Calendar Changes, Friday Readiness Deadline & Uniform Reminders

September 21, 2026 · English / Español

Thank you to the students who showed up and worked at Monday’s marching rehearsal. That afternoon’s attendance check recorded 64 active members present—a solid foundation to build on. Now we need that commitment to carry into individual practice, completed assignments, and consistent attendance.

This update brings together the revised dates and expectations shared in our September 21 family email, plus the marching-shoe and polo reminders. Thank you to our returning and new families for your patience while schedule details were verified. We share information as soon as it is confirmed and label tentative opportunities clearly.

One Sound. One Team. One Standard. Each student’s preparation affects the ensemble. Take responsibility for music, assignments, attendance, required sectionals and rehearsals, equipment, and applying feedback.

Band PE / Lancer Regiment students have through Friday, September 25, 2026, to complete and submit missing playing work. It is not too late. Review Schoology together, make a practice-and-submission plan, and contact Mr. C privately about barriers or an approved in-person check that is not reflected. We will also contact families with missing playing work directly and privately; please do not wait for that contact to begin.

As of September 21, Schoology recorded The Billboard: 63 of 105 submissions; Advanced Warm-Up: 64 of 105; GLOVE ONE: 57 of 105. These are upload counts, not proficiency totals. Approved in-person and coach-reviewed evidence is considered separately. A blank grade means work has not yet been graded or verified; an upload alone does not establish readiness.

Grades, attendance, and readiness

The handbook weights the course grade as 20% in-class attendance and participation; 30% playing tests, written work, and assignments; and 50% performances and required after-school rehearsals and sectionals, considering attendance, preparation, and readiness. Required rehearsals and sectionals are instruction. Punctuality, preparation, participation, and demonstrated learning matter. An approved absence may still require make-up learning and a readiness check.

After Friday’s checkpoint, students whose required work or readiness remains incomplete will serve as alternates for marching performances until cleared. Alternates remain full team members. They attend assigned sectionals, rehearsals, and performances unless the director directs otherwise, and complete assigned observation or support responsibilities without marching in the performing block while uncleared. Targeted instruction and rechecks provide a path to a performing spot; alternate status is not permanent removal and does not automatically lower a grade.

Staff reviews approved playing evidence, make-up plans, documented needs, and accommodations privately. A technical upload problem or unverified grade alone does not determine a role. The Visual Team is a separate selected role for strong, consistent marchers demonstrating timing, spacing, movement, preparation, and reliability; missing playing work does not automatically place a student there. The current Performance Track is the working instrumented formation, not automatic Full Regiment Clearance.

Marching shoes and band polos

• Marching shoes have been distributed. Write your initials inside BOTH shoes and keep your pair together. Tell Mr. C promptly if yours are missing or do not fit.
• Students at Monday’s September 21 rehearsal should have received their band polo. Check that you have it.
• If you missed that rehearsal, see Mr. C later this week to pick up your polo. Students who attended but did not receive one should also follow up.

Why we are deferring Duarte and Loara

We will defer Duarte on September 26 and Loara on October 24 this season. Duarte falls the morning after the September 25 home game and 8th Grade Band Night; deferring it protects preparation and recovery time. Deferring Loara protects Fall Concert preparation. The October 17 Arturo Sanchez Halloween Parade gives students a more appropriate window for instruction, practice, corrections, and rechecks. We want students to arrive prepared, feel successful, and want to perform again. We can revisit Duarte and Loara in a future season.

Performance calendar

• Fall dress rehearsal: Tuesday, October 27, during the school day. Fall Concert: Wednesday, October 28, 7:00 PM. Both are at Excelsior High School Auditorium, one day earlier than previously announced.
• No regular after-school rehearsals or sectionals October 26–30. The daytime dress rehearsal, Wednesday concert, and October 30 Senior Night vs. Paramount still happen. The band’s Senior Night window is 5:30–9:45 PM.
• Parades: Arturo Sanchez Halloween Parade — October 17; Baldwin Park — December 5; Pomona Christmas Parade — December 12.
• Music Department Picture Day: Tuesday, November 17. Time and details will follow.
• Winter dress rehearsal: Wednesday, December 9, during the school day. Winter Concert: Thursday, December 10, 7:00 PM. Both are at Excelsior.
• GRAMMY Museum: We are working with museum staff to find a date and will share it once confirmed.
• Tentative Disneyland 2027 request: February 6 is our first choice, April 17 our second, and January 30 our third.
• Possible fall Knott’s performance: November 20 is the preferred option, with November 14 as another possibility. Park opportunities depend on availability, acceptance, and final school and transportation arrangements; none of these park dates is a confirmed booking.

Use the live calendar and each event’s call sheet for final report times, attire, transportation, and dismissal.

Family Handbook · Attendance & Clearance · Live Calendar

Submit absence, tardy, early-release, and documentation requests through Attendance & Clearance. Submitting a request does not automatically approve it.

Take care of your work. Take care of your equipment. Take care of the team.
— Mr. C