MARCHING BAND SCHEDULE Rehearsals After school rehearsals take place on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesdays during the regular school year from 2:50pm-5:00pm. Students are encouraged to seek any necessary after school help between the end of the school day (2:08) and the start of marching band, or on Thursday when we do not have rehearsal. Games The marching band plays at all varsity football games. These games typically take place on Friday nights. A brief rehearsal will take place after school on Fridays. Occasionally, football games take place on a Saturday during the day or Thursday night (to accommodate the celebration of religious holidays). An exact game schedule will be made available in late May when the 2016 football schedule is released. The football game season typically begins in the first week of school in September and ends in early November. Parades The marching band annually performs for the Montgomery Veteran s Day parade. This performance takes place on or near Veteran s Day. Festivals The marching band participates in 3-4 local marching band festivals. These are performances where many marching bands perform and awards are given. These festivals usually take place on Saturday afternoons or evenings in October. Special Events The marching band is occasionally asked to perform at some very unique events throughout the season. These have included, most recently, a performance of the National Anthem at a Philadelphia 76ers professional basketball game. This year the marching band will be performing at the Montgomery Fun Festival on September 11 th at the Princeton Airport. Drop off/pick-up Each week, a band bulletin will go home giving specific drop off and pick up times. This band bulletin will be posted on the MHS marching band website. These will vary depending upon where the game/competition/parade is. All drop-offs and pick-ups are at Montgomery HS. Students travel by MTSD bus for all performances.
After School Rehearsals All marching band rehearsals take place after school. Attendance at all rehearsals is mandatory for participation in this activity. The schedule for rehearsals is as follows: Mondays: Tuesdays: 2:45 5:00 p.m. for instrumentalists and color guard 2:45 5:00 p.m. for instrumentalists and color guard Wednesdays: 2:45 5:00 p.m. for instrumentalists. 2:45 6:00 p.m. for color guard and percussion Thursdays: Fridays: No rehearsal (please schedule doctor appointments, meetings, etc. on Thursdays) 2:30 dress rehearsal for entire band. At the conclusion of the dress rehearsal, students will be released depending upon the time. The schedules on Fridays will vary depending upon the game location and performances that weekend. This information will be listed in the weekly band bulletin. Summer Commitment In August there is a mandatory band camp that takes place at Montgomery High School. At this camp, students learn advanced marching techniques, rehearse the music/routine, learn the half-time show, work on team-work and leadership, and spend time getting to know each other and bonding as a group. Please understand that it is necessary to be present at all band camp rehearsals. We have our first performance in the first week of school which means we must learn the entire show during band camp. Excused absences from band camp are rare and handled on a case by case basis by Mr. Kahalehoe. Missing one day of camp is equivalent to missing over a week of rehearsals during the school year! Band Camp 2016 is August 17 th -August 31 st.. Please refer to the next page for band camp details.
Daily Camp Schedule Band camp days will begin at 9:00 a.m. and end at 6:00 p.m. A couple notes about the daily schedule: Rehearsals begin promptly at 9:00 a.m., so please arrive with enough time to be ready to start playing by 9:00 a.m. For most students, this means an arrival time no later than 8:50 a.m. Rehearsals end at 6:00 p.m. Students will then need time to get inside and put away their equipment. Parents should expect that their kids will be ready to actually leave by 6:10 p.m. Students will have a many breaks throughout the day, one of which will be an hour long break for lunch. Students should eat breakfast before arriving and plan on eating dinner after rehearsal. Having snacks with them would be appropriate for the shorter breaks. Students with parental permission may leave campus during the lunch break. Please fill out the driving permission form at the end of this packet. The 2016 Band Camp Dates Summer Camp June 11 th Saturday 10am This is a pre-camp rehearsal designed to teach/refresh basic fundamental techniques to all students (new and returning members). Students will also play through music from the show that day and have time to get to know each other. August 17 th -19 th _ Wednesday Friday 9:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m. August 22 nd -26th _ Monday Friday 9:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m. August 29 th -31st Monday-Wednesday 9:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m. Sectionals Students will receive a schedule of sectional rehearsals that will take place throughout the summer. These sectionals will take place once every few weeks. All students are expected to attend these sectionals if they are in town (not at camp or on vacation). The importance of sectionals cannot be underestimated. This is a time where the marching and officers can help the younger members to learn their music as well as basic marching fundamentals. The objective is to set students up for success on the first day of camp, and sectionals are the key. Additionally, sectionals are great for building team spirit and bonding with the other members of the section. Sectional time is where students make some of the strongest friendships in marching band, and these usually end up becoming friendships that last through high school.
Summer Rehearsal Policies and Guidelines Attendance at band camp rehearsals is mandatory for participation in this activity. Students should bring meals with them in a cooler. We do not have available refrigeration. Students are REQUIRED to have ample sunscreen MARCHING BAND IS A PHYSICAL ACTIVITY!! Students are REQUIRED to have a lot of water for outdoor rehearsals. Soda is NOT recommended for rehearsals. Students may pack it for lunch and dinner, but should have a lot of water or a Gatorade type drink for outside. Students are expected to eat a full meal and hydrate properly. This means eating a hearty breakfast and drinking lots of water well before camp begins. To do otherwise can result is student sickness. Students may not be excused to leave a rehearsal early without advance approval by Mr. Kahalehoe. Parents should provide a request via email to Mr. Kahalehoe before the start of marching band camp. Submitting a request does not mean that a student is automatically excused from a portion of marching band camp. Mr. Kahalehoe will review the reason for the absence and determine if it is in line with the attendance policies for band camp. Hats and sunglasses are highly recommended Marching Band Attendance Policy Attendance at all rehearsals and performances is mandatory. Students who are present for school and absent from band will place their band membership in jeopardy. PARENTS: Students may not miss any performances. Students are not permitted to miss Please keep this in mind when scheduling appointments, travel, and family events. Only in some very rare circumstances are absences excused. Any lateness/early dismissal/absence requests must be communicated in writing (email is fine) to Mr. Kahalehoe at least 24 hours in advance of the date in question. Please understand simply writing a request to Mr. Kahalehoe does not automatically excuse a student from a marching band activity. However, those received with less than a 24 hour notice will automatically be unexcused. In the note, please provide as much information as possible regarding the request. Upon receipt of the email Mr. Kahalehoe will review the reason for an absence and determine whether it is excused or not. For absences that you know about well in advance, it is best to email Mr. Kahalehoe early (a few days or weeks if possible). Please understand that this activity is 100% dependent upon teamwork. Due to the nature of how marching band drill and routines work, one person s absence will have a large effect on the ability of all other students to properly practice their movements. Marching band drill is, very basically, a connect-the-dots that is in motion. When one person is gone, a dot is missing and the shape cannot be connected. This greatly hinders our rehearsal ability, creating a negative result for all students in the band. Material missed in a rehearsal can only be learned in rehearsal. There really is no substitute for missed rehearsal.
Unexcused absences from a rehearsal may result in the removal of that student from the week s performance. Multiple unexcused absences from rehearsal will result in loss of the varsity letter and/or removal from the band. Unexcused absences from a performance may result in immediate removal from the band. As a guideline, the following excuses are considered acceptable/unacceptable: Acceptable excuses: Illness of the student Death in the family Family weddings Religious observances Students may be excused from rehearsals for college visitations, but not performances. Unacceptable excuses: Job give your marching band schedule to your boss WELL in advance Studying/homework/group work and review sessions Recreational travel (weekend at the shore, family trips, concerts, etc.) Celebrations (birthday parties, anniversary parties, reunions, etc.) Private lessons (students are highly encouraged to take private lessons but should work with their teacher to schedule the lessons outside of marching band rehearsals/performances). Routine doctor appointments (checkups, dental cleanings, etc.). Please schedule these around marching band. Membership in other activities with conflicting schedules Religious events and celebrations: events such as these are acceptable reasons for an absence. However, since the dates for an event such as this are known well in advance, in order to be excused from a rehearsal or performance, Mr. Kahalehoe must receive written/email notification of such an event before the end of band camp. Leaving a game early: students can leave a game early only if they are registered to take the SAT or PSAT the next day. Advance notice (more than 1 week) is required as is a copy of the student s registration form. Students can only leave the game early after halftime of the football game (for both home and away games).
ACADEMIC HELP: Students may be late to rehearsal if staying after school for extra help with a teacher provided the student demonstrates he/she is having legitimate academic difficulties in the relevant class. The student should let Mr. Kahalehoe know 24 hours before the start of rehearsal, and bring a late-pass from the teacher he/she was with. STUDENTS: Let marching band teach you how to manage your time. Learn to study in advance and pace your homework assignments. This will be an invaluable lesson for college!! DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE WITH YOUR ASSIGNEMENTS!! Missed Rehearsal Procedures ABSENCES ARE ONLY APPROVED PRIOR TO THE MISSED REHEARSAL If your name is on the absentee bulletin, you are excused automatically. If you sign in late, you must be at rehearsal If you sign out early, please have a parent or guardian call Mr. Kahalehoe s office before 2:30. The number is 609-466-7602 x. 6124 If you have a disciplinary conflict (make-up test, detention, etc.) it is your responsibility to let Mr. Kahalehoe know in advance of the date in question. In advance means one day prior to the absence. The notification also must come from the student s parents or the student. STUDENT OFFICERS AND OTHER MARCHING BAND STUDENTS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO EXCUSE ANYONE AND MAY NOT BE USED TO COMMUNICATE ATTENDANCE ISSUES TO MR. KAHALEHOE. Please notify Mr. Kahalehoe in writing at least 24 hours in advance of any predicted absences. While absences are usually not excused, we do understand that once in a while, situations arise that are not within your control. Communication of these circumstances are, however, in your control, so do the right thing and communicate. Mr. Kahalehoe s contact information: BAND OFFICE: 609-466-7602 x. 6124 EMAIL: kkahalehoe@mtsd.us
Discipline Policies The Montgomery High School Marching Band is an extension of school. Therefore, school rules apply for all rehearsals and performances. Any violation of these rules could result in removal from the activity. The marching band staff will refer any violations of the student conduct policy to the proper school administration. At any point in time, if the marching band staff feels uncomfortable taking responsibility for a student based on his/her conduct, the student will be removed from the marching band. RESPECT Have respect for your peers Have respect for your teachers Have respect for yourselves Have respect for the band If you think about it, all rules and regulations regarding discipline, attendance, level of commitment, effort, and enthusiasm all boil down to how much respect you show and earn. Being at every rehearsal shows respect to the band because you are working to make it better Not being at rehearsals or performances shows disrespect to your peers because all of them are held back. Coming back from water and lunch breaks on time shows respect to your peers that are standing on the field waiting Having a great rehearsal attitude and work ethic shows respect to the band, your peers, your teachers, and most importantly yourselves, because you are working to improve the experience for everyone. There is nothing in life more valuable than respect. The more respect you show, the more respect you ll earn. You only own one thing in life, and that is your name. Live and act in a manner that demands instant respect when people hear your name and you will always be rich.
Rehearsal Dress Code Only sneakers or comfortable laced walking shoes are allowed. No open heels or toes are allowed. Marching band members are required to practice in attire that fits appropriately for the activity. The most common problems are: Sandals or flip-flops Pants that are too loose and fall down while marching Pants that are too tight in the legs for proper marching Skirts that are too short for marching Pants that are too long and get tripped over/dragged in the mud. The Montgomery High School Marching Band is an OUTDOOR ACTIVITY. The band will rehearse in inclement weather provided there is no lightning/danger to the students. The band will rehearse in very hot and very cold weather. Students are expected to monitor the weather reports and have appropriate attire daily. All students should keep a pair of old sneakers and a raincoat in their locker throughout the marching band season. Good shoes and pants will not be good for long if worn during rehearsals. Students who tend to dress differently from the above dress code should keep a set of practice clothes in their locker. Equipment Use The students of the Montgomery Marching Band have the opportunity to use a lot of expensive equipment. Any damage that occurs to a piece of equipment that is more extensive than normal wear and tear will be charged to the individual who caused the damage. Curricular Ensemble/Lessons All instrumentalists in the marching band are required to register for an appropriate curricular music ensemble (symphonic band, symphonic winds, wind ensemble, curricular choir, or curricular orchestra). Color guard members do not need to be part of a curricular music ensemble.
Musicians Uniform Code It is necessary for students to meet the following uniform code in order to be eligible to perform on any given performance day. Students will be inspected after getting dressed prior to the performance. Black socks must be worn with your uniform at all times A black or white T-shirt and a non-bulky pair of shorts must be worn under the uniform. The T-shirt must have half-sleeves and it must be low enough at the neckline to remain unseen at the jacket collar (most regular Hanes t-shirts meet this criteria). White or black thermal underwear should be worn in cold weather. Sweat pants are not allowed, as they trap cold sweat against the skin. Shoes are to be cleaned each week. Wipe them down with Vaseline and polish. White cotton gloves will be worn with the uniform at all times. These gloves must be purchased from the uniform crew during band hours. They are $4.00 per pair. It is recommended you purchase at least 2 pairs. They MUST be clean. No jewelry may be worn with uniforms. This includes rings, earrings, watches, bracelets, necklaces, etc. Please DO NOT get your ears pierced until after marching band is over. Sunglasses may not be worn while in uniform. Students are responsible for the maintenance of their uniform. Any lost parts, including the baldric, hat, or plume will be charged to the student. Uniforms MUST be stored at Montgomery High School. Students may not take any part of their uniform home without approval. Hair Policy Females: Hair must be in a bun on top of your head. Loose hair must be sprayed and pinned up with bobby pins or clips. No hair may be sticking out of your hat. Hair gel is very helpful. Males: Hair must not be seen through the front or sides of your hat. Males with long hair must also pin up their hair so none is sticking out of the hat. Hair gel is very helpful.
Color Guard Uniform Code It is necessary for students to meet the following uniform code in order to be eligible to perform on any given performance day. Students will be inspected after getting dressed, prior to the performance. Black socks must be worn with your uniform at all times A white T-shirt with at least half-sleeves must be worn under the uniform jacket Non-bulky shorts should be worn under the pants Black or white thermal underwear is permitted in cold weather Shoes are to be cleaned each week Gloves will be purchased through the uniform crew. These gloves are designed specifically for color guard use. Gloves should have your name or initials on the inside. No jewelry may be worn with uniforms. This includes rings, earrings, watches, bracelets, necklaces, etc. DO NOT GET YOUR EARS PIERCED UNTIL AFTER MARCHING BAND. Sunglasses may not be worn while in uniform except while in the stands during a football game Students are responsible for the maintenance of their uniform. Any lost parts will be charged to the student. All uniforms MUST be stored at Montgomery High School. Students may not take home their jacket or pants without prior approval. Black stretch ski bands will be worn in extremely cold weather. These can be purchased at most sporting goods stores or large all-purpose stores (Target, Walmart, etc.) Hair Policy Females: All honor guard members will wear a hat. They must have their hair pinned up in a bun so that no hair is sticking out from under the hat. All other female members of the guard will wear their hair in a braid. If your hair is too short for this, it will be pinned up or gelled so that it does not blow in your face while performing. Males: Hair must be appropriate for a professional appearance. If in the honor guard, hair may not stick out from underneath the hat.
Parent Section The following section is intended to help parents prepare for some of the most common situations that occur during a marching band season. Concerns Please feel free to contact Mr. Kahalehoe at any time to set up an appointment or discuss any concerns you may have. Please understand, however, that he is unable to meet with parents immediately before, during, or immediately after rehearsals and performances. Also, please introduce yourselves to the marching band staff. The staff does their best to get to know as many parents as possible. If you feel it appropriate, please discuss any concerns with any of the other staff members as well. We are fortunate to have a qualified staff comprised of certificated teachers, almost all of which are Montgomery teachers. Preparation for practice and performance days Water and food breaks are scheduled with the assumption that all students arrive well fed and hydrated. In the majority of cases of weakness, the cause is a failure to eat or drink properly BEFORE an event. Please be certain that everyone arrives having recently consumed no less that one liter of water. This is most important in warmer weather during band camp. Another frequent problem is lack of rest. Students are expected to arrive rested and ready to work. Often, students will like to schedule sleep-overs or parties the night before a large performance. This is not recommended. Please deny students permission to participate in these late night activities that could affect the performance of the entire band. Social events are highly encouraged on nights that do not precede a band event. Schedule Flexibility It is very safe to assume that any published schedule for a day s events will be changed slightly. For example, if a football game goes into overtime and we are late coming back, it is out of our control. We will do our best to let parents know of any changes ASAP. We normally have students use their cell phones to call home if these changes occur. Sensible Foods Students should avoid foods that will easily spoil. Tuna and egg salad do not keep well during band camp. Anything with mayonnaise, in general, has the potential to make a student feel ill during a band camp day. Water Bottle Students must have a water jug with them for band camp. This jug will be left on the sidelines and frequent short water breaks will be given. Water containers should be labeled with the student s name.
Associated Fees There are some fees involved with participation in the marching band aside from the school activity fee. These are as follows: Shoes: Marching band shoes are approximately $30.00. The price varies a little year to year and we will have the exact cost during band camp. All shoes are fitted and purchased at the school during band camp. Uniform Cleaning: Students are financially responsible for having the uniform cleaned. The uniforms are sent out twice a year at $15 a cleaning, so a total of $30.00 Gloves: Marching band gloves are $4.00 a pair. Gloves must be stark white. If they are dirty and cannot be cleaned, new pairs can be purchased throughout the season T-shirt: There is a marching band t-shirt each student will need to purchase. This shirt is used during certain rehearsals and can also be worn under the uniforms. The cost is $15.00
Varsity Letter Requirements Students can earn a varsity letter for their participation in marching band. The varsity letter is a reflection of two major factors: time spent in the activity and dedication to the activity. As such, the following requirements must be met to receive a varsity letter: 1. Attendance at all performances (games, festivals, parades, etc.) 2. No unexcused absences from games or rehearsals 3. Participation in all of band camp 4. Successfully adhering to the Montgomery Township School District Student Code of Conduct at all marching band events, performances, and rehearsals. Students receive a grade for marching band attendance at games, festivals, rehearsals, and other performances. This grade is solely from attendance. At the end of the year students must maintain at least a 95% to qualify for a varsity letter. The grading weighting breaks down as follows: Rehearsals 40% Band Camp 20% Games 20% Festivals/Parades 20%
MHS MARCHING BAND SIGN UP CONTRACT Student Name: (please print clearly) Parent Name: (please print clearly) We understand the requirements and obligations for participation in this activity. We also understand that this is a FIRM commitment to participate in the 2016-2017 Montgomery High School Marching Band. Upon receipt of this document, the MHS marching band staff will invest thousands of dollars in drill materials on the members behalf. This drill is custom written for the band, specific to the number of members. Any student who subsequently elects to leave the band causes tremendous damage to all the other members of the activity. It is critical to all the students success that those students who sign up for the marching band follow through with their commitment for the entire performance season. The parent/guardian signature below also gives permission for the student to participate fully in all aspects of the marching band, including travel to all marching band performances. Student Signature date: Parent or guardian signature date: PLEASE GO TO THE MHS BAND WEBSITE AND REGISTER ONLINE FOR MARCHING BAND AS WELL!!!! THE INFORMATION COLLECTED WILL BE USED AS OUR MAIN METHOD OF COMMUNICATION.
DRIVING PERMISSION FORM Please fill out the appropriate section below! Parents/Guardians of students with a driver s license: By signing this form, you give your child permission to drive home or to buy lunch during the lunch break on band camp days. The following students are allowed to ride in my child s car while he/she is driving: 1) 2) 3) Parents/Guardians of students without a driver s license: My child has permission to leave MHS campus during the lunch break on band camp days by riding with one of the following student drivers: 1) 2) 3) 4) Student Name: Parent Name: Parent Signature:
Montgomery High School Marching Band 2016-2017 School Year Welcome to the Band Family!!! 2016-2017 MARCHING BAND Keep this manual in a handy place!!