Panther Band Journal: Week of 9/22

It's Homecoming Week in Princeton, and that means this Friday will be an action-packed day of celebrating Panther Pride! We have a combined high school pep rally at Jackie Hendricks Stadium (including a performance of Part 1 of "Wish You Were Here"), the Homecoming Parade, and the football game itself. Buckle up, because here comes a lot of information...

Immediately after 2nd Period, all band and colorguard students should report to the Lovelady HS Band Hall. Front ensemble and loading crew should report directly to the stadium for unloading. PHS students should bring everything they need for the rest of the day to Lovelady, as there will be NO ACCESS to the PHS Band Hall after the pep rally. Students will change into UGs and athletic shoes before we walk as a group to the stadium for a rehearsal prior to the start of the pep rally. Students will bring everything they need for the rest of the day (including instrument cases, backpacks, etc.) to the stadium, as there will also be NO ACCESS to the LHS Band Hall after the pep rally.

The combined pep rally will begin at 11:25am and will include a performance of Part 1 of our show. At the conclusion of the pep rally, a pizza lunch and water will be provided for band and colorguard students underneath the stands. Students with transportation will be released until 2:00pm. Students without transportation will go to the Clark Middle School Band Hall until our next event.

Starting at 1:00pm, Clark Middle School will become our base of operations for the remainder of the day (and through Saturday, as well). Students without transportation to leave and return between events will be able to relax in the CMS Band Hall. STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO TREAT THE CLARK MS FACILITIES WITH RESPECT AND KEEP THEM CLEAN AND FREE OF TRASH.

At 2:00pm, all band and colorguard students will assemble in the Clark MS cafeteria to prepare for the Homecoming Parade. The Parade Uniform is UGs with athletic shoes. Princeton ball caps (maroon, white, or black only) and sunglasses are approved for the parade. The Homecoming Parade begins at 3:00pm near the corner of Mabel Ave. and 5th St. We expect to return to Clark MS around 4:00pm. Following the parade, the CMS Band Hall will again be available for students who need a place to wait and relax.

Our next call time is 5:00pm, when we'll again assemble in the CMS cafeteria. A pregame meal will be served by our amazing band boosters before we change into uniforms and have inspection. We will leave CMS to walk to the stadium around 6:00pm and load into the stands. After respectfully watching the pregame Homecoming festivities, we'll support our team as they look to start the season 5-0!

When the game ends, we'll walk back to Clark MS as a group, change out of uniforms and hang them properly, and dismiss from the CMS cafeteria. Rides should plan to pick up students on the south (gym) side of Clark Middle School.

DUE TO TRAFFIC CONGESTION IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE FOOTBALL GAME, WE REQUEST THAT STUDENT RIDES NOT ARRIVE AT CLARK MIDDLE SCHOOL UNTIL THE VISITING BAND’S BUSES AND TRAILERS HAVE DEPARTED FROM THE CMS PARKING LOT - THANK YOU!

Our first marching contest is this Saturday, as we travel to Wylie for the Wylie Marching Invitational. Our call time is 8:30am at Jackie Hendricks Stadium. Equipment will have been stored in the semi trailer or at Clark Middle School from Friday night's football game. Please review the full itinerary below.

The Band Boosters will provide a meal on Saturday morning prior to departure and a snack and sports drink immediately after the performance. We have chosen to opt out of the possibility of advancing to finals for this contest in order to allow our students to attend the Homecoming Dance if they choose. We anticipate returning to dismiss from Clark Middle School around 3:00pm. Rides should plan to pick up students on the south (gym) side of Clark.

Tickets for the Wylie Marching Invitational can be purchased in advance by scanning the QR code linked below. There will also be QR codes available to scan at the gate.

Students participating in marching band, like those involved in sports and other extracurricular activities are subject to state and district academic eligibility requirements. Students who do not satisfy these requirements at certain checkpoints throughout the school year are declared ineligible to participate in extracurricular events until they have an opportunity to regain eligibility at a later checkpoint.

On Tuesday afternoon, we will receive the academic eligibility report for grade check for the first six weeks. Although this is not a report card date for Princeton ISD, the State of Texas requires that all school districts perform an eligibility check at the end of the sixth week.

A grade lower than 70 in any class (lower than 60 in an identified Honors/AP class) on this report will result in the student losing eligibility for a period of 3 weeks starting at the end of the school day on Friday, September 26. Students who have lost eligibility and their families will be notified of their status via CutTime message. Ineligible students will not be allowed to participate in the following events:

• Friday, September 26: Homecoming Parade & Football Game
• Saturday, September 27: Wylie Marching Invitational
• Friday, October 3: Away Football Game vs McKinney
• Saturday, October 4: Sounds of Fall Marching Classic
• Friday, October 10: Home Game vs Allen
• Saturday, October 11: UIL Region 25 Marching Band Contest

Students who lose eligibility for this period will have the opportunity to regain eligibility following the report card at the end of the 1st 9-weeks. Students who meet eligibility requirements at this date will become eligible at the end of the school day on Wednesday, October 15.

Academically ineligible students are still required to attend and participate in all rehearsals during and outside of the school day.

As we make our way through September, contest season (or Bandtober, as some may call it) is rapidly approaching. Marching band contests take place on Saturdays from late September through October and occasionally beyond. Our first contest is this Saturday, with three other dates upcoming:

• September 27 - Wylie Marching Invitational (Wylie)
• October 4 - Sounds of Fall Marching Classic (Princeton)
• October 11 - UIL Region 25 Marching Band Contest (Murphy)
• October 25 - UIL Area Marching Band Contest (McKinney)

These performances represent the peak of our marching band season and are required for all Band and Colorguard students. Families should notify the directors immediately if there are any known conflicts on these performance dates.

The BIGGEST night of the season has arrived ! We NEED all hands on deck! Can we pull the biggest night off with some amazing and awesome volunteers!! ️

**HOMECOMING GAME! 9/26**

Section spotlight : Woodwinds!

We have plenty of stations ! YOU asked ! WE heard you ! Stations are now SPLIT by Quarter! Sign up for one , two , all quarters whatever works for YOU!

Stations offered :
*Water / drink stations !
*Concession stand !
*Spirit store !
*Snack passers !

ALL is welcomed !! We need YOU to make this night possible !! Avoid LONG lines and most importantly the band members have a VIP line for the third quarter !

Perks = FREE Admission and FREE meal!!

Come and show out on the biggest night of the season !! As always have questions please contact the boosters by joining the Princeton Panther Band Boosters Facebook Page

Busy Week Ahead = Another volunteer opportunity

The band is in NEED of food servers and also Bus Chaperones for this years first band competition in Wylie ! All times are subject to change as we finalize times volunteers please be flexible as we will announce instructions as soon as ALL slots have been filled !

Sign up JUST to serve or sign up for BOTH

We couldn’t do this BAND FAM thing without YOU! Thank you to all volunteers who have been helping and has helped with any of our asks !

Boosters would like to send a THANK YOU to everyone who’s donated snacks so far!

As we head into the rest of marching season (about 10 more events to go!), Boosters would give a quick update on our snack supplies. While we’re grateful for and still accepting all donations, we're currently running low on:

Granola bars

Trail mix

BelVita bars

Sports drinks (like Gatorade, Powerade, etc.)

Each snack bag typically includes:
1 salty item
1 sweet item
1 granola-type, "healthy-ish" item

So if you're able to donate, these items would be especially helpful.
Use the amazon link, donate with the square app, or drop off your purchases after practice (Tuesdays and Thursday) ! If you would like to contact the boosters regarding arrangement of drop off outside the drop off days or time please contact the band boosters at ppantherbandboosters@gmail.com.

Let’s keep our awesome band fueled and ready to shine!

Thanks again for your support — we couldn’t do this without you!

Snack Sign Up Genius Link:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050948AAAF2BA2FB6-51428543-competition

Amazon Link:

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/EPUON1H3OL3Z?ref_=wl_share

Square Link:

https://share.google/e0WHk5yeiq9pIF5UN

All fees should now be updated in CutTime. Balances may be paid online by clicking the "Make A Payment" button. If you prefer to pay your balance via cash or check, you may have students deliver payments to a band director or mail a check (please do not mail cash) to:

Princeton High School Band

Princeton Senior High School

1000 E Princeton Dr

Princeton, TX 75407

Families who would like to pay their fee balances over time are encouraged to contact Dr. Knight (steven.knight@princetonisd.net) to discuss setting up a payment plan.

The official calendar for the Princeton High School Band can be found on the high school band website. While the calendar already includes events for the entire school year, there may be updates to the calendar as the year progresses. We will try to communicate any changes well in advance, students and families are encouraged to periodically check the calendar to ensure they have the most current information.

Monday, 9/22: Rehearsal, 5:00-8:00pm

Tuesday, 9/23: Rehearsal, 3:30-6:00pm

Thursday, 9/25: Rehearsal, 3:30-6:00pm

Friday, 9/26: HOMECOMING PEP RALLY, PARADE, & FOOTBALL GAME

Saturday, 9/27: WYLIE MARCHING INVITATIONAL (8:30am call time)

Monday, 9/29: Rehearsal, 5:00-8:00pm

Tuesday, 9/30: Rehearsal, 3:30-6:00pm

Thursday, 10/2: Rehearsal, 3:30-6:00pm

Friday, 10/3: Away Football Game vs McKinney, (3:30pm call time)

Saturday, 10/4: Sounds of Fall Marching Classic (8:45am call time)

Monday, 10/6: Rehearsal, 5:00-8:00pm

Tuesday, 10/7: Rehearsal, 3:30-6:00pm

Wednesday, 10/8: End of Quarter 1, Eligibility Check for All Students

Thursday, 10/9: Rehearsal, 3:30-6:00pm

Friday, 10/10: Home Football Game vs Allen (5:00pm call time)

Saturday, 10/11: Region 25 UIL Marching Contest (7:00am call time)

Dr. Steven Knight

Director of Bands

steven.knight@princetonisd.net

Jeremy Diaz

Assistant Band Director

jdiaz@princetonisd.net

Emily Amigh

Assistant Band Director

emily.amigh@princetonisd.net

Alan Gray

Percussion Director

agray@princetonisd.net

Ben Cordell

Assistant Percussion Director

bcordell@princetonisd.net

Michael McGehee

Colorguard Director

mmcgehee@princetonisd.net

Madison Jenkins

Colorguard Assistant

madison.jenkins@princetonisd.net