Hello! Here’s the busy month!

IMPORTANT: We’ve reached a point in the season where we are starting to have several “no call, no shows” to every rehearsal. Please remember that a “no call, no show” absence removes the student from performing at that week’s performance – whether it is a football game or competition. Parents, it is your responsibility to excuse your child from any band event – students cannot send word with another student. Please shoot us an email (aovermann@altonschools.org, sjames@altonschools.org, aedwards@altonschools.org) as soon as you know. We have also been receiving absence requests in the middle of rehearsals – we need to know before rehearsal begins so we can better plan our evenings. Thanks for your help in this matter!

Here’s what our week looks like:

• Monday, 10/2 – M100 percussion rehearsal – 3:15-4:30pm
• Tuesday, 10/3 –Jazz Lab Band – 3:15-4:15pm
  • Full M100 Rehearsal – 6-8:30pm. Guard will begin at 5:30pm
• Thursday, 10/5 – Concert Jazz Band – 3:15-4:15pm
  • Full M100 Rehearsal – 6-8:30pm. Guard will begin at 5:30pm
• Friday, 10/6 – Senior Night Football v. O’Fallon – Public School Stadium, 5:45pm. More information for senior parents TBA.
• Saturday, 10/7 – Valhalla Contest (Springfield, MO) – Valhalla Itinerary – please note, this is no longer an overnight trip – we just get back super late!  We will be taking charter buses to Springfield – feel free to bring movies rater PG-13 or under.

Looking ahead:

• Monday, October 9 – ILMEA Auditions, Highland High School (students who registered with Mr. James). Bus will leave AHS at 7:30am (must be on it!) and return around 1pm.
• Tuesday, October 10 – Jazz Lab Band – 3:15-4:15pm
  • Full M100 Rehearsal – 6-8:30pm. Guard will begin at 5:30pm
• Thursday, October 11 – Concert Jazz Band – 3:15-4:15pm
  • Full M100 Rehearsal – 6-8:30pm. Guard will begin at 5:30pm
• Saturday, October 14 – Bi-State Marching Invitational – Potosi, MO – itinerary TBA. I know many students are planning on taking the PSAT on October 14. If they have to miss the bus we’ll get a carpool going! I will have an itinerary out later this week for planning purposes.

Here is our calendar: 2017 Calendar – Aug-Oct
– We did get into BOA (Bands of America) at the America’s Center (Edward Jones Dome downtown St. Louis) on Friday, October 20. We play at 10:30am. It will probably be an early morning. Just a heads up if you’d like to ask off work!