2014-2015 Handbook Mishawaka High School Band
A Note From Your Directors Welcome to the 2014 2015 Mishawaka High School Band! We are ready for another fantastic year together and cannot wait to take 150+ people to Disney World this coming Spring Break. We have so much to look forward to. Please take time to read through this handbook to find important dates, expectations, grading procedures, dress requirements, etc. Keep the handbook around for future reference! We hope you enjoy your summer break, and we are excited to see you again at band camp! Mr. Gamble and Mr. Chamberlin gambled@mishawaka.k12.in.us chamberlinka@mishawaka.k12.in.us Band Office (574) 254-7380
We will have daily rehearsals for two weeks to prepare for the fall marching season at Mishawaka High School beginning on Monday, August 5 th from 8:00 am until 12:30 pm (see calendar). These are required for participation in the Mishawaka High School Band. It is extremely important to have everyone at these early rehearsals to prepare for our fall marching band performances. If you must miss practice for any good reason, it is your responsibility to either call or email us as soon as possible. We understand that Dancers will be meeting at a different time of day. Please remember that your attendance at Dance practices is also part of your participation grade in band. All band members are expected to be at these rehearsals with the exception of football players and cheerleaders. Students in other sports will share practice time with the band. Other sports: Tennis, cross country, volleyball or soccer, provide us with a copy of your practice schedule so that we know when to expect you at band practice.
(Continued) To be ordered at Band Camp - Black Marching Band Shoes $30 - Pep Band T-Shirt $10 - Pep Band Long Sleeve Shirt $12 Upperclassmen need not order these items if they are still in good condition from previous years. The pep band shirt is available in short and long sleeve. You can order one or both if you would like to stay comfortable all year long. We want to avoid wearing coats/jackets over the maroon shirts. To be purchased on your own - Black Flip Folder for marching band music - Music Lyre for you instrument Head to Quinlan and Fabish on Edison road, and they will take care of you. You may want to get extra sleeves for your black flip folder. This will be your folder for all music during marching season and pep band. Percussionists do not need these items.
A Few Rules/Reminders Please remember that the high school will have been cleaned for the new school year. Enter the building through the poolside doors. Stay in the music area of the building. There will be areas of the building which are off limits due to cleaning and construction. Please help to keep the building and grounds clean. Pick up after yourself! You will want to drink lots of water during the rehearsals, and we will provide the time and the place. Bring your own water bottle. No food, gum or drink is allowed in any indoor rehearsal area. Summer clothing should be worn, but it must be acceptable and follow the MHS rules. Always wear shoes no flip flops! This is for your own safety. Please post the attached band calendar for 2014-2015 on your bulletin board at home and refer to it throughout the school year. Also, give your parents and employer a copy. Employers will excuse you for rehearsals and performances if you inform them far enough in advance. Remember, we cannot excuse you from a band event due to work.
Grading Procedures - If a student must miss a rehearsal or performance, the band director must receive a note, phone call or email from the parent (one day in advance for rehearsals and two weeks in advance for performances) describing why the student will be absent from the rehearsal or event. - The band directors will determine whether the absence is excused. Generally, the only excuses will be for illness or death in the family, a required religious observance, or any other excuse which would be acceptable to excuse a student from classes at MHS. - Work is not considered a valid excuse for missing any required rehearsal or event. - If the band directors determine that a requested absence is unexcused, the parent will be notified as soon as possible. Students will be required to complete a make-up assignment for an excused absence from any performance. This will be either a playing test or written assignment. Unexcused Performance Absence final grade of F for the 6 week grading period Second Unexcused Performance Absence possible dismissal from band and loss of credit - A student s failure to participate, not having the proper equipment, being late for rehearsals or performances, or failing to exhibit proper behavior will also result in a lower grade. - Students will be required to perform playing tests on their instrument as part of their grade. The remainder of their grade will be based on participation and behavior.
Dress Requirements Unless otherwise informed by the band directors, band members should follow these requirements. Marching Band Uniform supplied by the school, plain black socks, black Showstopper style shoes, no visible jewelry, and hair must be up inside the hat. Concert Band and Symphonic Band Men: black slacks (no jeans), socks and shoes, white dress shirt and long tie. Ladies: black slacks or skirt, white blouse, black dress shoes. Football Pep Band Maroon pep band shirt and weather appropriate pants/shorts Basketball Pep Band Maroon pep band shirt and blue or black jeans May Festival Men: coat, tie, dress slacks, socks and dress shoes. Ladies: dressy dress or formal (street or floor length), dress shoes, hose - we use the same attire for Commencement. Jazz Ensemble Men: All Black Dress slacks and shirt, long tie, socks and dress shoes. Ladies: All Black Dress, skirt/pants and blouse.
A Note From Your Band Boosters The MHS Band Boosters would like to thank all who have volunteered this past school year; it was greatly appreciated. As always we need volunteers for uniform fitting, band camp, football season, competition, band banquet, uniform collection, ice cream social, schedule pickup, etc. If you are interested in helping out this next school year there will be sign-up sheets at our sprit wear table during schedule pickup. We are also looking for Sponsors to support our band. Businesses and/or individual memberships can be purchased at our table during schedule pickup as well. We ask that each student donate one case of water for the school year. Water is for the students during football games, competition, parades, band camp, etc. Please plan on bringing in your case of water the first week of Band Camp. Our new officers for the 2014-2015 school year are: President Dana French Secretary Kim Snider Vice President Angela Boembeke Treasurer Kim McGee Thank you all for your continued support. If you have any questions concerning Band Boosters please contact Dana French at dfrench8427@att.net.
August 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 School Begins 24 25 26 31 20 21 27 28 29 FB vs Crown Point 22 23 30 1 Labor Day No School 2 3 4 FB vs SB Clay 5 6 7 8 9 14 15 16 10 11 17 18 12 Pep Band to Riley 13 19 20 21 22 23 28 29 30 24 25 26 FB vs Elkhart Central September 27
October 1 2 3 Pep Band to SB Adams 4 ISSMA Festival Class MB 5 6 7 8 9 10 FB vs Marian 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Pep Band to Penn 19 20 21 22 23 24 Fall Recess No School 26 27 28 29 30 31 18 25 November 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Thanks No 30 28 giving School 29
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 December January 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 MLK Jr. Day No School 20 21 22 Winter Band Concert 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ISSMA District S & E 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 President s Day No School 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 ISSMA State S & E February 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ISSMA Jazz 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Western MI Jazz Fest 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 March
April 1 2 3 Recess Day 4 No School 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Spring Band Concert 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 ISSMA Organizational Contest May 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Memorial Day Parade 31 June 3 Last Day of School 26 27 28 29 30 June 7 Graduation
Important Dates (List) August 4-8 and 11-15 - Band Camp 8:00am 12:30am August 19 First Student Day *ALL EVENING REHEARSALS 6:00pm 7:30pm August 29 - Football Game vs Crown Point 5:30 pm September 1 Labor Day, No School September 5 Football Game vs SB Clay 5:30 pm September 12 Pep Band to Riley TBA September 16 Jazz Band Performance in Indianapolis TBA September 26 Football Game vs Elkhart Central 5:30 October 3 Pep Band to SB Adams TBA October 4 - ISSMA Festival Class Marching Band TBA October 10 Football Game vs Marian 5:30pm October 17 Pep Band to Penn TBA October 24 Fall Recess Day, no school November 27-28 Thanksgiving, no school December 22 January 2 Winter Break January 19 MLK Jr. Day No School January 22 Winter Band Concert 7:00pm February 7 District ISSMA Solo and Ensemble TBA February 16 Presidents Day, no school February 28 State ISSMA Solo and Ensemble TBA March 7 ISSMA Jazz TBA March 14 Western Michigan Jazz Festival TBA April 3 Recess Day, no school April 6 10 Spring Break, Florida Trip April 23 Spring Band Concert 7:00pm April 25 ISSMA Organizational Contest TBA May 25 Memorial Day, no school, parade June 3 Last Day of School June 7 Commencement TBA
Stay up to date with MHS Band information by liking the band s Facebook page! Also be sure to check out our website. We do our best to keep it updated with important dates and paperwork. You can print out permission slips that may not have made it home Simply type Mishawaka High School Band into your favorite search engine and find both pages.