HHS band weekly newsletter september 16 - september 22, 2024

Things We Like

 Spirit Night

​Weekly Schedule

Monday: Marching Percussion Sectional 4-5 pm
Tuesday:  Marching Band Rehearsal 4-6.  Color Guard only 4-7.  
Wednesday: Off
Thursday: Marching Band Rehearsal 4-6
Friday: Game vs. Sparkman, Senior Night @Joe Davis Stadium / Wickes Field
Saturday:  Rocket City Invitational Marching Competition
Monday, Sept 23 - HJHS vs. HCMS Game performance!

Gameday Information and Schedule-
Schedule
"B" Day Load - Load truck/trailer during band class
3:40 pm School Dismisses.  Go eat dinner!
5:30 pm - Color Guard and Winds meet at Gate 1 (west side of stadium) - same location as last year. The instrument trailer will be at Gate 1.  Percussion meet at truck unloading area near Gate 3 (South gate) - same location our truck was last year.   We will do warm ups in these areas once unloaded.
6:20 pm - All students enter gate 1 together and get situated in the stands.  Make your way down for pregame.
6:45 pm - Pregame!!
7:00 pm - Game Starts.  Senior Night Halftime show!  
~10:00 pm - Game ends.  We will perform the halftime show AFTER the game to help us prepare for our competition on Saturday.
~10:45 pm - Pack and Load/Dismiss

Things you need
Instrument/Equipment and accessories (you are responsible for making sure it gets loaded)
FULL WATER JUG (the one you use for rehearsal)
Uniform (for winds and percussion:  uniform bag with your jacket, bibbers(pants), gauntlets, black dry fit shirt, marching shoes, full length BLACK SOCKS!!, gloves (not percussion), and shako)
Flip folder with stand tunes (winds and percussion)

Stadium
We all meet at Joe Davis Stadium/Wicks Field (no buses provided).
Here is a map of the stadium.  The band is planning to sit in section 202 and enter gate 1. 
Our trailer will be at gate 1 with us but the truck must be located at the only equipment entrance to the stadium, which is located behind section 226 on the south side of the stadium.  This event is run by the Wicks Field staff (not HCS like at Milton Frank), so their policies are in place, including going through their security system.  Wicks Stadium Policies

Uniform
Full Uniform!!!  A reminder that students should not eat/drink anything other than water while in uniform.  Hair should be pulled up into the shako (including any guys with long hair).  No jewelry.

Rocket City Invitational - Saturday, September 21st at Madison City Stadium
Schedule
11:00 am - Band Room open
11:30 am Arrive in Band room.  Please eat brunch or an early lunch prior to arriving.  TRUCK/TRAILER  should be already loaded from Friday night's game.
12:00 pm  Depart to Madison City Stadium in bibbers on school buses.
12:20 pm  Arrive at Madison City Stadium.  Unload, dress, prepare for warmups
1:30 pm   Line up to warm up
1:40 pm  Warm up 
2:10 pm  Transition to performance
2:25 pm  PRELIMS PERFORMANCE!!
3:00 pm  Clinic with judge
3:30 pm  Return to buses 
After the clinic students will have free time to get out of uniform and watch other bands or get concessions until finals start. Once we have our finals time a schedule for the evening will be sent out on the band.  
4:30 pm Awards (award representatives).  Students should be seated in our assigned area for awards.
6:00 pm Finals performances begin
Performance time TBA - after our performance you will change out of your uniform and have the remaining time free to watch bands or visit concessions.  
8:00 pm  Last Finals band performs.  
8:15 pm - Bob Jones Performs (exhibition)
8:30 pm - Alabama A&M performs (exhibition)
9:00 pm - Awards.  You must be seated together with our band in our assigned section when Alabama A&M performs and remain with us the rest of the evening.  All students are expected to stay through awards.
9:30 pm - Load and depart.  We will send out an ETA to the band app .https://band.us/n/aea4A8CaQ8Tac
~10:15 pm Arrive back at Huntsville High School 

Things you need
Instrument/Equipment and Accessories - it should be loaded from Friday night if it goes on the truck or trailer.
FULL WATER JUG (the one you use for rehearsal)

Uniform (for winds and percussion:  uniform bag with your jacket, bibbers(pants), gauntlets, black dry fit shirt, marching shoes, full length BLACK SOCKS!!, gloves (not percussion), and shako)
Money for dinner/snacks
Snacks of your own to keep on the bus.

Location
Madison City Stadium (same location as James Clemens game) located near Journey Middle School on Celtic Dr in Madison.
Although we played James Clemens, the flow and set up is a little different.
Check out this map of the area.

Spectators - how to attend 
We love a huge cheering section!!  We encourage family and friends to attend all our competitions and show your support for us and the other bands participating.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for students 12 and under.  You will be given a wristband which will allow for re-entry at any time. Remember this is a fundraiser for the Bob Jones Band Program.  To purchase a ticket in advance download the S2 app (similar to our GoFans app) and follow these instructions.  There is no charge for parking.

Food
Please eat a late brunch or early lunch before you come.  You will also have time after our prelims performances and possibly after our finals performance to get food at the stadium.  Here is the concession menu.  Cash and credit card accepted.

We also encourage students to bring on the bus to eat between performances or after our finals performance.  Please bring your water bottle!

Other information
You can see the official schedule and other bands participating here
You can see the official facebook event here
All students are required to stay through awards at finals (9:00 pm).  Any students not riding the bus back must check their student out with Mrs. Johnson after awards unless previously approved by a director.  It can be a chaotic time after awards - the best place to check a student out is at the bus.  Do not just leave as it creates issues for accounting for all students.  

HJHS vs. HCMS Game - Monday, September 23rd at Milton Frank
Tentative Schedule (final Schedule next Sunday)
3:40 pm - School ends.  Immediately head to Milton Frank Stadium.
4:00 pm - unload truck
4:30 pm - Game Starts.  We will perform in the endzone during the first half, perform halftime and then students can play with their middle school bands the 2nd half. 
6:30 pm - Game ends - load trucks and go home!

OPTIONAL FALL BREAK GAME - FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4
Sign up here to play in the Fall Break Pep Band!

We are planning to take a pep band to Austin High School (Decatur) for the Fall Break game on Friday, October 4th.  As we have done in the past, we ask students who will be in town that day to sign up to play because we will need a good group that night!  For our planning purposes for buses and making sure we have all instruments covered, please Sign up here.  We will not be performing the halftime show this night.  

Special Concert / Collaboration
The UAH Wind Ensemble will be performing a concert at HHS on Thursday, September 26th at 7:30 pm in the auditorium.  We would love families to come and support this concert.  It will be less than an hour.

Students in Wind Ensemble are planning to collaborate on a piece as part of this concert.  We anticipate a short rehearsal after school on Wednesday, September 25th and a performance at the concert on Thursday, September 26th.  More info as we get closer....

Band App
All parents and band students should be on the band app on your smart phone for last minute changes to the schedule and reminders.
Join our ‘Huntsville High School Band’ group on the BAND app. Get updates and stay connected!  https://band.us/n/aea4A8CaQ8Tac

Upcoming Dates
Monday, September 23rd - HCMS vs. HJHS Football game 4:30 Milton Frank
Thursday, September 26th - Blossomwood Pep Rally (during school) - we will take a small group of students - more info soon.
Thursday, September 26th - UAH Wind Ensemble Collaborative Concert 7:30 auditorium.
Friday, October 4th - Fall Break Game @Austin high school.  Optional.  
Wednesday, October 9th - Extra homecoming rehearsal 4-5 pm.
Thursday, October 10th - Homecoming Parade (around the school) 6:00 pm.
Friday, October 11th - Homecoming Game (pep rally during advisory)
Friday, October 18th - Game at Florence HS (leaving before school ends)
Saturday, October 19th - Marching Competition - Stones River Classic in Murfreesboro, Tn (all day event)

Questions/Concerns?  Please contact the following:
Grades, missing rehearsals/absences, conflicts, instruments, general band questions - [email protected] or [email protected]

If you have any of the following issues, please direct your questions to [email protected]. They’ll be able to guide you to the appropriate point of contact.

• Band Student Account Balances, band fees
• Business or Individual Sponsorships
• Fundraising Questions 
• Volunteering/Chaperones 
• Cut Time, Band App, or Social Media Questions 
• Senior Night 
• Uniforms (except color guard uniforms)  
• Color Guard including uniforms (except for absences, conflicts, or grades) 
• Percussion 
• General Band Boosters Questions