AMB WEEKLY UPDATE 8-10-2025

What an incredible summer it has been for our marching band!

We've just wrapped up a fantastic summer camp filled with dedication, growth, and impressive achievements. Our students committed themselves wholeheartedly to mastering marching fundamentals, refining their music, and truly coming together as a team. We are delighted to get to know our new faces and excited to celebrate the seniors that have dedicated their time to our marching band. We have exciting goals this year, and we are looking forward to having a wonderful school year.

The culmination of our efforts was a very successful showcase last Friday, where the hard work and talent of every band member was evident. The performance was a testament to the countless hours spent practicing and perfecting our craft across almost 5 weeks of summer camp.

While we celebrate the successful end of summer camp, the real work now begins. Our sights are firmly set on our first football game on August 29th. We'll be channeling this momentum and spirit into preparing for a strong debut, ready to deliver an unforgettable performance under the Friday night lights!

CALENDAR: Please please please become super familiar with the band’s calendar so that you can be aware of all of the rehearsals, competitions, performances and more. Go to https://www.atascocitaband.com/calendar.html#/ where you can access our live Google calendar. You can also sync the calendar and the changes directly to your device.

ABSENCE REQUEST FORM: Students have doctor appointments, dentist appoints, sickness, conflicts, and much more. To ensure smooth planning and proper communication, we have a clear process for submitting absence requests. If you anticipate missing any rehearsal or band event, it is crucial to complete the absence request form. This allows the band directors to plan accordingly and ensures your absence is officially communicated. This process is the proper way to inform the directors of your unavailability.
The form can be located here: https://my.cheddarup.com/c/ahsbandstudentforms/forms
Be advised: multiple days of missed rehearsals may result in your performance spot being reassigned to another performer. Please review the band handbook on the importance of rehearsal attendance and the process we follow with it, located here: https://www.atascocitaband.com/the-band-handbook.html#
THIS WEEK:

• Monday: Rehearsal 5:30 to 8:00 practice field
• Tuesday: Day off - no rehearsal
• Wednesday: First day of school - no rehearsal
• Thursday: Rehearsal 5:30 to 8:00 practice field
• Friday: regular school day, no rehearsal
• Saturday; Rehearsal 7:30am to 10:30am at the competition AHS stadium

SATURDAY PRACTICES: As mentioned at orientation last year, to ensure the safety and well-being of our students, especially with the high wet bulb globe index readings, we will be holding three Saturday morning practices in lieu of one of our weekday practices. This schedule adjustment is designed to help us avoid the hottest parts of the day while still allowing for crucial preparation before our first game. The Saturday practice days are August 16, August 23, and August 30 from 7:30am to 11:30am.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL: On the first day of school, August 14th, we will go over class expectations and other classroom logistics. Students will need to bring their instruments, a pencil, and their music.

PURCHASES: Our Booster President Mrs. Berg has been updating everyone through the Band App on items to purchase for the first football game. Students will need all of their required shirts, shorts, and marching shoes ordered before the first game. Also, the band fees are due by the first football game, August 29th. In order for students to march on the field, they will have needed to be fully caught up with their band fees by the first football game. If you need assistance of any kind, we are here to help. Please email [email protected] 

UIL ELIGIBILITY AND GRADES: THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. As we transition from the excitement of summer camp and look ahead to our first football game, it's crucial to remember a vital aspect of participation in our marching band: academic eligibility. The University Interscholastic League (UIL) sets clear guidelines for student participation in extracurricular activities, and maintaining passing grades is a non-negotiable requirement.

To be eligible to perform with the band, especially in UIL competitions and during the football season, students must be passing all of their courses. This means consistent effort and focus in the classroom are just as important as mastering your instrument or marching technique. Failing even one class can unfortunately lead to a student being declared academically ineligible, which would prevent them from participating in performances and competitions until their grades improve.

We encourage all students to prioritize their academic responsibilities FROM THE VERY FIRST DAY. Utilize resources like tutoring, communicate with your teachers, and manage your time effectively to ensure you're successful in all your classes. Your dedication to your studies not only benefits your individual academic journey but also ensures the full strength and participation of our entire band. Let's all try to work together to achieve excellence both on the field and in the classroom! The band directors are here to help in any way we can.

CONCESSION STANDS: Parents, Here pretty soon, links will be provided for parents to sign up for working concessions. It is the single largest money maker for our program besides the annual dues that keeps us afloat. The concession stands thing takes a whole entire village, so please be on the lookout for that.