Preview Night

Come out and support our kids at our annual Preview Night.

Friday, August 22nd
6:00 PM Performance; 4:30 PM Report 
Clear Springs High School – Back Parking Lot

Our kids have been working hard this summer & want to show off what they have learned.  The performance will take place on the band parking lot behind the school so you will probably want to bring folding chairs.  Following their performance we will have an optional meal and social gathering in the cafeteria.  This is a great opportunity for parents to meet and/or socialize with their children(s)’ friends’ parents, and for the kids to get a chance to relax and enjoy each others company before school starts.

This year we will be serving hamburgers & chicken sandwiches with tea & water plus dessert in the cafeteria immediately following the performance. Tickets are $10 per plate for both parents and students and can be purchased online through this website by clicking here or by cash.  If paying online please print out the receipt and drop it in the band hall safe, if paying with cash please put in an envelope labeled with your name, what it is for, and how many tickets and then drop it in the band hall safe.

Orders are due by Wednesday the 20th.

Note:  Do NOT pay online through CHARMS, if paying online pay through the online store on this website.

Updated 8/20: Clarified performance time and added report time.

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Dot Books

In order to learn drill students are given coordinate sheets.  These coordinate sheets tell the students where on the football field they are supposed to go and how many counts they need to take to get there.  However this is not enough information to excel at the drill, it is only enough to initially learn it.

In order to excel, we have the students make something called a Dot Book which contains their coordinate information as well as additional information that we have the students add when we are out on the field learning and cleaning the drill.

All students (i.e. varsity, jv, drum line, pit, and color guard) are required to have their dot book on them whenever we are on the practice field.  Students who do not have their dot book or do not have a dot book completed up to the point instructed by directors will be asked to leave the field and will only be allowed to return when they have their completed dot book.  Varsity members risk being moved to jv and jv members will not be considered for any openings on varsity if they do not have completed dot books.  Also, we will have several dot book checks for grades during the first 9 weeks.

What we will provide:
  • 1 set of Dot book pages are free (replacement pages will be 5 for $1)
What students will provide:
  • 2 loose leaf binder rings (or spring links) to hold the Dot Book pages together
  • A lanyard or shoe lace in order to wear the dot book around their neck or waist when we are out on the field.
  • a pencil (not a pen) in order to write in the dot book (note that students should already be bringing a pencil to rehearsal in order to write in their music).

 

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Summer Band – 1st Day Checklist

The following list of items should be brought with you on your first day of Summer Band.  Please review it carefully to ensure that you do not forget anything important, and do not wait until the night before to look at it.  READ IT NOW!  For your convenience, you can print it out by clicking the print button at the end of this post.

  1. CCISD Physical Form
    • Cannot use any other form.
    • Must be signed by Parent/Guardian AND student in THREE separate places.
  2. Band Handbook Acknowledgement/Film/Media Release Form
    • Do NOT print double sided.
    • Signed by Parent/Guardian and Student.
  3. UIL Acknowledgement form
    • Do NOT print double sided
    • Signed by Parent/Guardian and Student.
  4. UIL Health Tips for Marching Band Acknowledgement Form
    • Signed by Parent/Guardian and Student.
  5. Parent Consent Form for school sponsored trip
    • Signed by Parent/Guardian.
  6. Student Medication Form
    • Signed by Parent/Guardian
  7. Secondary Honor Code
    • Signed by student
  8. Sheet music for 2014 Marching Show and 2014 Stand Tunes
    • Available for download from CHARMS.
    • scroll down the page for instructions/help.
  9. Flip Folder and Lyre for instrument.
    • Put stand tunes in flip folder and in order.
  10. Instrument
    • With all necessary equipment such as reeds, valve oil, etc….
    • Instruments will be set down on concrete, therefore it is recommended that you bring a small towel to place underneath your instrument. (Not required)
  11. Pencil(s)
  12. Water jug (1/2 gallon minimum; does not have to be the blue one purchased at Equipment Night)
    • Water jugs ordered on equipment night will be distributed the first day of Summer Band. Camelbaks are highly recommended for rehearsals. (not required)
    • Blue water jugs (the one from equipment night) are required for football games.
  13. Athletic shoes
    • Vans, converse, vibram five fingers, or similar shoes are not acceptable footwear.
  14. Athletic t-shirt and shorts
    • Tank tops are allowed.
    • Ladies undergarments must remain hidden.)
  15. Sunscreen
    • Get the correct SPF for your skin type.
    • Apply sunscreen before going outside.
  16. Hat/visor and sunglasses
    • Sun protection for your eyes
    • Silly hats are not acceptable.
Download Music and Forms
  1. Click here or the CHARMS link at the top of this page
  2. Enter your student area password (initially your CCISD student ID)
  3. Click “Files & Handouts”
  4. Click the different music folders and then your instrument.  (Use the instructions in this post in order to figure out which part you should download.)
  5. Download and READ the 2014 Band Handbook, and then continue to number 6.
  6. Click the folder “Required Forms” and download and print every form
Important Note About Physical Form
  • ANYONE WHO DOES NOT HAVE A COMPLETED PHYSICAL FORM WILL BE SENT HOME AND WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO RETURN UNTIL ONE IS TURNED IN WITH ALL SIGNATURES.

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Summer Band Is Almost Here

As you should already know, even though you are probably trying to forget about it, but we will be kicking off Summer Band next week.  This time of year can be a very exciting time for band students as we get up off the couch, head to school early, learn a ton of new stuff, and make countless new friends that you will always remember.  The Freshman and Upperclassmen will be getting together for the first time to form the 2014-2015 edition of the Clear Springs Charger Band, a group that will only be in existence for this one year.

We will be starting a journey, one which will take us from thinking about one new concept at a time to thinking about literally hundreds of different concepts all at the same time, while also entertaining thousands of people.  So everyone buckle up, because here we go!

Freshman Begin
Monday, July 28th at 9:00 AM
Clear Springs High School – Band Hall

Full Band Begins
Tuesday, July 29th at 9:00 AM
Clear Springs High School – Band Hall

Important notes for the 1st day
  • Eat breakfast and drink water before band begins everyday of Summer Band.  Click here to review our previous post on preparing your body for summer band.
  • Make sure you are on time, in fact you should plan on arriving 15 minutes early for every rehearsal.
  • All required forms and music are now available for download from CHARMS.  Please visit CHARMS by clicking the link at the top of this page or by clicking here, and download them as we will be collecting the forms at the beginning of rehearsal on the first day and you may be sent home if you are missing something.
  • Click here in order to view a detailed checklist of everything that you need to bring with you on the first day of Summer Band.  READ IT NOW! Do not wait to read it until the night before or you will be very stressed.

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Equipment Night: Part 2

This is an addendum to the first Equipment Night article.  Please read it first if you have not already done so, by clicking here, before continuing below.

All 2014-2015 Members/Parents
  • Park behind the school and enter the cafeteria through the back parking lot.  Do not enter from the front of the school.
  • Completed Rock-A-Thon envelopes for the mail-in campaign are due.
2014-2015 Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors

If you will be ordering any of the required items at Equipment Night in order to replace ones that have been lost or outgrown, you must complete a Google form, by clicking here, before noon on Tuesday, June 3th.  The purpose of this form is to find out what required items upperclassmen will be ordering so that these can be entered in CHARMS before equipment night, which will save time.  Note that you are required to have the band shoes, blue polo, black sweat-wicking shirt, black shorts, garment bag, tote bag, and blue water jug, which cannot be purchased from another retailer.  So if you have lost, outgrown any items, or have items that are not in like new condition, you must order new ones.  Gloves are not listed because all woodwinds/brass will already be ordering new ones.

Student Leaders

Sign-up for jobs for Equipment Night in the band hall before the beginning of school on Tuesday June 3

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Equipment Night

All 2014-2015 members are required to attend our Equipment Night next Tuesday, June 3rd.  Families with more than one child may follow the schedule with the older sibling.

Juniors & Seniors – 4:30-5:00 PM
Sophomores – 5:00-5:30 PM
Freshmen M-Z – 5:30-6:15 PM
Freshmen A-L – 6:15-7:00 PM
Clear Spring High School – Cafeteria

The purpose of Equipment Night is to size all students, pay for the various uniform items that they are required to have, and to get everything ordered before other bands do so in August.  Another reason we do this in June is to give parents a financial break from the Back-to-School rush.

Tuesday night, students will be sized for a blue band polo and black shorts which will be worn for the first three or four football games because of the heat.  (You will need to get a plain black leather belt before the first football game.)  Also, they will be sized for a black sweat-wicking shirt, black gloves, and black band shoes to be worn with their marching uniform which we will assign them in the fall.

Please understand that the polo/shorts combination and the marching uniform require a tailored look.  If you are accustomed to purchasing shirts or shorts one size larger because “that’s the style” or with the intent for your child to “grow into it”, this will not be allowed.  Remember that this is a uniform and uniforms are meant to be fitted to the person’s measurements.

Another very important aspect about this event is that it is a tax free night.  All items ordered and paid for Tuesday night will be exempt from sales tax.  If you have to order or pay after Tuesday night, you will be charged sales tax and additional shipping charges may apply.  Please note that because this is a uniform, the items listed above must be purchased from us.  Items may not be substituted from another retailer.  Items purchased previously may be used provided they are in excellent condition.  The directors will have the final say.

Notes:
  • Meal Plan payments will be accepted – due August 1st – no checks.  Cash, Money Order, or Credit Card payments only.
  • Band Dues will be accepted – due September 1st – no checks.  Cash, Money Order, or Credit Card payments only.
  • Orlando Trip payments will also be accepted – $100 student & $50 chaperone deposit due June 1 – no checks.  Cash, Money Order, or Credit Card payments only.
  • Booster club membership dues will also be accepted, but must be paid separately as this money goes to the booster club – all forms of payment accepted.
  • The $25 summer CCISD instrument rental fee is due at this event and must be paid for separately.  Make checks payable to “CCISD-MEF”

Read part 2 of this article by clicking here.

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2014 Marching Show Now Online

The 2014 Halftime/Competition Show entitled “Heartland” is now available to download from CHARMS. All current high school students should print their parts and bring them to school beginning the week of May 19th so we can play them in class.

Go to the documents/handouts section and look for folders entitled 2014 Mvt X (X = 0, 1, 2, or 3).  Each folder contains the parts for each segment of the show.  Find the file for your instrument.  Part assignments will be as follows….  Current high school students who are in chairs 1-3 in Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble print 1st part.  All other current high school students in Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble will print 2nd part.  All current high school students in Concert Band and all current 8th graders will print 3rd parts.  If there are no multiple parts for your instrument, then you print the part that is in the folder.

Please note:
  • If your part is not in the folder, there isn’t a part for your instrument in that segment of the show.  This will be the case for most instruments for the Preshow.
  • Percussion parts are currently being written and will be available before the end of the school year.  We will let you know when they become available for download.

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