BAND PE MEANS BAND PE

We need to make the identity of this course clear from the beginning.

Band PE is not Beginning Band or Intermediate Band. If Norwalk High School offered a Beginning Band course, it would be listed as “Beginning Band.” If we offered a concert-only class without marching or physical-performance requirements, it would be listed as “Concert Band.”

The course in which students are currently enrolled is Band PE.

Band PE combines instrumental music with the physical, visual, and performance responsibilities of the Lancer Regiment. This includes:

• Concert and marching music
• Marching fundamentals and visual commands
• Physical conditioning and movement
• Required full-ensemble rehearsals
• Assigned coach-led sectionals
• Football games, parades, concerts, and other required performances
• Appropriate athletic clothing and shoes for marching rehearsals

Students enter the course with different experience levels, and our staff will teach, support, and guide them. However, students may not select only the concert-band portions of the course while opting out of the Band PE, marching, rehearsal, sectional, or performance requirements.

A NEW RESPONSIBILITY FOR REED PLAYERS

Beginning this year, students who play a reed instrument are responsible for maintaining and purchasing their own supply of reeds.

This applies to clarinet, bass clarinet, saxophone, and any oboe or bassoon students. Flutes do not use reeds.

Reeds are consumable supplies. They wear down, chip, crack, soften, and eventually stop producing a dependable sound. One reed should not be expected to last an entire semester. Students should maintain a small rotation of playable reeds and store them properly in a reed case.

Families may purchase reeds through Amazon or through our approved music resources:

Please confirm the correct instrument, brand, and strength before purchasing. Students may ask their coach or Mr. C if they are unsure what to order.

SCHOOL INSTRUMENT AVAILABILITY

Because of our enrollment growth, we may not have enough school-owned instruments for every student who requests one.

School instruments are limited and cannot be guaranteed. Assignments will be based on:

• Verified inventory and instrument condition
• The instructional and instrumentation needs of the ensemble
• The student’s official course enrollment and placement
• Completion of the School Instrument Contract and required paperwork
• Consistent attendance, readiness, and communication
• The student’s history of properly caring for and returning school property

Students who already own or rent an appropriate instrument should continue using it. When the department cannot provide a requested instrument, the family will be notified and may need to arrange a rental or purchase.

Outstanding balances and prior equipment obligations must still be addressed promptly through the established review process. However, financial circumstances will be handled privately and separately from a student’s access to the educational program.

WEEKEND ACTION ITEMS

Please use this weekend to:

• Read the Family Handbook carefully.
• Review and understand the complete Band PE course requirements.
• Inspect your student’s instrument and supplies.
• Purchase reeds if your student plays a reed instrument.
• Determine whether your student needs to request a school instrument.
• Prepare all required forms for the August 21 deadline.
• Review the latest full family update at the Family Hub.

We will provide additional clarity about Band PE, reeds, instrument availability, school instrument contracts, supplies, rehearsals, and program expectations during our required Parent & Student Information Night:

All opening forms, Spirit Pack selections, payments or payment-plan requests, and applicable instrument contracts are due Friday, August 21.

Thursday: First Day of School

Our first performance is Thursday, August 13.

Lancer Regiment Call Sheet 002 — First Day of School Pep Rally | Version 1.0

Open Call Sheet 002

Students should read the entire Call Sheet before Thursday. It includes their report time, attire, equipment, music, locations, and responsibilities.

Lancer Regiment Readiness Process

This is one of the most important changes for 2026–27.

Some students completed our full summer preparation. Others joined later, experienced scheduling issues, or were unable to participate in portions of the summer.

We are not going backward and penalizing students for circumstances that occurred before they were fully connected to the program. We are, however, moving forward under one standard.

Every Lancer Regiment member must demonstrate that they are ready for their performance assignment.

Students who still need to catch up will work with coaches, leadership, and staff to learn the required marching fundamentals, music, memorization, procedures, and performance responsibilities.

Until that readiness is demonstrated, a student may participate through the visual/support team rather than immediately performing the complete musical assignment.

That is not a punishment.

It is how we keep students involved while giving them a clear pathway to become performance-ready. Students will receive feedback and opportunities to prepare and retest.

Students joining us now should expect to work quickly to catch up with the ensemble.

Weekly Rehearsals & Sectionals Begin August 17

Regular sectionals begin Monday, August 17. For students enrolled in Band PE / Lancer Regiment, assigned sectionals and full-ensemble rehearsals are part of the program expectation.

These rehearsals are already posted on the live Family Calendar. Bookmark the live calendar and do not rely on old screenshots.

The Daily Standard

Students should arrive ready to rehearse. That means they should have:

• Instrument and required equipment
• Organized music binder
• Pencil
• Filled water jug
• Athletic shoes
• Appropriate rehearsal clothing when needed
• Healthy snack for longer rehearsals
• Knowledge of that day’s schedule

One practical recommendation: students should keep athletic shoes available for music activities. The shoes they wear during the school day may not be appropriate for marching, movement, or extended rehearsal.

One Website. Most of What You Need.

We have significantly updated norwalkhsmusic.org to make it easier for families to navigate. Please bookmark it.

Equipment: Students Need to Be Prepared

Students who play reed instruments are responsible for maintaining their own supply of reeds this year.

Our Sweetwater resources can also help families with:

• Reeds and mouthpieces
• Instrument accessories
• Neck straps
• Cleaning supplies
• Rentals
• Sticks and mallets
• Approved instrument upgrades

Please have students check with me before purchasing major instrument or mouthpiece upgrades.

Bellflower Music Center
17125 Bellflower Blvd.
Bellflower, CA 90706

They can assist with repairs, reeds, supplies, rentals, lessons, emergency items, and instrument upgrades.

The 2026–27 Family Handbook

Our handbook has been rebuilt to serve as the main reference for the school year.

Open the Family Handbook

Please begin with Page 2 — START HERE. Do not jump immediately to the forms. Start with the overview so your family understands how the year works.

This handbook is intended for current Norwalk Music students and families. Please do not publicly post or redistribute it.

Students who participated during the summer received a printed copy. If your student did not receive one, they should ask me in person on Thursday for a physical copy.

Required Forms — Hard Copy

Several forms require physical signatures. We are not using electronic signatures for these documents.

Families should complete:

• Contract of Dedication
• Student Information & Medical Emergency Form
• School Instrument Contract, when applicable
• Acknowledgment of Responsibility

If a student is using a school-owned instrument, a new instrument contract for 2026–27 must be completed. Forms should be completed neatly and completely.

Spirit Pack — Form Due August 21

The 2026–27 Spirit Pack Form is due Friday, August 21.

Families should review the Spirit Pack options carefully and return the completed form, indicating the items your student/family would like to request or purchase, as applicable.

Spirit Pack purchases are optional and are not a condition of participation in the Instrumental Music Department or Lancer Regiment.

Please place the completed Spirit Pack form in a sealed envelope clearly marked with:

• Student First + Last Name
• Instrument / Section
• Spirit Pack 2026–27

Students should return the completed form to Mr. C by Friday, August 21.

Water & Snack Support

This year, water and snack support is organized by section, not by student last name. Families will see their assigned delivery window in the handbook.

Sections include:

Flutes • Clarinets • Alto Saxophones • Low Reeds • High Brass • Low Brass • Percussion • Orchestra • Rhythm • Visual • Pending Placement

Families may contribute through Water & Snack Support or the Music Department Wish List.

Please follow your section’s assigned window so we can maintain supplies throughout the season rather than receiving everything at once.

Attendance & Clearance

We also have a new centralized attendance system this year.

The Instrumental Music Attendance & Clearance Form is used for rehearsals, sectionals, performances, events, and approved Music Department school-day responsibilities.

Telling a friend, section leader, or coach that a student will be absent does not replace the required clearance process.

Student leadership and coaches will also take section attendance at rehearsals and events so attendance can be documented quickly and accurately.

Parent Remind

Please do not join the student communication channel. The student channel is reserved for students, and parent accounts may be removed from it so both systems remain organized.

Parent Team

We need family support this year. That may mean helping with uniforms, parades, concerts, performances, equipment, hospitality, event support, or one specific project.

You do not need to commit to everything. Sometimes the most valuable volunteer is the person who says, “I can help with this one event.”

Parent Team Interest Form

Heather Ibarra
Parent Engagement Coordinator

Hector Ibarra
Operations Coordinator

[email protected]
(562) 304-5809

Optional 2026 Performance Experience

The handbook also includes the 2026 Performance Experience Commitment Form. This opportunity is optional.

Families interested in participating should review the commitment details, timelines, and related information before submitting the form. It is separate from required participation in the regular school program.

Required Parent Night — August 20

We will walk families through the handbook, calendar, attendance process, student expectations, Spirit Pack, performances, Readiness Process, Parent Team, and other systems for the year.

Thursday sectionals will still take place as scheduled.

Heather Ibarra will also join us to discuss Parent Team opportunities and where the program needs family support.

Please review the handbook before Parent Night so our time together can focus on clarification rather than simply reading information already available.

Your Next Five Actions

1. Read Call Sheet 002.
2. Bookmark norwalkhsmusic.org/calendar.
3. Join Parent Remind — @nhsimusic to 81010.
4. Begin the Family Handbook at Page 2.
5. Make sure your student understands what “ready” means in the Lancer Regiment.

That will put your family in the right place to start the year.