Week of April 5
Band Grades
In an effort to make band classes feel as “normal” as possible, we have reduced the number of Canvas assignments from the plan we followed during first semester. Because there are fewer assignments, each one makes a larger impact on the total grade.
So far, all classes have had a pencil check, a supply check, and a quick survey for their grades. We are also in the middle of the April performance grade for the in-school students. For the April performance grade, students have a few choices in what they can do, and one of those options is a pep band night.
Please ask your student about their progress on the April performance grade. If not doing a pep band night, students have until April 16 to submit their recordings to Canvas. We want to make sure that all students earn the points they deserve!
Supply Checks
Each West band student has required materials in order for them to be successful. Most students have had these supplies required since 6th grade, though you may have run out of some items or they may have been lost. A complete list of required items for each instrument is available here.
We had a graded supply check on February 22/23 and several students still need to complete it. These grades are pass or fail — a student will only receive the points if he/she has all required supplies. If a student did not have all required supplies on the graded supply check date, the student will have until April 9 to gather the supplies and show a director for full points. No points will be awarded after April 9.
If you have financial barriers to getting all of your required supplies, please talk to the band directors, we may be able to help get you what you need.
Spring Concerts
To end the year on a high note, we will be having spring concerts and we are working on specific plans for what that will look like.
At this point, we are looking at holding the concerts in the auditorium and are looking at live-stream possibilities.
Wildcat Band and Wind Ensemble will perform at 8pm on Monday, May 10.
Concert and Varsity Bands will perform at 8pm on Tuesday, May 11.
We will not be issuing the school attire for these final concerts. 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. Families with financial difficulties should contact the band directors for help!
Memorial Day Procession
While the middle and high school bands have been invited to perform in the annual Memorial Day Procession, the district has reiterated that we will not be able to participate in person on Memorial Day.
The West Bands will still move forward with our spring marching unit and prepare a patriotic tune, working on memorization skills for the full band and marching instruments. Our plan is to put together a video that will be featured on the broadcast of the Memorial Day Procession aired on Oshkosh Community Media and their platforms.
Memorial Day Donations Needed!
For our Memorial Day recording session, we would like to give each student a commemorative t-shirt so we have a performance uniform without fitting and altering the marching uniforms. Directly following the recording session, we would like to provide our students with a pizza lunch as a thank you to the students for their hard work this year and for navigating all of the changes they've been handed.
The total cost for enough t-shirts will be $1500 and the pizza will be $350. Unfortunately, we do not have that in our budget, so we are hoping that band families would be willing to donate a portion of the funds necessary to provide this experience for our students.
If you are able to donate a portion to help us provide a t-shirt and pizza lunch, please let Mr. Wilson know! Any amount is appreciated!
Next Year
We have made great strides in returning to a more “normal” band experience this semester! We are excited for next year as we return to the band room, pep band performances, in-person concerts, parades, and all of the fun that the West Bands are known for. We are fortunate that our enrollment for next year is steady compared to the current year in a time when band, choir, and orchestra programs across the country have seen drastic drops in the number of participating students.
We thank you for all of your patience as we have navigated COVID, focusing on the safety of our students. We know that there is no single decision that will satisfy all, but we believe that we have done what’s best for our students in the decisions made by the district, schools, and directors using the latest scientific research at the time.