Week of January 9

 

2024 Band Trip — New York City

The votes are in, and we are traveling to New York City over spring break in 2024! The trip is open to all students who will be enrolled in a band class at West next school year and their families. This is a totally optional trip; everyone is encouraged to travel with us, but no one is required.

We have set up a website with lots of information including a tentative itinerary, tentative costs, and fundraising options. We also have physical packets available in the band room.

Don’t let money be an issue! We have had many students pay for their entire trip with fundraising! If you are interested in traveling with us but may have financial barriers, please speak to Mr. Singer or Mr. Wilson. More information is also available on our fundraising page.

Commitment forms for the trip are due by January 27th and the deposit is due by February 3rd.

CURRENT FUNDRAISER

Before break, we kicked off the first fundraiser of the year: Caramel Crisp's Best.Cookies.Ever!

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).

Please take a look at the linked brochure! Some highlights are listed below.

Important Information

  • Start Date: December 15th, 2022

  • Orders and Payments Due By: January 13, 2023, with no late orders accepted (checks can be made out to Oshkosh West Bands)

  • Pick-Up: tentatively weeks of January 30th and February 6th, at 3:30pm in the Auditorium Lobby

  • Profit: 25%

  • Catalog: Click Here!

  • Order Form: Click Here!

Basketball Pep Band — January 20, 2023

This year, West is celebrating 50 years of cross-town rivalries with a double-header basketball game at the Oshkosh Arena on January 20th, 2023. Both pep bands are scheduled to play at both games. Just like other pep band performances, pep band students will not need tickets.

Because of limited parking available, we have been asked by administration to bus students to and from the arena. Additionally, we will be providing a pizza dinner to all band students between games. See the schedule below for more information.

  • 5:00 pm students arrive at West

  • 5:30 pm depart West for the Oshkosh Arena

  • 5:45 pm arrive at Oshkosh Arena, unload, and set up

  • 6:30 pm Game 1 Begins

  • TBD dinner (provided)

  • 8:15 pm Game 2 Begins

  • 9:15 pm depart Oshkosh Arena for West after halftime performance

  • 9:30 pm arrive at West and unload

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 in the near future.  For more information including a tentative schedule, click here.

All students will attend and two fundraising opportunities will be available to help with the cost (the current Caramel Crisp fundraiser and an upcoming Uncle Mike’s Kringle fundraiser).  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).

END OF SEMESTER — MAKE-UP WORK

The end of first semester is upon us! If you have any work to make up (pep band, concert, parade, band-o-rama, etc.), that must be completed by 3:33pm on Friday, January 13th. Procedures for make-up work can be found here.

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 20 at 7:00pm (call time is 6:45pm) — BLUE AND WHITE Basketball Pep Bands

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

  • February 7 at 7:30pm (call time is 6:30pm) — Winter Concert (Wildcat and Concert Bands)

  • February 9 at 7:30pm (call time is 6:30pm) — Winter Concert (Varsity Band and Wind Ensemble)

  • 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