Week of January 30

 

February Concert Update

This has been quite a busy year! Our students have had 15 performances since September and have been pushing the whole time. Since January, we have been busy with pep band, finals, and preparing a new set of music to be performed twice (a winter concert and also a judged concert festival in March).

It has become apparent that while the students are working hard to prepare their new music, it does not make educational sense to have a February concert with music that is not ready for public performance. With that said, we have made the difficult decision to cancel our February concerts.

Looking ahead, we have music to prepare for Solo and Ensemble and a judged concert festival in March followed quickly by spring break. The students then have a spring concert, graduation, and Memorial Day Procession in May to prepare. This new plan will allow us to carry some of the contest music to the spring concert and not feel as rushed to get ready for the final performances of the year. Thank you for understanding the educational needs of our students!

Next FUNDRAISER

On February 6th, we will begin a new fundraiser: the ever-popular Uncle Mike’s Kringle!

Every student can benefit from this fundraiser. Students may raise funds for next year’s New York City or for our trip to the Milwaukee area in March to perform at a concert competition (see below).

What’s a kringle, you ask? A kringle is a Danish pastry made from “laminated” dough. Each kringle has 36 layers of dough and butter forming a buttery flaky dough. Kringles are filled with a filling of your choice and formed into the traditional pretzel shape. We have done this fundraiser three times and each time, we have set a record with Uncle Mike’s for the largest kringle order — let’s see if we can do it again! Please take a look at the linked brochure! Some highlights are listed below.

Important Information

  • Start Date: February 6th, 2023

  • Orders and Payments Due By: February 27th, 2023, with no late orders accepted (checks can be made out to Oshkosh West Bands)

  • Pick-Up: March 16th, 2023, at 3:30pm in the Auditorium Lobby

  • Profit: $4.50 per kringle

  • Catalog: Click Here! (also available in class on February 6th)

  • Order Form: Click Here! (also available in class on February 6th)

WSMA FESTIVAL PERFORMANCES

In March each band will travel by coach bus to Carroll University in Waukesha to perform in a Wisconsin School Music Association Large Group contest.  The Wildcat and Concert Bands will travel on March 13, and Varsity Band and Wind Ensemble will travel on March 14.

We will take coach buses to Shattuck Auditorium to perform and conclude the day with a visit to a local attraction and/or have a group meal as voted on by the students.  There will be a small cost (likely $50-75) to this day which will be determined once the students have voted on the attraction and dinner location at the end of this week.  For more information including a tentative schedule, click here.

All students will attend and fundraising opportunities will be available to help with the cost (the previous Caramel Crisp fundraiser and an upcoming Uncle Mike’s Kringle fundraiser starting on February 6th).  Students with financial challenges should contact Mr. Singer or Mr. Wilson for assistance. 

For Students in Multiple Bands

We have many students who participate in multiple bands during the school day.  Those students are encouraged to perform with each of the bands they rehearse with while at the festival.  As a thank you to our students in multiple bands across the 2 days, the second day will be free (equal or lesser value).

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

  • January 31 at 7:00pm (call time is 6:45pm) — BLUE Basketball Pep Band

  • February 21 at 7:00pm (call time is 6:45pm) — WHITE Basketball Pep Band

  • March 4 — District Solo and Ensemble Festival at Menasha HS (interested students)

  • March 13 — WSMA Trip (Wildcat and Concert Bands)

  • March 14 — WSMA Trip (Varsity Band and Wind Ensemble)

  • March 15th — FVA-South Honor Band at UW-Oshkosh (invited students)

Oshkosh West Bands