Clover High School

MARCHING BAND

ROOKIE HANDBOOK

2014-2015

Welcome to Marching Band

Instructors:

Mr. Eric Wells – Clover High School Band Director

Mr. Dan Lenard - Percussion

Ms. Anne Lewis – Front Ensemble

TBD – Color Guard

Mr. Jonathan Rudd – Clover Middle School Band Director

Who are we – CLOVER BAND!

Marching Band Information

The Clover High School Marching Band program is an award-winning co-curricular activity recognized for its superior

performances and high rankings at the state level. The program has three parts: Band consisting of Woodwinds and

Brass, Percussion consisting of the Front Ensemble and Drumline, and the Color Guard. The Marching Band program

practices and performs from mid-July through October. Beginning with the 2014 school year, Clover became a Class

AAAAA (or 5A) Marching Band; class is defined by the size of the school.

Percussion and Guard have both fall and winter programs. These programs perform as part of the Marching Band in the

fall, students can elect to be part of Indoor Drum Line/Percussion Ensemble or Winter Guard once the Marching season

is over. Clover’s Indoor Drum Line is an internationally recognized, award winning student program.

Marching Band FEES

Marching Band has an associated required cost to help pay for the program’s expenses. The approximate cost per

student for Marching Band is $550.00. To participate in the program, students pay $300.00, (with discounts given to

families with more than one student in the program), and fundraise $250. Intent fees are due at the end of the school

year for the following year. The Marching Band roster is created based on these fees. The second and third fee

payments are due in mid-July and before the first of September. Students who have not paid their fees by the first

football game may not march. The Boosters work out payment plans for students who cannot pay Marching Band fees.

All participating students are required to fund raise at a predetermined minimum level to cover the $250 cost per

student not covered by fees. The Boosters hold a minimum of five fundraisers each year with additional fundraisers for

the Indoor Drum Line and Winter Guard Programs. Almost all fundraisers support the Marching Band students’ costs

with extra fundraising monies deposited in students’ accounts. (NOTE that students who have not met their fee

requirements or who have been awarded a scholarship are required to fully participate in fundraising to pay any balance

owed for their fees or to help offset the scholarship award.)

What does the Band Fee include? (in order of estimated budgeted expense)

o Contract instructors

o Scholarships

o Private lessons

o Drum Line Expenses

o Winter Guard Expenses

o Band Camp Meals

o Show shirt and bib shirt (yearly)

o One time pair of shoes (30.00 for another pair)

o Competition meals (when provided, up to six/student/season), drinks & snacks

o Dry cleaning of the uniforms

o Registration, admission, & fees for Band Competitions

o Props

o Unexpected transportation expenses

o Music & Drill fees – Drill writer, Copyright fees, Percussion parts, Pep Music

o Percussion Equipment

o Guard Equipment

o Student Parties & Events

o Awards

Payments

There is a blue payment box mounted on the back wall in the band room (near the doors to the hall for the bathrooms).

This is a locked box. Drop your payments, forms, etc. in this box. PLEASE make sure you put your STUDENT’S name is on

anything you put in the payment box. Make checks payable to Clover Band Boosters.

Forms

Every Marching Band student is expected to turn in his or her Medical and Information forms by May 31st. These are

required by the school district if the student wishes to participate in Marching Band. In addition, rookie students are

required to turn in their signed Uniform Policy. Any student requesting scholarship monies must turn in the Scholarship

Request form by May 23rd.

Uniforms

SUMMER UNIFORM:

Band Bib Shirt (Boosters provide 1/student, if you outgrow your shirt, pay $10.00 and order another)

Khaki shorts (students provide - must meet school dress code)

White ankle socks (students provide)

White sneakers (students provide)

FULL “FALL” UNIFORM:

Students get fitted for a formal fall uniform at the beginning of every Marching Band season. Students are responsible

for keeping their uniforms clean and keeping track of all parts of the uniform ensemble. If a uniform requires dry

cleaning before the end of the season, the student will be required to pay the $20.00 cost for dry cleaning the uniform.

Coat (Boosters issue) Bibs (Boosters issue)

Sash (Boosters issue) Gauntlets- one white/one blue (Boosters issue)

Hat/Box (Boosters issue) Gloves (Boosters provide one pair per student)

Garment bag (Boosters issue) Shoes (Boosters provide one pair per student)

Long Black Socks (students provide)

Band Bib Shirt (Boosters issue one per student) / or usually “Show Shirt” (Boosters issue)

COMMUNICATIONS

The Boosters communicate primarily by email. We ask that every student and parent give us a good email address so we

can keep all those involved in the program up to date and informed.

The Marching Band has a Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/home.php#%21/pages/Clover-Bands-Booster-

Club/118411878871 . Updates and reminders are often posted on Facebook. Please Like us.

The Marching Band also has a website:

http://www.clover.k12.sc.us/cms/Workspace/Section/Section.aspx?DomainID=1769

We try to keep this up-to-date with competition information and schedules.

At the end of the previous school year, you will receive a calendar for the upcoming Marching Band season. This

calendar will indicate the dates for rehearsals, Band Camp, football games, competitions, and fee payments. If you have

not received a copy of the calendar, please email the Band Booster President, and we will send you one by email.

Summer Band Camp

Band Camp runs for two weeks from the end of July into the early part of August. The days are generally long and hot.

Band Camp starts at noon and ends at 10 pm. Dinner is served around 5:30 pm.

Students are not outside all day, and they get frequent breaks. Every student needs to bring a water bottles, and a

cooler of water is always available. (They do have to wait in line during breaks for water from the cooler.) You may also

want to send snacks, but please do not send products containing peanuts or peanut butter; there are students who are

allergic to these products. Make sure students have sunscreen and hats, and that they eat before they get to practice.

(Again, supper is served around 5:30 pm.)

Parents are always welcome to come listen to the students play. (There is often a group of parents and family members

who gather in the evening beside the practice field during the last couple of hours of evening practice.)

The first Booster Meeting is usually held the Monday after Band Camp ends and is followed by the student exhibition.

Booster Meetings are held throughout the rest of the season on the second Monday of every month at 7 pm in the Band

Room.

Football Games

All Marching Band students must attend all HOME games. Mr. Wells will let students know in advance what to wear.

Most often, students will dress in kahki shorts/pants and the band shirt although, for some games, Mr. Wells asks

students to wear their uniforms. Show shirts must be tucked in. Water and snacks will be available. Please arrive at the

stadium by 6:00 pm. You must stay in the band stand area until the end of half time, and you will have 3rd quarter off to

get food, mingle, etc. You must be back in the Marching Band bandstand area two (2) minutes before the 4th quarter

starts and then stay until dismissed after the game. The equipment truck must be loaded after the game. A truck

unload group assigned by Mr. Wells will unload back at the school.

Details for AWAY games vary and the students do not attend many of these; Mr. Wells will instruct the students in

advance on the details for each game.

Band Competitions

A schedule for the competitions is available at the end of the previous season and during the Booster meetings each

month. All students must ride the bus to competitions and stay with the band group; parents are welcome to spend

time with the students at the buses during meals, but they may not sit in the stands in the students’ area unless they are

an assigned chaperone. Marching Band students may ride back with their parents only with a signed permission form

approved in advance by Mr. Wells.

Competition dress: Mr. Wells will let students know in advance what to wear to the competitions, normally shorts

(school appropriate) or pants – NO JEANS OR PAJAMA PANTS - and your band show shirt. These clothes are worn under

your uniform when you march so they need to be thin enough to prevent bulging (athletic pants work best), and they

must not show.

VOLUNTEERS

Volunteers are critical to the success of the Marching Band program. Please become a member of the Clover High School

Marching Band Booster Club ($10/year) and support your students’ program with your time and skills. Below is a list of

volunteer opportunities:

Band Camp

We always need parents’ help with medical oversight (simple, general medical supervision), food prep, serving, and

clean up. A volunteer roster is sent out by email during the summer for anyone who has some time to give to the

program.

Pit Crew

Each year, the Marching Band needs help loading and unloading the equipment truck both before and after football

games, competitions, and school events. In addition, we need volunteers to move equipment onto and off of the field at

Competitions and football games. Please contact the Band President if you are interested in being part of the Pit Crew.

Band Competition Meals

One or two parents every year take responsibility for the competition meals. This lead volunteer needs help with prep,

serving the students, and clean up at each competition. One or two meals during the competition season may be served

in the band room prior to the students leaving. The schedule and location for meals will be determined as the Marching

Band season’s schedule is finalized.

Uniforms

Each marching band student is issued a uniform at the beginning of band camp. Fittings are done before the competition

season begins, often during band camp. Volunteers are needed to help with the fittings, hemming, and light repairs.

Once Marching Band season begins, each student is responsible for his/her uniform, and uniforms are kept at the

band room. The section leaders are responsible for the students’ uniforms in their sections. Two volunteers are needed

to count the uniforms and hats after each game and competition to verify that all uniforms are on the racks and hats are

in the boxes.

Chaperones

Volunteer chaperones are needed for each bus going to competitions. Chaperones must fill out a form for Clover School

District and submit to a background check. Once approved, chaperone assignments are issued by the lead volunteer.

Please let the band president know if you are interested in being a chaperone.

Fish Fries

Volunteers are needed to help set-up, prep, cook, serve, and clean up during the Fall Fish Fry. This is a big event for the

band, and generally students sell an average of 1000 tickets. Volunteers can sign up to work shifts between Friday

evening and Sunday night. Students who sell a predetermined number of tickets (the minimum plus an additional

amount) may sign-up to wait tables. Parents are also needed who can contribute baked goods. See more detail below.

Panther Games

See the volunteer description for the Panther Games detailed below.

Student accounts

Details about earning money for student accounts can be found in the Student Account Guidelines on the website under

Information. Please note that students who have outstanding fee balances (overdue fees owed) for this year or a

previous year cannot earn money for their student accounts until the balances have been paid. The money earned will be

applied to their outstanding balances.

There are several opportunities for students (and parents) to earn money for student accounts – Panther games, Fall

Fish Fry, Spring Fish Fry, and Fundraiser Item Sales. Student account money can be used to pay Band Fees or can be

applied toward the spring trip. (As noted in Marching Band Fees, all students are required to fundraise at a

predetermined minimum level.)

Panther Games – Students must be 15, but parents can work at any time, even if the student is too young. The money

earned can be used to pay fees or for trips, etc. once cost requirements are met. The earnings/person/game varies, but

generally averages $20-$40/game/person. This is a volunteer position averaging 10 hours, but it is fun. Positions include

cash register, beer sales (18 or older only), drink vending, grill cook, supply and condiment staff, and clean up (everyone

participates). Food and drinks are provided from the stand. Required dress: black pants and close toed shoes, white

short-sleeved shirt. Over this, you will wear a supplied shirt, a bib apron, and a hat -- property of the band. Hair must be

pulled up or back, very small earrings. You will also be issued a name tag. Our stand is inside on the Club level.

Fish Fries and Points - For the fall Fish Fry, students (and parents) earn “points” for tickets sold and hours worked.

Account money earned averages $20-$30/account (although some students earn much more). Students that sell a

predetermined number of tickets may work as the wait staff.

The Spring Fish Fry is a take-out meal only. Students are required to sell a minimum number of tickets.

Other Fundraisers – Past years’ fundraisers have included AutoBell, Discount Card sales and Bed Sheets. Fundraisers vary

yearly. Monies credited to student accounts varies accordingly.

OTHER

Christmas Parade and other parades/events

Mr. Wells will provide information on the date(s) and location(s) of these events and details concerning where to meet

and what to wear.

Lettering in Band

The Clover High School Marching Band Program allows students a lettering opportunity in this co-curricular activity

(much like students can letter in athletic programs). To letter in band, students must meet the following requirements:

• Participate in Marching Band, and in Band or Guard through the entire school year.

• Maintain an A average in all Band or Guard classes

• Take in a designated number of private lessons (determined by Mr. Wells)

• Student instrumentalists must have participated/auditioned for at least two of the following

o Region/All State

o Solo & Ensemble

o Jazz Ensemble

o Indoor Drum Line

o Any other school-sponsored ensemble or event

Band Jackets

Every fall and spring, the Clover High School sells letter jackets. The school announces the selling dates, and students are

responsible for ordering and purchasing letter jackets.

End of Year Band Trip

The Marching Band schedules a trip every other. This trip is at an additional cost. Mr. Wells provides the students with

details about the trip as the trip date gets closer. Parents who decide to take the trip with the students may be asked to

volunteer to help chaperone.

Band Booster Executive Committee

2013/2014 President – also acting Secretary

� Charity Kimmel (Alex Wilson’s mom)

o 2013/2014 Vice President

� Roy Brinkley (Bittany’s dad)

o 2013/2014 Treasurer

� Kim Sudol (Hallie Aldridge’s mom)

o 2013/2014 At Large members

� Angela Kellett (Savannah’s mom)

� Trinna Meek (Rachel’s mom)

Clover Band Booster Membership: $10 (Voting member status)

Meetings: 2nd Monday of each month, 7:00 Band Room unless announced/communicated otherwise

Other pages

WEBSITE: http://www.clover.k12.sc.us/cms/Workspace/Section/Section.aspx?DomainID=1769

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Clover-Bands-Booster-Club/118411878871