Monday, September 19, 2005
The PMC Quick Note is a
weekly service provided to all area directors. It is part of our mission
to support the lives of band directors across the
Avoiding Conflicts With Rehearsal Schedules
by
The absence policy at Kickapoo seems to be in
constant flux. It is the only part of the band handbook that ever seems to
be modified. We have had the current policy for three years and it
appears to be working. Avoiding
holes on the field has always been our goal. Inevitably we will have a family
emergency of illness that will create a hole for the most important competition
or game.
Our
policy requires all students that know of any absence to fill out an absence
card. The card asks for the date, reason for absence, and requires a
student and parent signature. We take time at the spring parent meeting to
cover the card. Most parents will fill out the card at the meeting. This
process also helps our staff assess how many positions to place on the
field. Students who are going to be
absent for games and performances will be assigned a alternate position. An alternate shadows another marching
member. They get to perform at
games and possibly competition depending upon their skill level.
The
can of worms and my personal view:
I
like to think that I get along with the coaches and most conflicts can be worked
out. However, there is occasionally
the coach that has a difficult time sharing. “Do my sport, or don’t play for
me.” This is not my philosophy, I
try to share. I think my
administration likes to hear that I can share. I always hope that they are asking the
same of the coaches and sports don’t supersede another activity.
We
have a lot of students in band. We
have approximately 30 kids in football, soccer, tennis, golf, and girls
softball. The process of retaining
these kids is based upon our staff being consistent in following the procedure
that we set forth each year.
More importantly, making sure that everyone is aware of the
procedures.
For more information, you can read through the entire Kickapoo HS Band attendance policy on the PMC website. The articles are available in Adobe pdf format or Microsoft doc format.
Troy Peterson is starting his 13th year as Director of Bands at Kickapoo High School in Springfield, Missouri. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Truman State University and a Master of Music in Conducting from California State University, Long Beach. You can find more information about the Kickapoo band program on their band website at http://homepage.mac.com/kickapoobd/
Weekly Web
Spotlight:
There is a wonderful website
entitled Midwest
Marching Competitions that every director should know about. The site contains a comprehensive list
of area festivals, contest results dating back to 1996, and links to area high
school bands in
http://www.geocities.com/midwestmarching/index.html
This Saturday’s Area
Marching Band Festivals
DCI Broadcast on
ESPN2
For those of you that missed it, or who want to tune in again, ESPN2 will reshow the first hour of the DCI broadcast on Sept. 21 from 3 to 4 p.m. Eastern time. The second hour will be re-shown on Sept. 23 from 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern time.
http://www.dci.org/news/news.cfm?news_id=dc04c296-7b3e-4a25-aeeb-f2bd9faabb03
Contact Your
Can we assist you with anything? Please contact your local Palen Music Center school road representative for all of your music education needs.
Moberly (660) 263-0109 Clint Thompson
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