BOA Conroe 2018

[Nny14]

  On 9/16/2018 at 9:41 PM, Jeffrey L. Gorman said:

I am sorry that this situation is occuring. Being from a Region in UIL that almost never sends any Bands to BOA, I see some differences that cause problems.

 

If the contest was UIL Regional Marching Contest, UIL policy requires the Schools to allow the Bands to perform at Marching Contest. Several years ago in Region 8 there were two games scheduled on Saturday afternoons right in the midst of the Class 6A Marching Bands schedule for Marching. The Four Band Directors made their administrators aware of this and they ruled that UIL Contest takes priority over the Football games. The Bands did Regional Marching Contest and they played records at the games. The problem and this is a "BIG ONE" is that BOA is not a UIL sponsored event. I do think it is a bit petty to force the Band to go, however remember this , THE FOOTBALL GAME IS A SCHOOL ACTIVITY. That is why they can demand the Band be at a Game. Even if you win this one , you will lose support from the school community. Good Luck. Why can's the Bands performance time in the Finals be moved so lthat can appear at the game and the contest, or move the time of the Game, which would allow the Band to do both.

I'm sorry, I didn't realize football players are unable to play without the band there. If it's such an important "school activity" for the band to be there, then maybe almost all of the stands shouldn't be allowed to bail during halftime when the band performs.

[TWHSParent]

  On 9/16/2018 at 9:41 PM, Jeffrey L. Gorman said:

I am sorry that this situation is occuring.  Being from a Region in UIL that almost never sends any Bands to BOA, I see some differences that cause problems.

 

If the contest was UIL Regional Marching Contest, UIL policy requires the Schools to allow the Bands to perform at Marching Contest. Several years ago in Region 8 there were two games scheduled on Saturday afternoons right in the midst of the Class 6A Marching Bands schedule for Marching. The Four Band Directors made their administrators aware of this and they ruled that UIL Contest takes priority over the Football games. The Bands did Regional Marching Contest and they played records at the games. The problem and this is a "BIG ONE" is that BOA is not a UIL sponsored event.  I do think it is a bit petty to force the Band to go, however remember this , THE FOOTBALL GAME IS A SCHOOL ACTIVITY. That is why they can demand the Band be at a Game.  Even if you win this one , you will lose support from the school community. Good Luck. Why can's the Bands performance time in the Finals be moved so lthat can appear at the game and the contest, or move the time of the Game, which would allow the Band to do both.

 

It has never been a question of whether the administration can or can't make the band attend the football game - they can, and that is and has been understood. The question is - is that really the right thing for the band kids? Ostensibly the system is about their education and growth, and that is a powerful path to present against attending a regular season football game.

 

I'm not sure how much community support would be lost by not attending. Per Bandmomx4's comments, there appears to be community support in at least 1 area of The Woodlands. It would be interesting to know how many people affiliated with TWHS actually attend the away game. Bands have conflicts at various points, and may not attend due to weather or some such. I for one will challenge the status of football in Texas - it should not be the tail wagging the dog on every activity in high school. Of course, after this year I no longer have skin in the game, as our youngest is now a senior. He really enjoys band, and is pretty "Meh" on football games. He wants to compete against Reagan, Vandy, and Bowie (and Cy-Fair, Pearland, Churchill, Clear Brook, etc.). I support that and am fighting for his ability to do that at this show. I also think people in the school community don't realize that this contest is livestreamed, and thousands of people will be watching on that, along with a few thousand in the stands. Personally I see that as giving the school a bigger platform than a football game that essentially no one will see, or frankly, care about.

 

As I understand "School Activity", any time a student is part of a school sponsored group, and they present themselves as affiliated with that school, it is a school activity, and therefore all the requirements and rules the school has in place apply. So even though BOA is not UIL, the band performance at that contest is still considered a school activity. I could be wrong, as I didn't check on the definitions before typing.

 

The timing angle is interesting. There is no way the game time will be moved from 6pm. That is set by Klein ISD. If TWHS is in the top 5, the earliest they would perform would be 9:15, with a warmup starting at around 8:00. Klein Memorial Stadium is about 30 minutes from Woodforest Stadium (assuming normal traffic). That would be tight. Maybe they go for the first half, then leave just before halftime. The TWHS Highsteppers can and do use recordings for their show (per a statement made at the Booster meeting last week), so that is a possibility. It would still be best for the band to focus on the contest and not try to make a mad dash across the northern suburbs of Houston.

[LeanderMomma]

I composed and sent my very respectful emails earlier today. Hopefully our outcry will be heard and changes will be made to this very antiquated school policy.

[LostChoirGuy]

I'm curious how much of the attendance at away games is juat the band and families of band members, anyways... Maybe that is why the administration wants you to go. That might account for a large portion of the attendees.

[CTJBandPops]

  On 9/16/2018 at 10:55 PM, LostChoirGuy said:

I'm curious how much of the attendance at away games is juat the band and families of band members, anyways... Maybe that is why the administration wants you to go. That might account for a large portion of the attendees.

i could imagine - the game I went too Friday - take away the band and the drill team - there might have been 50 people in the visitor stands

[Parkwoodmom]

  On 9/16/2018 at 10:49 PM, LeanderMomma said:

I composed and sent my very respectful emails earlier today. Hopefully our outcry will be heard and changes will be made to this very antiquated school policy.

 

[LeanderMomma]

  On 9/17/2018 at 12:02 AM, Alvin said:

IMG_0645.JPG

Nice!!!

[LeanderMomma]

  On 9/16/2018 at 10:49 PM, LeanderMomma said:

I composed and sent my very respectful emails earlier today. Hopefully our outcry will be heard and changes will be made to this very antiquated school policy.

I got a nice response from Dr. Landry. I pray there will be a mutually acceptable solution to this situation because it would be a real shame if the administration keeps this amazing band from the strong possibility of medalling at this contest on their home turf.

[Danpod]

  On 9/17/2018 at 2:56 AM, LeanderMomma said:

I got a nice response from Dr. Landry. I pray there will be a mutually acceptable solution to this situation because it would be a real shame if the administration keeps this amazing band from the strong possibility of medalling at this contest on their home turf.

 

Okay, so you're telling me the bag of flaming dog poop is not the best idea....

 

(Seriously, folks.  It's a joke. Don't do that!!!!)

[LeanderMomma]

  On 9/17/2018 at 3:44 AM, Danpod said:

Okay, so you're telling me the bag of flaming dog poop is not the best idea....

 

(Seriously, folks. It's a joke. Don't do that!!!!)

Yeah, probably not.

[LostChoirGuy]

I finally just sent my (very long and perhaps more intense than originally intended) email off.

[BenedictCucumberpatch]

As of now, TWHS Marching Band will be allowed to participate in BOA Conroe Finals should they qualify. The principal just informed the band today after school with the amazing news. We are overjoyed in this decision and in our principal’s debt. This also means y’all can stop writing letters and such. Go WOODLANDS!!!

[Samuel Culper]

  On 9/17/2018 at 8:32 PM, Varity said:

As of now, TWHS Marching Band will be allowed to participate in BOA Conroe Finals should they qualify. The principal just informed the band today after school with the amazing news. We are overjoyed in this decision and in our principal’s debt. This also means y’all can stop writing letters and such. Go WOODLANDS!!!

Great news!

[LostChoirGuy]

YAY! I wonder how much of this decision has to do with the inundation of letters they received?

[WoodlandsMom4ever]

I just got on to share the great news!! Varsity beat me to the posting... Thank you everyone for your support!

[Txbandfan89]

  On 9/17/2018 at 8:49 PM, LostChoirGuy said:

YAY! I wonder how much of this decision has to do with the inundation of letters they received?

 

I am chuckling a little bit at the thought.  I don't think people who are not involved with band get it.  They think - what's the big deal, either way they are playing their instruments.  I'm sure once they realized the passion these kids have to perform for people who actually care about what they are doing, it was an easy decision.  Very happy with the outcome!

[LeanderMomma]

  On 9/17/2018 at 8:32 PM, Varity said:

As of now, TWHS Marching Band will be allowed to participate in BOA Conroe Finals should they qualify. The principal just informed the band today after school with the amazing news. We are overjoyed in this decision and in our principal’s debt. This also means y’all can stop writing letters and such. Go WOODLANDS!!!

 

That is simply the BEST news!!!!

 

Hopefully they will change this policy for the future as well!

[TWHSParent]

Yay! Thank you to all that supported us!

[Danpod]

YAY!!!!!  I love this!!!!!!  Major props to all the people who sent in letters and did what they could to fight for the band program!!!

[whitewing09]

dang, talk about civic engagement at its finest.

[Rudedog34]

This is why we're proud band geeks. Note: Coming from a dad who was all sports at this age and was more concerned with crashing the band parties. I've been delt a band hand and I'm all in.

Great job Texas High School marching band fans!

[FaultLineBlues]

Honestly, this whole situation reminds me of BoA Conroe 2015 haha, I had made a bet with my section for motivation, that if we had made top three, I would get ANY haircut that they wanted, and at the time I had really long hair so they were all super excited. We went to the contest and at prelims got 4th and I thought I was in the clear, but I then found out that The Woodlands had to leave to perform at a football game! At finals we got moved up to 3rd cause of them having to drop out, and then I ended up getting the ugliest haircut I've ever gotten. I like to imagine The Woodlands being allowed to stay for finals at this contest has saved some poor trumpet players hair from being mangled like mine.

[LeanderMomma]

  On 9/18/2018 at 8:05 PM, FaultLineBlues said:

Honestly, this whole situation reminds me of BoA Conroe 2015 haha, I had made a bet with my section for motivation, that if we had made top three, I would get ANY haircut that they wanted, and at the time I had really long hair so they were all super excited. We went to the contest and at prelims got 4th and I thought I was in the clear, but I then found out that The Woodlands had to leave to perform at a football game! At finals we got moved up to 3rd cause of them having to drop out, and then I ended up getting the ugliest haircut I've ever gotten. I like to imagine The Woodlands being allowed to stay for finals at this contest has saved some poor trumpet players hair from being mangled like mine.

That's an awesome story!

[TWHSParent]

  On 9/18/2018 at 8:05 PM, FaultLineBlues said:

Honestly, this whole situation reminds me of BoA Conroe 2015 haha, I had made a bet with my section for motivation, that if we had made top three, I would get ANY haircut that they wanted, and at the time I had really long hair so they were all super excited. We went to the contest and at prelims got 4th and I thought I was in the clear, but I then found out that The Woodlands had to leave to perform at a football game! At finals we got moved up to 3rd cause of them having to drop out, and then I ended up getting the ugliest haircut I've ever gotten. I like to imagine The Woodlands being allowed to stay for finals at this contest has saved some poor trumpet players hair from being mangled like mine.

 

Great story! If I'd have been a little more in touch with marching band in Texas that year, I probably would have raised something similar to what happened this year. What I do remember is that they had the football game on the band schedule from the beginning, so there was not a question, certainly not to a freshman parent. I was not happy about it, but I hadn't discovered this site just yet either....

[TWHSParent]

For anyone in the area and interested, TWHS will be performing their show after the football game Friday night September 28th (weather permitting) at Woodforest Stadium, as it is homecoming.