​Thank you students for your continued work in rehearsals. We are excited to showcase your hard work at our first football game on September 9! A huge thank you as well to all who volunteered to help with the mattress sale today – it has gone very well!
 
September 1 Rehearsal – Band Picture
At 6:00 pm on Thursday, all students need to report to the band room wearing your under-uniform attire – black shorts and shirts. If you ordered a shirt they should be in and distributed that day. We will walk through proper uniform procedures so that you are prepared for our game the following week. At 6:30 PM everyone should be in full uniform and in the bleachers at the stadium for our full picture. We will return to the band room to take off uniforms and then back to the stadium for rehearsal.
 
London Tour Update
Our registration deadline is also this coming Thursday, September 1. Details available at the London New Year’s Day Parade page.
 
September 9 – Home Football vs BVN
Our first home football game performance! Students who purchased a pre-game meal plan can eat beginning at 4:30 PM. All students need to be dressed and ready to perform by 5:30 PM. Our full schedule can be found HERE.
 
The band parades from the BVW PAC out the side commons doors and holds a mini-pep rally at the before leading the team and cheerleaders to the stadium. They perform Pre-Game and then portions of our competition show at halftime. It is a lot to learn and a lot of fun to watch! Parents are ALWAYS welcome to come watch and join in what is a terrific West Family Event on Football Fridays!
 
September 15 Rehearsal & Performing Arts Showcase
As part of our rehearsal that evening, we will be combining to perform with our fellow Performing Arts Department members – choir, debate, and orchestra! Following the Showcase performance, we will give a rehearsal / run-through of our competition show in the Stadium. Additional details coming in next week’s update. For our band students – it will be a normal Thursday timeline.
 
September 24 Kansas City Championships
Our first marching competition of the season! Our exact schedule for the day should be available by next week. Marching festivals are All-Day events, with a rehearsal and equipment loading time here at school followed by 2 performances, usually mid-day and evening at the competition site. Again, additional details and information, especially for families who will be experiencing a marching competition for the first time, will be shared shortly.
 
Upcoming Events
 
This Week
Tuesday, August 30
Color Guard Rehearsal 6-8:30 PM
 
Thursday, September 1
Evening Marching Band Rehearsal 6-8:30PM
Marching Band Picture & Full Uniform Run Through
 
London New Year’s Day Parade Registration Deadline
 
Next Week
Tuesday, September 6
Color Guard Rehearsal 6-8:30 PM
 
Thursday, September 8
Evening Marching Band Rehearsal 6-8:30PM
 
 
Two Weeks
Tuesday, September 13
Color Guard Rehearsal 6-8:30 PM
 
 
Thursday, September 15
Evening Marching Band Rehearsal 6-8:30PM / BVW Performing Arts Showcase
 
Looking Ahead
Thursday, September 22
Evening Marching Band Rehearsal & 8th Grade Visit
 
Friday September 23
Home Football & 8th Grade Band Night
 
Saturday, September 24
Kansas City Championships Marching Competition @ Blue Springs South HS – ALL DAY
 
 

We hope that the start of school has gone smoothly, and we look forward to settling into our normal routines and schedules this week. Terrific job performing at the first pep assembly on Friday as well!
 
Mattress Sale
THIS IS THE WEEK! We have many door signs, yard signs, and flyers to hand out. PLEASE pick some up from the band room this week – a sign left in the box is a sale lost…this only works with publicity!
 
Students and parents may sign-up for shifts to assist.
 
September 1 Rehearsal – Band Picture
We’ve had a few questions regarding our rehearsal and pictures as scheduled for September 1. This rehearsal we will do our full formal marching band picture near the beginning of rehearsal. This will also include an opportunity for students to practice getting into full uniform and understand the procedures for our first football game the following week.
 
Under Uniform Garments
A reminder that all students should have under uniform garments that are entirely black. All students should have a pair of black athletic shorts or compression shorts. Shorts should be made of a thin material and not have pockets or anything that will create bulkiness. All students should also have a black moisture shirt or compression shirt. This was an item for all new members to order on the fair share form. Returning members should have an appropriate shirt or would have ordered one on the Fair Share Form.
 
London Tour Update
Trip participants please see your email for an important update. You can also view the information HERE.
 
KSHSAA Forms
Thank you for submitting forms. We still have a handful of members whose forms have not cleared. You will be contacted individually to ensure compliance.
 
Upcoming Events
 
This Week
Tuesday, August 23
Color Guard Rehearsal 6-8:30 PM
 
Thursday, August 25
Evening Marching Band Rehearsal 6-8:30PM
 
Sunday, August 28
Mattress Sale Fundraiser 10 AM – 5 PM!
 
Next Week
Tuesday, August 30
Color Guard Rehearsal 6-8:30 PM
 
Thursday, September 1
Evening Marching Band Rehearsal 6-8:30PM
Marching Band Picture & Full Uniform Run Through
 
London New Year’s Day Parade Registration Deadline
 
Two Weeks
Thursday, September 8
Evening Marching Band Rehearsal 6-8:30PM
 
Friday, September 9
Home Football vs. BVN – 4:00 PM Report

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Preparations for our tour are on track and we are enjoying the high level of excitement amongst our students and families! Please make sure to check our Weekly Update as well as the band social media and website regularly for the most recent information and announcements.
 
We do need to share a significant adjustment to our scheduled itinerary. As you may be aware, the airline industry is experiencing an unprecedented rate of flight cancellations due to continued staffing issues. As international flights do not typically originate out of Kansas City, route changes are impacting flight availability from Kansas City International more frequently than other airports. We received word today from our tour company that due to these changes, they cannot find sufficient seat availability to accommodate our tour group on our original travel dates. However, by shifting our travel dates by 1 day they can easily find flights. Therefore, our London Tour will now leave from Kansas City on December 28 and return January 4.
 
We want to stress that this change is entirely the fault of the airlines, and our tour company has tried every option possible to keep our original itinerary. They had our flights booked, but the airlines took the seats away.
 
This change in no way impacts our planned activities – all sight-seeing, performances, and trip excursions scheduled will still take place. This change does mean students will miss the first full day of classes of the Spring Semester. This absence has already been cleared by Dr. Bonnema.
 
For those travelling on the Full Package, this just changes our tour dates, but no further action on your part would be required. For those travelling on the Land Only Package or family members traveling independently we wanted to make sure you have sufficient notice to adjust flights if possible. If you feel the date changes may impact your ability to continue participation in the tour, please contact Mr. Love right away.
 
We appreciate that logistical challenges like these can be frustrating, but our tour company has been exceptionally responsive in handling this situation. As always if you have any questions or concerns please reach out to Mandy Stone, our tour liaison or Mr. Love via our trip email, red.and.silver.london23@gmail.com.

We are looking forward to seeing all our band and guard members in class this week as we hit the official start of the 2022-2023 school year! A few notes for the week:
 
Morning / Evening Rehearsals
Classes this week run on an All-Block Schedule, meaning hours 1-7 meet every day. This week marching band will rehearse Thursday and Friday morning beginning at 7 AM and Thursday evening from 6-8:30 PM. Students should report to the Band Lot at 7 AM. Please bring appropriate marching footwear and we suggest a change of clothes. Students will always be dismissed during 1st block to have sufficient time to change prior to their next class.
 
This is a unique schedule due to the start of school. On normal weeks, marching band rehearses Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7 AM and then of course Thursday evenings.
 
Back to School Performances
Drumline will perform on Tuesday morning, August 16 beginning at 7 am to welcome our 9th grade students.
 
Leadership and volunteers will perform at 9:45 am on Tuesday, August 16 for the 9th grade kick off assembly. Look for sign-ups and details in the Band App.
 
Mattress Sale
Our largest and most important fundraiser of the year! Please look for sign-ups this week to assist with the sale. We also need YOUR continued help promoting the sale via social media and word of mouth in your neighborhood. We still have fliers and yard signs available. These can be picked up from the band room at any time.
 
London Trip Update
Please see an important update regarding our London Tour HERE.

KSHSAA Forms
Please also make sure you have uploaded your KSHSAA Physical and Participation packet by Monday, August 15.
 
KSHSAA Physical – Required for all band members. Due no later than August 15.
KSHSAA Participation Forms – Online forms required of all band members. Due no later than August 15.
 
Upcoming Events
 
This Week
Tuesday, August 16
Drumline performance for Transition Day: 7-8 AM
Leadership Team / Volunteer Performance for 9th Grade Assembly: 9:45 AM
 
Color Guard Rehearsal 6-8:30 PM
 
Thursday, August 18
Morning Marching Rehearsals begin at 7 AM
Evening Marching Band Rehearsal 6-8:30PM
 
Next Week
Thursday, August 25
Evening Marching Band Rehearsal 6-8:30PM
 
Two Weeks
Thursday, September 1
Evening Marching Band Rehearsal 6-8:30PM
Marching Band Picture & Full Uniform Run Through
 
London New Year’s Day Parade Registration Deadline
 
Looking Ahead
Friday, September 9 – First Home Football Game

Thank you to our students, staff, and fabulous parent volunteers for making the past two weeks of band camp a tremendous success for our program! The band made great strides and we look forward to a fun and successful fall season! We continue with mini-camp rehearsals this week as we add to our show and prepare for upcoming performances to kick off the 2022-2023 school year!
 
Mini-Camps
Tuesday & Thursday, August 9 and 11 from 5-9 PM, and Saturday, August 13 from 7 am to Noon. Rehearsal location details and other information will be shared via the Band App prior to the start of rehearsal. As always, our attendance expectations apply to all rehearsals and performances.
 
All-Parent Meeting – Monday, August 8!
A reminder that this coming Monday, at 7 PM we have our Fall Band Parent / Booster Meeting. As part of the evening’s presentation, we will also learn more about our upcoming Mattress Sale Fundraiser which takes place on August 28. We receive a $5 donation for each person in attendance at the meeting, so please be there to learn more!
 
Fair Share Form
We still have several families that have not submitted their Fair Share form which was due on August 1. This form is used to aide in ordering uniform items and other supplies essential to each student’s success this fall. The form can be submitted digitally or dropped in the payment box in the band room. Please also make sure you have uploaded your KSHSAA Physical and Participation packet by August 15.
 
Fair Share Form – Due August 1 with first payment. Forms can be submitted digitally or printed copies can be dropped in the band room.
KSHSAA Physical – Required for all band members. Due no later than August 15.
KSHSAA Participation Forms – Online forms required of all band members. Due no later than August 15.
 
Wind Ensemble Selected to Perform at KMEA
We are excited to announce that the BV West Wind Ensemble has been selected to perform at the Kansas Music Educators Association State Music Convention this coming February 2023. Bands are selected via a blind audition process in the summer. This marks the 5th time that the BVW Wind Ensemble has been selected to perform and the 9th time an ensemble from West will represent our band program at KMEA.
 
Upcoming Events
 
This Week
Monday, August 8
All Parent Meeting: 7 PM in the PAC. WE EARN $5 per PERSON in attendance at this meeting towards our mattress sale fundraiser!
 
Tuesday, August 9
Band Camp: 5- 9 PM
 
Thursday, August 11
Band Camp: 5-8:30 PM
Movie night: 8:30 PM until….
 
Friday, August 12
Drumline performance @ BVUSD Rally in the Valley – details sent via email
 
Saturday, August 13
Band Camp & Parent Preview: 7 AM – Noon (Preview at approximately 10:45 AM)
 
Next Week
Tuesday, August 16
Drumline performance for Transition Day: 7-8 AM
Leadership Team / Volunteer Performance for 9th Grade Assembly: 9:45 AM
 
Thursday, August 18
Evening Marching Band Rehearsal 6-8:30PM
 
7 AM Marching rehearsals begin this week – details dependent on BVW school schedule
 
Two Weeks
Thursday, August 25
Evening Marching Band Rehearsal 6-8:30PM
 
Looking Ahead
September 1 – London New Year’s Day Parade Registration Deadline
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