TWIB Notes

Our Region Marching Contest is on Wednesday, October 21st. This event is happening during the school day - students should be prepared to meet before school at AHS on that Wednesday. We will have students remain at AHS for the rest of the day - LFC students should be picked up from AHS on that day. If they are riding the bus home, they can do so from AHS.

Hand Wash in Cold Water, blot excess moisture, lay flat to dry.

*DO NOT PUT IN THE DRYER FOR ANY REASON! THEY WILL SHRINK!*

Write your name on the inside of the collar of your show top so it doesn't get mixed up

The Spring Trip SchoolPay link will be in next week's newsletter. Payments will be due at the end of every month, and the deposit for the trip is due on October 31st. The payment schedule is as follows:

The total cost of the Spring Trip is $750. You can make payments via SchoolPay and no late registrations will be accepted. This trip fee will cover transportation, lodging, contest entry, and some fun events while we are in Port Aransas/Corpus Christi. Students will be staying in condos with sleeping arrangements for six people. We will depart for Corpus Christi on charter buses on April 8th, spend three nights in the condos, and return on charter buses to Allen on April 11th. Our final itinerary is in the works and will be shared soon. We hope you can join us!

*CONTEST UNIFORM*

ITINERARY

*TRADITIONAL UNIFORM*

ITINERARY

*TRADITIONAL UNIFORM*

ITINERARY

Please check your needed items for our upcoming performances.

• Water bottle with a strap
  
• Lyre if you play Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, All Saxophones, Mellophones, Baritones
  
• Eflip phone holder
• Black Vipers Marching Shoes
• Long Black Socks
• Allen Band Shorts (TRADITIONAL & CONTEST UNIFORMS)
• Long-sleeve blue uniform shirt (TRADITIONAL UNIFORM)
• Allen Dri-Fit t-shirt (CONTEST UNIFORM)
• Contest Show Top (CONTEST UNIFORM)
• Gloves

*Piercings need to be clear jewelry or studs

*For contest uniform - hair should be out of your face and off the shoulders

Saturday, October 3rd

Don Hanna Marching Contest (itinerary posted above)

Monday, October 5th

Weekly Pass-off: Part 4

7:00am - 8:15am Rehearsal

Tuesday, October 6th

7:00am - 8:15am Rehearsal

*5:30pm - 8:30pm Rehearsal (adjusted rehearsal time)

Wednesday, October 7th

No Morning Rehearsal

Thursday, October 8th

7:00am - 8:15am Rehearsal

Friday, October 9th

7:00am - 8:15am Rehearsal

Allen vs McKinney (itinerary posted above)

Thursday, October 15th

12:00pm - 4:00pm Rehearsal

*please eat lunch before this rehearsal

Allen @ Rock Hill (itinerary posted above)

Friday, October 16th

10:00am - 2:00pm Rehearsal

You will soon need the following items for concert season in your band class. Please prepare the following items:

• Black binder
  
• Dividers
  
• Pencil pouch w/ pencils
  
• Name tag for stand
  
• Tuner w/ clip
  
• Swab/grease/oil
  

Students who receive a grade below 70 in any non-exempt academic course at the end of this grading period will become academically ineligible following the UIL-required seven-calendar-day grace period. Students that fail a class will become ineligible on Friday, October 2nd and will not be able to travel or participate in performances with the Allen Band. Texas Education Code requires students who fail a non-exempt course at a grade evaluation period to be suspended from extracurricular participation for at least three school weeks, with eligibility reviewed again after three weeks. Students can regain eligibility on October 9th at the grade check and all students are eligible during the Fall Break. While academically ineligible, students will not be permitted to perform with the Allen Band at football games, marching contests, parades, pep rallies, or other public performances. They will, however, continue to attend and participate in scheduled rehearsals. State law specifically allows an academically ineligible student to practice or rehearse with the group even though the student may not participate in a competition or public performance, and rehearsals remain part of the students' Allen Band course responsibilities. Certain advanced courses are exempt from the standard No Pass, No Play provision. We have posted the current Allen ISD list of exempt courses so students and families can determine whether a particular course qualifies for an exemption. Allen High School also maintains the current 2026-27 Academic Planning Guide and Student Handbook as district references for academic and extracurricular requirements.

Due to students being shifted into and between Advanced Music courses, we have decided to postpone the first Advanced Music assignment. Students will now need to complete the first Concert Critique by Friday, November 13th. Please see details about the assignment and course expectations in your Canvas courses.

Do not request to attend tutorials sessions during marching band rehearsal. You should contact your academic teacher to find solutions that don't conflict with rehearsal time.

Week of October 5th:

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday - ATHLETICS

Tuesday, Friday - BAND

Week of October 19th:

Monday, Thursday - ATHLETICS

Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday - BAND

Please email Mr. Blankenship if you have any questions.

Students will be marching, moving, and playing for the majority of their time and will need to have the following items:

• Instrument with all accessories

• Charged Device with Ultimate Drill Book, Beam, Geo, and SportsYou apps loaded and joined

• ½ Gallon water jug filled with ice water

• Athletic clothing including a light colored shirt, athletic shorts, athletic shoes, no jeans/jorts, no crocs, no boots
  

• Hat and sunglasses

• Sunscreen

• Deodorant
  

*Having supplies on a daily basis has an impact on daily grade assessments for students

MakeMusic accounts will be set up for all winds and percussionists. We will use this software platform to help the Allen Band learn the All-Region music.

Students will be able to hear themselves, record themselves, and receive feedback on their performance. Students will be given as many chances as they wish to record themselves.

Please check the microphone on your Chromebook when you receive your district technology and make sure it is working. Non-functional devices will not be an excuse for incomplete recording assignments.

The TMEA All-Region freshman cuts are listed below, and the All-Region music is available in the Google Drive linked on the website.

The All-Region freshman cuts are the fall semester exam. Students are responsible for preparing this music throughout the semester. Students should expect chair tests, in-class performances, and MakeMusic assignments connected to this music.

Private lesson sign-ups are linked below.

All parents should fill out the Google Form, even if your student is already enrolled in lessons.

Private lessons are $24 per weekly lesson and are the strongest predictor of student success. Allen ISD has added many private lesson instructors on every instrument to make sure we can accommodate as many students as possible.

Volunteer Opportunities

Lots of volunteer opportunities available during Bandtober! Games, UIL contests, Dry Cleaning Return and more!

Thank you in advance for your help!

Volunteer Opportunities

Spirit Wear Items

Want to support your jazz students and stay warm in the process? Jazz band spiritwear is available for purchase until October 3rd.

Jazz Spirit Wear

Home Game Meals

The next home game meal will be for the October 9th game. Back by popular demand- Raising Cane's! Gluten free and Vegetarian options will be from Bread Zepplin. Order by October 6th.

Get ready to fuel up with some crispy goodness from Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers!

Choose from the following meal options:

🍟 Chicken Finger Dinner – includes 3 chicken fingers, fries, toast, Cane’s sauce, and a cookie

🥔 Gluten-Free Option – Bread Zeppelin Salads

🌱 Vegetarian Option – Bread Zeppelin, chips and a cookie

Meals will be served in the PAC Commons from 4:45–5:00 p.m.

Raising Canes