PM 1 Full Band 8 AM - noon; 6-9 PM 2 Full Band 8 AM - noon ONLY July/August August 5 - August 9 BAND CAMP WEEK 8 AM to 9 PM * * Students bring a sack lunch and the dinner meal is provided On Friday (August 9 th ) ONLY, the hours are 8 - Noon; Exhibition is at 7:00 report at 6! August 12 Rehearsal Schedule (Monday) 8 AM 11 AM & 5:00-9 PM 13 Rehearsal Schedule (Tuesday) 8 AM 11 AM & 5:00-9 PM 14 Rehearsal Schedule (Wednesday) 8 AM 11 AM & 5:00-9 PM 15 Rehearsal Schedule (Thursday) 5:00-9 PM 19 Regular Rehearsal Schedule (Monday) 5:00 7:30 PM 20 Regular Rehearsal Schedule (Tuesday) 5:30 7:30 PM 22 Regular Rehearsal Schedule (Thursday) 5:30 7:30 PM Please note that the first day of school is Wednesday, August 21 nd. Competition Schedule (tentative) 9/21 Mini-camp Clinic 9/28 Walterboro Band Classic, Walterboro, SC 10/5 LCI-Lowcountry Invitational, Wando High School Stadium 10/19 Mini-camp Clinic 10/26 Bands of America Regional, Atlanta, GA 11/2 State Contest New folks will start on July 29th - Full band begins on July 31st! - Guard and percussion folks will have a few additional rehearsals in the summer (see note above) * Starting the third week in September, all rehearsals are from 5 7:30 PM* 6

7 ADDITIONAL ITEMS TO BE PURCHASED (Please wait for notification prior to purchasing as many of these items are placed in a group order at the start of the season) Black Jazz Pants Solid black, ankle length NOT CAPRI LENGTH. These can be purchased at Target, Wal-mart, etc. or any dance supply store. Cost: $20 - $40 Athletic Shoes These must be as close to solid white as possible. If there is a logo, try to get a dark color. You may choose the style. You will wear these for practice beginning the first day of Band Camp and with warm-ups and pep skirts and tops. Cost will vary Body Tight The body tight should be nude with either clear or adjustable straps that will not show under the costume. These can be purchased at Mr. Don Shoes (South Windermere Shopping Center, 84 Folly Road Blvd.) has several styles and will give you a 10% discount (tell them you are Wando Color Guard). Cost: approximately $20 or you can go online to to order the body tight for $ We will find out at lock-in from Michael whether this item needs to be ordered. Ever-Dri Gloves For those guard members that will be doing saber this year, you will need to order a pair of gloves. The following site has them for $ Please purchase the tan gloves. Hair products Each girl must have hair nets to match hair color; hair gel/spray; hair ties; and bobby pins. Jazz Shoes Each girl must have two pairs. One pair will be worn regularly and the second will be saved for backup. During band camp we will measure each girl, collect money, and place the order. Cost: $40 approx. for two pairs of shoes. Note: Veterans need only order replacement for any shoes worn out but you MUST HAVE TWO PAIRS!! Make-up A final decision has not been made about make-up for this year. The make-up cost should be minimal. For those with allergy issues, once make-up is chosen, you should use the brand you can wear in colors similar to those selected. Warm-ups Each girl must have warm-ups (jacket & pants). You can order this from the following website: The jacket (item# 505DWJ) is $28.95 and the pants (item # 506DWP) are $ You will need to take the jacket to An Initial Impression (ph: ) near the new Wild Wings in Oakland Shopping Center to get embroidered. 7

8 Items to be in Your Duffle Bag Hair nets (5 packs) Bobby pins (2 cards) Hair ties Hair donut Hair spray/gel Hairbrush All of the above hair products can be purchased at: Sally Beauty Supply 1000 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., Suite 5A (old Publix shopping center behind Chick-Fil-A) Ziplock bag to hold hairnets, bobby pins, etc. Make-up bag Two pairs jazz shoes Appropriate uniform for event (warm-ups, pep top, jazz pants, etc.) Deodorant/Body Spray Donation Request List for the Guard Room XL ziplock bags Dryer sheets Febreze Paper towels Kleenex Hand sanitizer Baby wipes 8