In This Issue
- Uniform Fitting Help Needed
- Rehearsal Pick Up Plea
- Rehearsals are Starting
- Get Involved
- Submitting Band Fee Receipts
- Instrument Rental
- Garrett Mangelson Memorial Scholarship
- Fall Ensemble Auditions
- Upcoming Rehearsals
- Upcoming Events
Uniform Fitting Help Needed
Thank you to those who helped with uniform fittings on Saturday. We got the veterans fitted and got started on the rookies, but there is still lots of work to be done this Saturday.
We need lots of help with uniform fittings this Saturday. Getting the rookies fitted is much more time-intensive since we have to work with them individually to help find the right size and often have to try two or three different sizes.
If you are available to help this Saturday, sign up at http://www.signupgenius.com/
Rehearsal Pick Up Plea
Parents, as we head into a new marching band season, we have some reminders about parking and traffic near the band room.
When waiting to pick up your child after marching band practice, please wait in a parking spot in the parking lot. Do not use the bus lane as a waiting area. Vehicles parked in the bus lane create a safety hazard. In situations like we had Saturday where we had blocked off the parking lot but ended up not using it because of the weather, you are welcome to use those spots if they are not being used by the band at the end of the day. But …
As long as we are talking about blocked off parking lots, please be conscious of areas that are being used by the band. If the roadway or parking lot is blocked by signs, it is because we expect to need that space. We have had situations where a single car parked in the wrong spot has created extra work for students and parents working to load and unload equipment all because someone felt that a sign marking a closed area did not apply to them.
Once we get into competition season, we use the bus lane for loading and unloading equipment for competitions. If the semi truck is parked in the bus lane, please drive around rather than attempting to squeeze by the semi and people working in that lane. If the signs are up to block off the road, it is because we expect to need that space for loading and unloading.
After a competition, if you are waiting in the bus lane for your student to arrive at the high school, you are blocking the space that will be used for unloading buses and equipment. Please wait in the parking lot so that you don’t delay the buses and semi truck. There are lots of students and parents who are anxious to get off the buses and get equipment unloaded. We recognize that you want to get home quickly, but we also appreciate you being willing to sacrifice a few seconds so that we can complete our work and get home, too.
There isn’t a good way to make this reminder without sounding a little cranky and we will probably make it again a couple of times during the season. As you are driving in the areas around the band room this year, please just take an extra minute, be conscious of what is going on around you, and be courteous to the students, staff, volunteers, and other parents who are all trying to use the limited space near the band room.
Rehearsals are Starting
Our first Basics Camp and sectionals went well. There are sectionals this Tuesday from 3-5pm and our second basics camp is this Saturday May 19th. For Saturday’s basics camp please come prepared with the following: a lunch, instrument, water jug, athletic apparel, athletic shoes, sunscreen or jacket (depending on the weather), and one wearable item that represents an element of your personality (this item could be worn as a necklace or something). Be prepared to work hard and enjoy the experience.
Please be aware that the call time listed for any rehearsal or camp isn’t an arrival time. It is an on the field, instrument out and ready to play call time. Also, the finish time listed isn’t a pick up time. It is the time they will finish playing and will be leaving the field. Please allow your student plenty of time to receive any sectional notes, help clean up and pack up.
Get Involved
Uniform Fittings- If you are available to help this Saturday, sign up at http://www.signupgenius.com/
Shelf Moving Help- We are looking for a volunteer with a pickup truck or a truck and small trailer who can move some shelving that has been donated to the band sometime in the next week or so. If you are interested in helping please contact Steve Gallafent. steve@compguy.com 801-885-2333
Trailer Loading & Pit Crew- Anyone who wishes to be on the trailer loading and pit crew (those that take the instruments on an off the field during shows) to please send an email to Dave Duke at duke84043@gmail.com.
Water Help- Do you drink water? Wanna help water our kids during the marching season? Mike the “water guy” is looking for help this year. Anyone who is interested please contact Mike Kemp for more details. mike.kemp1@gmail.com or text 801-885-6549
Submitting Band Fee Receipts
When paying band fees, please send a copy of your receipt to boosterfinance2018@gmail.com. This helps us to cross-check records with the finance office to ensure that all band fees have been recorded correctly. You should also keep a copy of every receipt in your own records in case there is ever a question about your student’s account.
If you have paid your student’s deposit for marching band and have not submitted your receipt, please do that today. If your student is registered for marching band and you have not yet paid the deposit, today would be a great day to make the deposit and submit the receipt!
Also, anyone who has not paid for their polos or shoes please pay for those and send the receipts to the same address.
Instrument Rental
If you plan on using a school instrument for marching band you will need to pay the $70 Instrument Fee before being issued a school instrument. (Trombones: Keep in mind that Westlake does not currently march trombone. All trombone players will play baritone or euphonium for the marching band.)
Garrett Mangelson Memorial Scholarship
The Garrett Mangelson Memorial Scholarship was created in memory of Garrett Mangelson, the late son of Brek and Brooke Mangelson. Mr. Mangelson, aka “Mango” was the Band Director at Westlake High School from 2009 until 2018. When Garrett passed away in 2011, efforts were made by the Westlake band family to rally around his family, which led to the creation of blue wristbands that were imprinted in honor of Garrett. Students in the program at that time wore the original bracelets throughout the season and many for the rest of their time at Westlake and beyond. These bracelets became a symbol of hope, solidarity, and unity among the Westlake band family. It is in this same spirit that the band boosters have created this scholarship fund to offer hope, assistance, and solidarity to students who wish to join the Westlake Marching Thunder but face financial circumstances that would otherwise prohibit participation. Award amounts and the number of scholarships offered will vary depending on funds available each year. Scholarship money will be awarded based on financial need, student merit, and a desire to contribute to the Westlake Marching Thunder program.
Applications should be submitted by midnight on June 1, 2018. Scholarship recipients will be notified prior to payment of fees in July. https://www.thunderband.com/
Those wishing to donate to the fund may do so using the donate button on the scholarship page and note “Scholarship” as the purpose of their donation.
Fall Ensemble Auditions
Instructions on how to submit fall ensemble auditions will be coming out within the next week or two. To prepare for the auditions please prepare the following: all major scales in as many octaves as achievable, a chromatic scale, an etude or excerpt from a solo with two contrasting styles (i.e. something fast and something slower; lyrical).
Upcoming Rehearsals
- May 15 – 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM – Marching band rehearsal
- May 16 – 2:30 PM to 6:30 PM – Percussion ensembles dress rehearsal
- May 17 – 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM – Percussion ensembles rehearsal (if needed)
- May 19 – 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM – Basics camp
- May 22 – 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM – Marching band rehearsal
- May 29 – 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM – Marching band rehearsal
- June 1 – 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM – Parade prep rehearsal
- June 4-8 – 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM – Drumline/Pit Camp #1
- June 5 – 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM – Marching band rehearsal
- June 12 – 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM – Marching band rehearsal
Upcoming Events
- May 15 – 7:00 PM – Performing Arts End-of-Year Gala
- May 17 – 6:30 PM – Percussion Spring Concert (VHMS students at 6:30 PM, WHS students at 7:30 PM)
- May 31 – Graduation
- June 2 – Eagle Mountain parade
- June 9 – Saratoga Springs parade
You are receiving this email because of your association with the Westlake High School band program. If you no longer have a student at Westlake or wish to be removed from the mailing list, contact us at thunderbandnews@gmail.com or reply to this message to be removed from the mailing list.