Week of May 22
Memorial Day Procession
Each year, all four of our West Bands combine to perform in the Oshkosh Memorial Day Procession. We are excited to once again have the opportunity to perform for the community. This is a required performance for all students, including current seniors. Permission slips were due on Tuesday, May 10, for full credit. Students who do not turn in the permission slip before the performance date will be ineligible to perform. The schedule is below:
6:45am students arrive and eat breakfast (provided); load equipment; students dress
7:45am depart West High School
8:00am arrive downtown
9:00am procession begins
9:45am approximate time procession is complete; load buses
10:15am depart downtown
10:30am arrive at West High School; unload equipment and change
11:00am students are dismissed
The uniform for the parade is as follows: All students will wear their marching uniform jacket, pants, and hat provided by the school. Students are responsible for providing long black socks and all-black shoes. Shoes that are not all-black will be made all-black. Expensive and/or fancy shoes are unnecessary! Find a pair of cheap all-black shoes that will last all four years at Walmart, Target, Goodwill, or your favorite local store. Students with financial difficulties should contact Mr. Singer or Mr. Wilson for assistance. (Students will not board the bus or be able to perform without the proper attire.)
Memorial Day Volunteers and Donations
Each year, we provide breakfast to all of our students to ensure that they are prepared for the early performance. The Memorial Day breakfast costs the band program approximately $500. We are in need of monetary donations to provide breakfast for all of our students prior to marching in the procession. If you are able to help, please sign up on this document.
We are still in need of bottled water to supply to our students following the procession. Cases of bottled water can be dropped off in the band room or by doors 24 or 38.
We need assistance preparing for and cleaning up after the Memorial Day Procession. Please take a moment to visit our Volunteer Sign-Up page to contribute to your student’s success!
We need help with the following:
Uniform Collection: 10:30-11:30am (3 positions)
These positions will help us prepare the uniforms to be sent to the cleaners on Tuesday.
Graduation Performance
Our seniors graduate on Friday and what a ride these four years have been!
The current Wind Ensemble AND next year’s Wind Ensemble perform at graduation. This year’s Wind Ensemble performs the Alma Mater and the senior’s choice, Shout! Next year’s Wind Ensemble performs the processional and recessional.
We will not be wearing the standard West concert attire for the ceremony. Instead, students will “dress nice,” choosing from a collared polo shirt, collared button-down shirt, blouse, khaki pants, slacks, skirt, or dress, with “nice” shoes. These items can be any color. Students will not be permitted to perform if they’re wearing sweatpants, jeans, shorts, t-shirts, tennis shoes, etc. Students should arrive in the band room, dressed for the performance, by 4:30pm.
Take a look at the information below for dressing “nice.”
Seniors should show up a little early to the arena to set up their instruments or have a friend make sure everything is ready to go. Following the performance, seniors should take their personally-owned instruments home or coordinate with a friend to bring school-owned instruments back on the bus. They will then join the rest of the senior class before the ceremony begins. When processing out, seniors will come to the band setup instead of going to their chairs. Once we reach the end of Pomp and Circumstance, the new members will exit the setup and the seniors will filter in. We’ll play the Alma Mater with the choir and then perform Shout! Following Shout!, seniors will join the rest of the senior class and the new members will fill back in.
Not graduating members should meet in the West band room no later than 4:30. We will follow this schedule:
4:30pm meet in the West band room and load equipment onto the buses
4:45pm depart West High School
5:00pm arrive at the arena; set up
6:00pm Graduation ceremony begins
7:00pm approximate end of ceremony; load equipment on buses
7:30pm approximate arrival at West; unload equipment
7:45pm approximate dismissal
2023–2024 Concert and Parade Dates
October 26 — Fall Concert in the Alberta Kimball Auditorium (All Bands)
November 22 — Appleton Holiday Parade in Downtown Appleton (All Band Students)
November 30 — Oshkosh Holiday Parade in Downtown Oshkosh (All Band Students)
Mid-January TBD — All-District Band-o-Rama at Oshkosh North (All OASD Band Students)
March 2 — District Solo and Ensemble Festival at Neenah High School (Interested Band Students)
April 10 — WSMA Contest at UW-Oshkosh (Wildcat and Concert Bands)
April 11 — WSMA Contest at UW-Oshkosh (Varsity Band and Wind Ensemble)
May 6 — Spring Concert I in the Alberta Kimball Auditorium (Wildcat Band and Wind Ensemble)
May 7 — Spring Concert II in the Alberta Kimball Auditorium (Concert and Varsity Bands)
May 25 — Graduation at the Oshkosh Arena (2023-2024 and 2024-2025 Wind Ensembles)
May 27 — Oshkosh Memorial Day Procession in Downtown Oshkosh (All Band Students)
Grading and Make-Up Procedures
Are you curious about how grades are determined? Click here for more information!
Do you have to miss a pep band performance? Students who have a school-related activity are excused from the pep band performance. Students missing for any other reason must make up the performance to gain the points. Students wishing to be excused for a school-related activity should fill out this form prior to the date of the performance.
Do you have to miss a concert or parade performance? All students missing a concert or parade performance for any reason must make up the performance to earn the points.
View make-up procedures here. Please contact Mr. Singer or Mr. Wilson with questions.
Important Upcoming Dates
May 26 at 6:00pm (call time is 4:30pm at West) — Graduation Ceremony at the Oshkosh Arena (Current and 2023-2024 Wind Ensembles)
May 29 ay 9:00am (call time is 6:45am) — Memorial Day Procession (ALL Band Students, including seniors)