Winter Concert

In order to resolve conflicts with the UIL Academic contests, we will move our concert to December 13th. A letter has been given to every student, and is being sent home to all MS and HS parents. Below is a copy of the letter:

Dear Parents and Band Members,

Our annual winter concert will be on December 13th. Students are to be in the band room at 6:30 PM. The concert will begin at 7:00 PM. The concert will be over at 7:50 PM. Refreshments will be served after the concert. We do ask that when refreshments are served, we do not take any food into the auditorium.

Student dress will be the following:

Shirt - Pick something with a collar.
Pants - Avoid jeans if at all possible. No shorts. If a skirt is a consideration, please keep in mind that the stage is a very tall stage. We do not want any student to be embarrassed.
Shoes - No Flip Flops! Please avoid sneakers if at all possible. For safety, closed toed shoes are preferred.


Auditorium Rules:

No Food or Drink in the auditorium
No Cat Calls, Cheering, or Loud Noises
Please avoid flash photography while the students are performing.
Students may not leave until the last ensemble is finished.
Please remember, this is a “formal” function in a school setting. Appropriate behavior is expected


If you have any questions, please contact me by phone or email. My office phone is 903 895 4503 x 138. My email is waltemathb@westrusk.esc7.net.


Sincerely,



William S. Waltemath
Director of Bands
West Rusk ISD

Great Job 2007 Raider Marching Band

First division at UIL Regionals, First time to go to Area, and winning Fourth Place in the N.A.M.M.B. 2A division is one incredible year. You have alot to be proud of, and yet we have more to accomplish. You have done great! Get some well deserved rest, recuperate, and get ready to keep adding to an already incredible year!

Schedule for NAMMB Saturday November 10, 2007

Well, here it is. Let's Roll!

8:15 On Field
9:15 In Uniform Roll Check / Load
9:30 Depart
10:00 Watch the JH Band perform at the Syrup Festival
10:30 Depart the Syrup Festival
12:00 Arrive at SFA
12:30 Warm Up
1:15 Perform
6:30 Awards
7:00 Depart for Home

The Final Week!

Back in August who would have thought we would be where we are now. First division at regionals, our first appearance at area, and getting ready to go to NAMMB for the first time in the history of the band. Great things are not easy. This week will be difficult. The kids are tired. The staff is tired. The parents are tired. We will have to reformat our block once again due to kids that will be out of town this weekend. Oh well, get over it! If greatness was easy, everyone would be great. It takes a special breed to achieve greatness. Greatness takes a person who can see byond the immediate, and beyond themselves. Greatness hurts physically, emotionally, and in so many other ways. Before you can achieve it, it will make you want to quit with every fiber of your being. At the time of that darkest moment you have to reach in, find that inner strength, belive in your ability to finish, and keep going. I keep thinking of the marine saying of improvise, adapt, and overcome. This week, we will have to do just that. We will have to improvise our new block and drill settings. We will have to quickly adapt to the demands that these thing sout on us, and we will have to overcome the exhaustion, the frustration, the simply being worn down with this and each other to achieve greatness.

Kids, I am so proud of you words can not describe. This year has not gone perfect. They never do. In the beginning I told you that a season never goes perfect. I told you that a major key is how we react to the things that do not go well. Today, you understand the meaning of those words. A reason we are here is because when we hit road blocks, when we hit frustrations, we kept going and found ways to improvise, adapt, and overcome.

Your tired physically and emotionally. I am too. Quiting only guarantees you fall short. Kids, it is in you. Believe it! Reach deep and find it! If you can, at 1:30 PM on Saturday, you will have earned your place in history as the most achieved West Rusk Raider Band Ever!

Monday Night Practices

Ok, we are still having a bit of confusion. At our last monday night practice, the kids made clear that they were very worn out, so I agreed to have no more Monday night practices for the rest of the season. Even though I said this publicly alot, it still hasn't quite all sunk in. We will not have any more Monday night practices for the rest of the marching season. We may have a couple in the spring (late March / Early April) to finish getting ready for concert UIL. the kids have worked hard, and made great accomplishments, but are absolutely worn out. that is why I agreed to cancel the rest of Monday night practices. I truly apologize for confusion that this has caused.

UIL Area

We will perform at 3:15 at Lufkin HS Stadium. PLEASE BE THERE EARLY!!!! There is nothing worse than seeing a parent walk into the stadium right as we are coming off the field. Contests run early sometimes. If it is 2:55 and they say we have to step off, we have to step off. I can not say we have to wait till 3:15. We will be disqualified. As a standard practice, it is best to be in the stadium an hour early, and be prepared for the possibility of the band performing late. I realize that this means a bit of sitting in a stadium. Think of it as a flight to the Bahamas. Would you rather be at the airport early and be on the flight, or would you feel comfortable with possibily missing the plane. See ya in Lufkin!

SUPERIOR!

Hey Everyone,

Well, what can we say other than “We’re Superior”! If you haven’t heard the news, the Raider Band has earned a superior at UIL Marching contest for the first time in eighteen years. The band has now secured a spot in the UIL Area Marching Competition, and in the National Association of Military Marching Bands Competition. This is an incredible accomplishment that our kids have made. What it also means is that we have a lot of new challenges ahead of us. On the back side of this letter is a sketch of what we know as of now. More will be added as we get the information. Also, if you have a question of any kind, please do not hesitate to call me or email me at waltemathb@westrusk.esc7.net or 903 895 4503 x138.


What We Know As Of Now

More to come as we get the info!

Monday October 22
8:00 AM - 8:50 AM Regular Rehearsal
6:30 PM - 8:30 AM Evening Rehearsal

Tuesday October 23
8:00 AM – 8:50 AM Regular Rehearsal

Wednesday October 24
8:00 AM – 8:50 AM Regular Rehearsal

Thursday October 25
8:00 AM – 8:50 AM Regular Rehearsal
11:00 AM – 11:30 AM Lunch
11:30 AM - 11:40 AM Load / Depart
12:45 PM – 2:45 PM Clinic at Longview HS with Harvey Durham
(All must wear their performance shoes, and hats)

Friday October 26
8:00 AM – 8:50 AM Regular Rehearsal
5:00 PM Uniform Adjustments (Hemming, adjusting, etc.)
6:15 PM Attendance
7:00 PM Enter Stadium
7:30 PM Kick Off
10:00 PM Estimated Go Home Time

Saturday October 27
8:00 AM – 8:30 AM Breakfast
8:30 AM - ?:?? Rehearsal
Midnight Estimated Home Arrival
As soon as we have the final performance order and schedule, we will post it online in the announcements section.

Monday October 29
8:00 AM – 8:50 AM Regular Rehearsal
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM Night Rehearsal

Monday November 5
8:00 AM – 8:50 AM Regular Rehearsal
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM Night Rehearsal

Thursday November 8th
Clinic Info TBA!

Saturday November 10
Plan to be free ALL DAY. I will get the schedule to you when we receive it.

Letter Jackets, Stripes, Awards

The form to tabulate student awards is available in the band room, and on line under downloads. It must be returned by October 15th. Jacket fitting is on October 16th, at 9:00 AM in the band room.

Monday Night Rehearsal

We do have practice this Monday night from 6:30 - 8:30PM. All students are to attend. See you there!

September Newsletter

The September Newsletter is now available in the downloads section of this web page. If you haven't already received a copy, please download one!

Welcome to 2007 - 2008

By now you can see that we have launched our new web site. In order to make communication easier, we ask that a parent or guardian for every student submit an email address to wrraiderbands@gmail.com In your email, list your name, your students name, and the grade that your student or students are in. If there is a problem, please call me at 903 895 4503 x138. This will make things far more easy to communicate.