Real March Madness

With March Madness right around the corner and this year’s Final Four being in our very own back yard (NRG Stadium), we would like to have some fun with some real March Madness.

The United States Marine Band, “The President’s Own”, is having a March Madness of their own.  Starting March 7, voting begins.  Two marches will go head to head each day.  The march receiving the highest votes will advance to the next round with an eventual championship.  This is a really fun activity and a great way to listen to some of Sousa’s and other composer’s marches.  A few of them we have played or will play in Wind Ensemble.

To download and fill-in your bracket, click here.  You should save it, print it, and turn it in to Mr. Williams.  You can also submit it to the marine band.  Details for this are on the marine band web page.

There may even be some prizes or gifts for those who participate!

Parents can participate too!

Posted on by Lester Williams.

Solo & Ensemble/Spaghetti Dinner Part 2

If you have not already read part 1 please click here and read it before continuing.

Students will be performing in the Band Hall, Choir Room, and Performing Arts Center beginning at 5:30.  The cafeteria will be used for both the Spaghetti Dinner as well as the warm up room.  The side closest to the library will be for warm up and the side closest to the kitchen will be for the Spaghetti Dinner.  Parents are encouraged to show their support for the students by both listening to some performances and eating at the Spaghetti Dinner (tickets are available at the door for $10 each).  The “final” schedule, which is subject to change, has been posted in the band hall and you can click here to download it.

Out of respect for the performers, audience members will need to enter between performances and will need to remain quiet in the music wing hallway as the sound proofing in our building is not ideal.  Video recording is allowed provided it is not a distraction to the performers.  For this reason, flash photography is not allowed.

Important Notes:
  • Students will not be able to get their instrument out of the band hall once the contest begins, therefore students need to take their instruments home after school and then bring them back for the contest.  Larger instruments may be stored in the “triangle” ensemble room.
  • Students should plan on arriving at least 30 minutes prior to their performance time and should be waiting outside the performance room 10-15 minutes prior to their performance time.
  • Students will need to listen and complete an ensemble evaluation form of 4 other performances that evening.  Evaluation forms should be picked up and turned in in the cafeteria.
  • The Spaghetti Dinner will be taking place in the cafeteria beginning at 5:30. Students planning on eating at the Spaghetti Dinner may eat either before or after their performance.  Tickets will be on sale that evening.
Students should wear business casual attire:
  • Boys Attire
    • Polo or button down shirt tucked in (No T-shirt)
    • Khaki or dark pants (No jeans)
    • Matching belt and dress shoes (No athletic shoes)
  • Girls Attire
    • Business casual appropriate pants or skirt (No jeans)
    • Business casual appropriate blouse (No t-shirt)
    • Business casual appropriate shoes (No athletic shoes)

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Calling All Photographers

The 2015-2016 Charger Band DVD is currently in progress and we NEED your photos! If you have taken pictures at any band related event this summer or school year, please share them with us and we’ll include them on the DVD.

In order to share photos, please email the coordinator at cymonet68@yahoo.com to arrange photo exchange.  Students may also leave a USB flash drive of photos with the Band Director.  If using a flash drive, please put it in an envelope titled “DVD photos” with the owner’s name so it can be returned.

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Picture Day

We will be having professional photographs taken of all band students on Tuesday, February 16th during their band class.  All Students (this includes woodwinds, brass, percussion, and color guard) will have their picture taken in their marching jacket as we will be using these pictures to make a composite of the full band.   Please wear a black t-shirt to school that day.   Students/parents may also choose to  have their picture taken in their concert uniform.  If so, they will need to bring the concert uniform to school that morning.

The composite, as well the individual pictures, may be purchased.  Please click here to download the order form.  The order form and payment are due on picture day.

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Solo & Ensemble/Spaghetti Dinner

Our Solo & Ensemble Recital and Spaghetti Dinner will be Tuesday, February 23rd and/or Thursday, February 25th.  All Students are required to perform a solo and/or ensemble; at this time, all students should have a piece(s), should be practicing it/them, and should have completed the google form below to enter.  Only one student from each ensemble should have signed up.  Students were also supposed to use that form to request a day/time if they have a legitimate conflict with one of the days such as a UIL activity or an accompanist that can only come to one of the days.  The exact performance times will be posted at the beginning of the week of February 15th.

Solo & Ensemble Entry Form

Concurrent with the solo & Ensemble Recital will be our 3rd Annual Spaghetti Dinner from 5:30 PM-7:30 PM.  Dinner will be served in the CSHS Cafeteria and has been a big hit for the past two years.

Tickets may be purchased from Mr. Witmer and Mr. Brown beginning on Monday, February 15th and are $10 each. (please bring the money in an envelope so that it can be placed in the safe)

You may download a Spaghetti Dinner Flier by clicking here.

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2015 Region Band Results

Please join us in congratulating the following students on their success this audition season. 18 Charger band students made Area, Region, District, and/or 9th Grade Region.  This year we had the highest number of students to advance to Area Auditions in the history of Clear Springs High School, tripling the number of students who advanced in previous years.  Megan Chu, Felix Fang, Alexander Falks, Richard Zhou, Lucas Raleigh, and Gilberto Torres now advance to the Area audition in January for the chance to join the top 1% of musicians in Texas in one of the All-State Bands or Orchestras.  Also, special congratulations to Megan Chu and Alexander Falks for making 1st chair on their respective instruments at the Region 17 auditions on December 12.

We are extremely proud of all our students and very happy to see them recognized for their dedication and hard work on such a competitively difficult endeavor.  TMEA Region 17 has earned a reputation across the state as having some of the most talented musicians in Texas.  These 18 students represent the top 15-20% of those who auditioned in their respective sections in the region.

Those students who earned Area and Region honors will perform a concert on Saturday, January 16, at Angleton High School (more details on the band calendar).  Students with District or 9th Grade Region honors do not perform a concert.  District and 9th Grade patches have already been distributed to students.  Region patches will be handed out at the January concert and Area patches will be handed out at the audition in January.

Area/Region/District honors:
  • Megan Chu – Eb Clarinet (1st chair in the region)
  • Felix Fang – Bb Clarinet
  • Alexander Falks – Bassoon (1st Chair in the region)
  • Richard Zhou – Alto Saxophone
  • Lucas Raleigh – Baritone Saxophone
  • Gilberto Torres – Trumpet
 Region/District honors:
  • Deanna Ingram – Bb Clarinet
  • Zach Graves – Bb Clarinet
  • Stella Wood – Bb Clarinet
  • Ben Hazel – Bass Clarinet
  • Nathan Burris – Trumpet
  • Daniel Del Nero – Trombone
  • Jordan Avila – Percussion
District honors:
  • Mackenzie Gaona – Flute
  • Nicolas Monticello – Percussion
9th Grade Region honors:
  • Colt Schultz – Bb Clarinet
  • Alexander Falks – Bassoon
  • Richard Zhou – Alto Saxophone
  • Ian Ebert – Trumpet
  • Seth Martin – Trombone
  • Nicolas Monticello – Percussion

We appreciate the work of all students who auditioned.  If your child did not audition, they will have the opportunity to do so again next fall.

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December 5 Holiday Parade and Party

This year there will be many different events within the band surrounding the holiday season.  This includes the League City Holiday in the Park Parade followed by our 1st Annual Charger Band Holiday Party.  Please read below for more details as to what is sure to be a blast for both students and parents.

Schedule:

Saturday, December 5th
4:00 PM – Meet at Band Hall
4:45 PM – Depart for parade assembly area
6:00 PM – Parade begins
7:30 PM – Holiday Party

Holiday Party:

All Current students as well as their parents and siblings are invited to attend and be a part of the festivities upon our return from the parade.  We are asking parents who will be attending to please bring a dessert (homemade desserts are preferred).  We will be providing finger foods from Chuy’s on a first come, first served basis.  All are welcome to eat; however, once the food is gone, it is gone.  Parents are also welcome bring food for a “pot luck” style dinner if there is a concern that we will run out of food.

The Holiday Party will include many different activities including an Ugly Sweater Contest, various section contests and a photo booth. Also, for the seniors, there will be a White Elephant gift exchange. If you are a senior, be sure to bring a gift for the exchange, the price limit will be $10 for the gifts.

Leading up to the Holiday Party, we will be having a band “Locker Decorating Contest.” Get out your battery-operated lights and other holiday decorations and decorate your lockers to get into the holiday spirit! Prizes for the best decorated locker will be awarded at the holiday party. All lockers need to be decorated by December 4th so they can be judged. Also, the decorations that are put up must be taken down before or on December 18.

Also, continuing with the tradition, we will be having a “Best Decorated Section” contest for the League City Holiday in the Park Parade. Get out your battery-operated lights, garland, stockings, etc. The prizes for the “Best Decorated Section” will be awarded at the Holiday Party.

We hope to see everyone participating in these activities and getting into the holiday spirit!

What you need for the parade:
  • Woodwinds – blue jeans & a green shirt* (minimal logos)
  • Brass – blue jeans & a red shirt*  (minimal logos)
  • Percussion – blue jeans & a white shirt* (minimal logos)
  • Lyre and flip folder with Christmas Carols on Parade (no other music is needed)
  • Students must be able to see the music while playing, with their instrument in the correct playing position (i.e. the lyre correctly attaches to the instrument and leaves the hands free to play).  This will be checked before we leave.
  • Students claiming that they do not need the music because they have the music memorized will be required to pass-off the music from memory for Mr. Brown or Mr. Williams.
  • Students should decorate themselves and/or their instruments with battery powered lights, garland, bows, wrapping paper, ribbon, etc.  Decorations must NOT get in the way of correctly playing the instrument and must be safe.  It would also be a good idea to arrange lights in a way that will illuminate their music to make it easier to read since the parade takes place after dark.
  • This is a holiday parade.  Our colors will be red, white, and green – no blue or black.  Red or green Santa or elf hats are encouraged (pretty much all of the students wear one).  College Santa caps may be worn if the school’s colors are red and white like the University of Houston :) or green and white like North Texas.  Reindeer antlers are also acceptable especially if they light up!
  • Per parade rules, students may not dress up in Santa costumes.

Please check the weather and wear any needed warm clothing underneath the above shirts.  The above colored shirts may be substituted with the same colored sweatshirt, sweater, hoodie, or jacket.

*portions of this article were contributed by Anna Lassmann

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Taste Of The Town & Winter Concert

Our Winter Concert and 4th Annual Taste of the Town are coming up and everyone is cordially invited to attend both the Taste of the Town for $15 followed by a free concert.

Thursday, December 3rd
Taste of the Town: 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Winter Concert: 8:00pm
Clear Springs High School – Cafeteria and Auditorium

4th Annual Taste of the Town

So what exactly is Taste of the Town you ask?  Well to start, it is considered the best fundraiser ever by many, if not all, of the people who attend, and it is our 2nd highest grossing fundraiser after the Rock-A-Thon.   At the event there will be approximately 16 different local restaurants that bring samples of their food.  With the purchase of a ticket, you will be able to get samples from each of these restaurants which will easily make up a full meal (you will not need to eat a separate dinner this evening.) Check out the following list of the restaurants which have committed to attending.

  • Brewingz
  • Chili’s
  • Genghis Grill
  • Kona Ice
  • Chocolate Bar Bazaar
  • Marco’s Pizza
  • Le Madeleine
  • Slices and Ices
  • Panera Bread
  • Pei Wei Asian Diner
  • Tea House Under the Oaks
  • Chuy’s
  • Gina’s Italian Kitchen & Pizzeria
  • Thai Spice – Noodle & Sushi House
  • CSHS Culinary Department

So where can you get the tickets that will allow you to eat food from all of the above restaurants all in the same meal, and how much are they?  The tickets are being sold by the band students and are $15.  Five tickets were distributed to the students to sell on Friday, November 20th and any students who need additional tickets can get them from the directors.  All money and any unsold tickets need to be returned by Monday, November 30, 2015.  E-mail cshsbandtasteoftown@gmail.com if you have any questions.

As with many of the other fundraisers that we do, we can raise the most funds if tickets are sold to not only your own family but also to friends, neighbors and co-workers. They also make great gifts for classroom teachers.  So lets all do our best to make this evening a success.   Students don’t forget to purchase a ticket for yourself (or have your parents purchase it for you) in order to partake in all that the restaurants have to offer.  Students will need to eat before 7:00 PM.

Winter Concert

This concert is looking to be a great concert for the whole family. Selections will include numerous holiday favorites, including Leroy Anderson’s famous Sleigh Ride and A Christmas Festival that will be sure to get you in the holiday mood.  Please come out and support the students at this free concert as it is always more enjoyable for the students to perform to a packed house with loud applause.

Important notes for students and parents:
  1. Uniforms will be worn
    • Boys – Tuxedo Jacket, tuxedo pants, tuxedo shirt, black satin bow tie, black satin cummerbund, long black socks, black dress shoes or black marching shoes.
    • Girls – black band dress, black close toed shoes with an inch or less heel.
  2. Students are not permitted to wear any part of their uniform to Taste of the town.
  3. Students should eat before 7:00 PM.
  4. Call time for Symphonic and Concert Bands is 7:15 PM – Concert band on Stage and Symphonic in the band hall.
  5. Call time for Wind Ensemble is 8:00 PM in the band hall.
  6. Concert Band and Symphonic Band members are to stay and watch the remainder of the concert once they have finished performing.
  7. Concert Band and Symphonic band members are to stay in uniform (yes, that includes bow-ties) until they leave the school.
  8. Our concerts are dignified events where attendees and performers are expected to act as if it were a Houston Symphony performance.  Photographs and video may be taken from the back walkway of the auditorium.  Electronic devices should be turned off or left at home.  Small children should be supervised and seated at all times and taken from the auditorium before they become a distraction to others.  Talking should be limited to between bands and whispering should  be limited to between musical selections.

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Playoff Game #2 vs. Northshore

Schedule/Location:

3:00 Rehearsal
4:00 Dinner
4:45 Inspection
5:30 Depart CSHS
7:00 Kickoff
10:00 Depart Stadium
CCISD Veterans Memorial Stadium

Game Meal:

Game meals for playoff games were not included in the band payments, therefore we will be collecting $10 on Friday before the meal.  CASH ONLY! Students that do not reserve a meal and/or do not bring money will not receive a game meal.  COMPLETE THE  REQUIRED PLAYOFF MEAL SURVEY TO RESERVE YOUR MEAL!  

Please make sure that you read the game day checklist below BEFORE Friday or you will be very stressed.

  • Game Day Preparation, Procedures, & Expectations – read this so that you know what to and not to do. (e.g. – do not eat in the stands except for our 3rd quarter snacks or you will be suspended from the remaining football games.)
  • Game Day Checklist (Full Uniform) – read this to make sure you have everything.  Students missing items will either be required to purchase a new item or will be sent home.
Notes:
  • We will monitor the weather.  If it is cold, students will be allowed to wear letter jackets, black jackets, or black hoodies if needed.  They may also wear knit caps as long as they are black.
  • For this week and any future playoff games, we will be taking our equipment in a box truck.  The Charger Band trailer will remain at school.  It is highly recommended that students who have to put their instrument on the truck (anyone who does not play flute or clarinet) purchase a luggage strap to secure around the case to keep it from opening during transit.  This is similar to the request we make when we travel by air on our spring trips.

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Instrument Step Up Sale

If you are still playing on the same beginner instrument you have had since 6th grade now is the time to step to a professional level instrument.  This is something we highly recommend if you have not done so already due to the fact that it is much easier to play with a good sound and play in tune on a better instrument.

Music and Arts is having a sale on November 21.  Check out their flier for more info.
Music & Arts Step Up Sale Nov. 21

H&H is also having a step up sale now through 12/31. Check out their flier for more info.
H&H Step Up Sale

Both companies have competent representatives who will help you select the best instrument.  We recommend that students be present at the purchase and to have them play on at least two or three of the same model instrument as all instruments are not made the same.  You may also want to upgrade the mouthpiece.  Woodwinds can also upgrade their ligatures and barrels (for clarinet).

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Concert Uniform Fittings/Check-out

Fittings & Check-out for concert uniforms will take place as follows:

Wind Ensemble
Tuesday, November 10th – 2:30 PM

Symphonic Band
Wednesday, November 11th – 2:30 PM

Concert Band
Thursday, November 12th – 2:30 PM

For our concerts you will need the following items:

Boys:
  1. Long black sock
  2. Black dress shoes (black marching shoes are also acceptable)
  3. Tuxedo shirt
  4. Black bow tie
  5. Black Cummerbund
  6. Tuxedo pants (school owned)
  7. Tuxedo jacket (school owned)
Girls:
  1. Black closed toed shoes with 1 inch or less heel
  2. Concert dress (school owned)

No jewelry is to be worn and any hair ties must be black.

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Fuddruckers_logo

Less Than A Week To Go – CCISD Band Raffle

The CCISD High School Marching Band Raffle fundraiser only has less than a week to sell your raffle tickets for a chance to win an IPad Mini, $50 Starbucks Gift Card, or a $25 Amazon Gift Card.  Money and/or any unsold raffle tickets are due in the band hall safe by Monday, November 16th.

 

Please download and print the CSHS Spirit Night flyer by clicking here and bring it to either night at Fuddruckers’s on NASA Road One to support the CCISD Band Booster Clubs.

 

Clear Creek and Clear Springs will have their “Spirit Night” on Tuesday, November 17, while Clear Brook and Clear Lake will have their “Spirit Night” on Wednesday, November 18 along with the Grand Prize Raffle drawing at 8pm. Please attend the one that best fits your schedule.

 

Remember you do not have to be present to win, but WE would appreciate everyone that can come out to Fuddruckers’s.

 

The raffle tickets sell for $5 per ticket or a book of three tickets for $10. For every 2 books of 3 tickets sold (Total of 6 Tickets), the student will earn a chance to have their name entered into the incentive drawing for the iPad Mini and Gift Cards. The incentive drawing will be conducted Wednesday, November 18.

 

 

Thank you very much,

 

Tina Perry

GO CHARGERS!

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Playoff Game #1 vs. Alief Taylor

Schedule/Location:

3:00 Rehearsal
4:00 Load truck/eat dinner (bring $10)
4:40 Inspection in band hall begins
5:00 Depart for Alief
6:15 Arrive at Crump Stadium
7:00 Kickoff
10:00 Depart Crump Stadium
11:15 Arrive at Clear Springs
Leroy Crump Stadium

Game Meal:

Game meals for playoff games were not included in the band payments, therefore we will be collecting $10 on Friday before the meal.  CASH ONLY! Students that do not bring money will not receive a game meal.  COMPLETE THE  REQUIRED PLAYOFF MEAL SURVEY TO RESERVE YOUR MEAL!  

Please make sure that you read the game day checklist below BEFORE Friday or you will be very stressed.

  • Game Day Preparation, Procedures, & Expectations – read this so that you know what to and not to do. (e.g. – do not eat in the stands except for our 3rd quarter snacks or you will be suspended from the remaining football games.)
  • Game Day Checklist (Full Uniform) – read this to make sure you have everything.  Students missing items will either be required to purchase a new item or will be sent home.
Notes:
  • Crump Stadium is located on the west side of Houston outside Beltway 8 near the Westpark Tollway and Dairy Ashford.  Without traffic it is typically a 45 minute drive.
  • We will monitor the weather.  The forecast for Friday is calling for temperatures around 60 degrees at kickoff.  Students will be allowed to wear letter jackets, black jackets, or black hoodies if needed.  They may also wear knit caps as long as they are black.

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CCISD High School Marching Band Raffle Fundraiser

The CCISD High School Marching Band Raffle fundraiser is about to begin.  As we have done the last several years, the booster clubs for the 4 participating high school marching bands are joining together to conduct the prize raffle sale as a fundraiser with drawings for several nice prizes to be given away on Wednesday, November 18, at the Fuddruckers’s on NASA Rd. 1.  We are very fortunate that several area retailers have graciously donated some prizes and covered the associated expenses.  The four participating schools will also hand out benefit tickets so we can use them for a “Spirit Night” dinner fundraiser.  Clear Creek and Clear Springs will have their “Spirit Night” on Tuesday, November 17, while Clear Brook and Clear Lake will take their “Spirit Night” on Wednesday, November 18 along with the Grand Prize drawing.

Raffle tickets and instructions will be distributed by Friday, October 30th to the students.  The raffle tickets sell for $5 per ticket or a book of three tickets for $10.  As an additional incentive for our students to participate, the Clear Springs Band Booster Club will be conducting a drawing for an IPad Mini, $50 Starbucks Gift card, and $25 Amazon Giftcard.  For every 2 books of 3 tickets sold, the student will earn a chance to have their name entered into the drawing.  This drawing will be conducted at our “Spirit Night” on Tuesday, November 17.

Thank you very much,

Tina Perry
GO CHARGERS!

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Football Playoffs Heads Up

As we approach the final two games of the regular season, it is time to look ahead to the playoffs.  In Texas, four teams from each football district advance to the playoffs.  The teams are then divided into Division I and Division II based on their enrollment numbers.  The two schools with the highest enrollment compete in Division I while the other two compete in Division II.  This means that there will be two champions for Class 6A.

Based on the current standings, Dickinson, Clear Creek, and Friendswood are in the playoffs.  We will clinch the final playoff spot if we win at least one of our last two games or if Clear Brook loses one of their last two games.  According to UIL enrollment numbers, we will be in Division I with Dickinson.

What does all of this mean to the band?  We are required to go to all football games including the playoffs.  Plan on an additional football game the weekend of November 13-14.  The game site and kickoff time will be determined when all of the districts solidify their playoff spots.  It is possible we will not know a day or location of the game until Monday, November 9.  If we win, we will repeat this scenario until we lose or until we win the state championship which takes place at 4:00 PM, December 9, at NRG Stadium (Home of the Texans).

We will continue to serve a pregame meal.  Details about this will be shared at a later date.

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Season Wrap-up

The band staff would like to thank all of the students, parents, family, and friends for a great competitive marching season.  We cannot say enough how wonderful the students were to work with.  They endured the heat, the rain,  broken-down trucks, tired band directors, tired parents, illnesses, injuries, crazy school schedules, demanding high school teachers, dot books, coordinate sheets, a flip folder to rival War and Peace, parking changes, more parking changes, changes to the routine before school, etc.  Their flexibility and professionalism rivals that of many adults and for that it makes us proud as band directors to call them our students.

The number of parents (especially freshman parents) who stepped up and volunteered this year has been awesome!  We welcome the new faces joining with the experienced (not old) ones to help move this organization along.  If you have not had a chance to chaperon a game or volunteer on a committee, please step up and participate where you can.  You will not regret it!  Not only will you learn more about the band and its directors, but you will get to meet many wonderful parents with which you have things in common.  You will be amazed at how many lifelong friendships have developed between band parents simply because their children were in band together.

As we close the book on Waterways, we would be remiss if we didn’t say something about our performances this year.  While we are disappointed at our second division rating at UIL, we will not overlook the great strides that were made this year.  Waterways got better in every performance and every rehearsal except for one.  Unfortunately it was the one that receives the most attention.  It receives the most attention because UIL is considered to have the highest standards in the country.  While the destination isn’t what we had hoped for, we would not trade in the journey for anything in the world.  It is a journey that saw freshmen go from trying to remember their left from their right and moving their feet out of time to performing at the same level as seniors.  It saw former JV marchers step up and fill in like pros.  It saw a color guard add much excitement and visual impact to the show.  It saw a very inexperienced drum line grow into the best drum line in the history of Clear Springs.  We had 60 people not only pass all of their classes in the first six weeks, but they passed with all A’s.

We are not done.  We still have playoff games and an entire concert season ahead of us.  Next year we have new uniforms and a new stadium.  It may even turn out to be “a whole new world”!

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Game #9 vs. Clear Falls

Schedule/Location:

3:00 PM Rehearsal
4:00 PM Load Truck, Eat Dinner, Change into Full Uniform
4:40 PM Block in Band Hall (Chaperons should report by this time)
5:00 PM Depart CSHS as soon as all 5 buses arrive
5:40 PM Arrive Veteran’s Stadium
6:00 PM Kickoff
9:00 PM Depart Veteran’s Stadium
10:00 PM All students picked up
CCISD Veteran’s Memorial Stadium

Please make sure that you read the game day checklist below BEFORE Friday or you will be very stressed.

  • Game Day Preparation, Procedures, & Expectations – read this so that you know what to and not to do. (e.g. – do not eat in the stands except for our 3rd quarter snacks or you will be suspended from the remaining football games.)
  • Game Day Checklist (Full Uniform) – read this to make sure you have everything.  Students missing items will either be required to purchase a new item or will be sent home.
Notes:
  • We are monitoring the weather forecast as are school officials.  Friday’s game is still a go and a decision on the game will not be made until game time.  Students should be prepared to wear their blue polos and blue jeans with their band shoes.  We will provide ponchos if it is raining.
  • We are the visiting team and will be seated at the north end of the stadium near the flag pole.

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Hunger Games

The Student United Way organization at Clear Springs is holding their annual “Hunger Games” food drive.  Last year through this drive, over 7,000 pounds of food was donated to the Houston Food Bank.

Student United Way makes a competition out of the food drive asking the organizations and teams on campus to participate and compete against the other participating organizations to see who can bring in the most pounds of food. The organizations that participate are divided into “districts” like the districts in the actual “Hunger Games” movies. This year, the band has decided to participate as one of the “districts” in the food drive.

The food drive will be taking place from October 26th – November 13th. This gives us three weeks to bring in the most amount of food and hopefully be the organization that wins. The winning organization will get bragging rights and a trophy.

Within the band, we will be having our own competition with the Hunger Games. We are dividing the grade levels into four districts: District 9 (freshman), District 10 (sophomores), District 11 (juniors), and District 12 (seniors). Only one district can win, “may the odds be ever in your favor.”

Bring your canned food and dry goods to the band hall with your name and grade level written on it and place in the box for your grade level. We hope to see everyone participate in this event and give back to the community that continually supports our band program.

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VLIS Alumni

VLIS band is playing at the district stadium for our one and only football game on Wednesday, October 28th.  We will arrive at the stadium around 5:30PM.  Come play with our band and relive the “Good Old Days” with Mr. R and Mr. D.   We’d love to have you come and play with us and it would give you a chance to meet with the future band members and tell them about the Charger band.  The music is easy and we’ll have extra copies for you when you arrive so come on over and play with us.

Besides, we really need you as half the football team is in the band and they’ll be on the field that night so we need your help.

Hope to see you there,

Mr. Randolph

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Dickinson Marching Contest

Our final contest of the year is coming up on Saturday, October 24th.  This will be our final performance of our 2015 Marching show; so you will not want to miss it.

Location/Schedule:

8:00 AM Rehearsal
9:00 AM Load Truck
9:30 AM Depart CSHS
10:00 AM Arrive at Dickinson HS
11:00 AM Warm-up
12:00 PM Performance (first band to perform)
12:30 PM Return to stands to watch bands (lunch on own at concession stand)
3:45 PM Prelims Awards
4:30 PM Dinner by truck (might be after finals performance if we make finals and perform first) – we will return home if we do not make finals
9:00 PM Finals Awards
9:40 PM Depart Dickinson HS
10:15 PM Arrive CSHS
10:45 PM All students picked up
Sam Vitanza Stadium – Dickinson High School

Contest Day Checklist – Please make sure that you have everything that you need.

Please come and support the band and encourage any other friends/family to come as it is always more enjoyable for the students to perform at a contest with a large cheering section made up of  family and friends.   Family and friends can show their support by cheering louder than any other band’s supporters.  We should hear an especially loud cheer both when they announce our band at the beginning of our performance and at the conclusion of our performance.  Applause is also needed after solos, section features, and big musical or visual moments.  This is not like concert season.  A lot of applause is highly encouraged.  UIL rules prohibit balloons and air horns.  Please leave them in the car.

Please visit the Gator Marching Festival website for a schedule of all performing bands, as well as ticket and parking information:

Gator Marching Festival

Weather:

We are monitoring the weather forecast as are the officials at Saturday’s contest.  We will make a call on the contest as early as Thursday if the forecast does not change much.  So far everything is happening as planned.

Posted on by Lester Williams. 0 comments