​Congratulations Band and Guard on a very successful week! Thank you for being so welcoming to our 8th grade band member on Thursday and Friday! Thank you again for bringing great energy to the football game (although maybe a little less energy on the fight song tempo in the future…) And congratulations and thank you for how you worked and performed at the KC Championships Marching Festival on Saturday! You recovered from a shaky run in the morning to turn it on and give a terrific run in the evening show!
 
You were rewarded well in scoring, placing 2nd in Class in the morning and 3rd place Overall while also being awarded the Outstanding General Effect Caption for our class. In the evening we placed 3rd overall against a very strong group of bands in tight scoring! These are results to be celebrated and enjoyed, but know that we have much more to do as we have hit the mid-point of our season! See below as always for schedule details.
 
A HUGE thank you to all of the parent volunteers who contributed some very long hours this week as well to help our students achieve these successes!
 
LONDON PASSPORT REMINDER:
All trip participants MUST complete the Trip Database form and upload their passport no later than Saturday, October 1. That form can be accessed HERE.
 
Monday – October 3: Blue Valley District Marching Exhibition:
A great community event! All 5 schools perform their marching show for each other at SWIDAC (stadium next to Blue Valley Northwest.) See our schedule for that evening HERE.
 
October 7 Homecoming Game:
Nearly identical schedule to our other games, except that we will perform our competition show immediately after the game instead of at halftime due to Homecoming activities scheduled during halftime. Click HERE for the schedule.
 
October 14 – Marching Rehearsal / Band Host:
Because we will lose several days to in-service and conferences, we are looking to schedule a rehearsal during the day on October 14 prior to the Odessa Festival. This is also because we will be hosting the Lincoln High School Band from Sioux Falls, South Dakota during the day as well for a rehearsal as they head to the St. Louis BOA Regional.
 
October 15 – Odessa Marching Invitational:
Due to difficulty in obtaining charter buses for October 15, we have decided to switch from the Branson Marching Invitational to the Odessa Marching Invitational instead in Odessa, MO. Schedule will be posted HERE later on Monday. This will be an All-Day Event.
 
October 21 – Home Football vs BV (Senior Night Recognition):
Schedule will match that of other games with recognition of our outstanding senior class during the game.
 
October 22 – Kansas Bandmasters Association State Championships:
Our state marching championships in Lawrence! This will be an all-day event.
 
Honor Band Auditions:
A reminder for those interested in Honor Band Auditions to make sure and pick up music from the Band Office.
 
 
Upcoming Events
 
This Week
Tuesday, September 27
Color Guard Rehearsal 6-8:30 PM
 
Thursday, September 29
Evening Marching Band Rehearsal
 
Next Week
Monday, October 3
Blue Valley District Marching Festival
 
Tuesday, October 4
Color Guard Rehearsal 6-8:30 PM
 
Thursday, October 6
Evening Marching Band Rehearsal
 
Friday, October 7
Home Football Game #3 – HOMECOMING!
 
Two Weeks
 
Tuesday, October 11
Color Guard Rehearsal 6-8:30 PM
 
Thursday, October 13
Evening Marching Band Rehearsal
 
Friday, October 14
Tentative Rehearsal time TBD / Host Lincoln HS Band from Sioux Falls, SD
 
Saturday, October 15
Odessa Marching Invitational
 
Looking Ahead
Friday, October 21
Home Football vs. BV & Senior Night
 
Saturday, October 22
KBA State Championships Marching Festival
 

​Show week! A busy week ahead with our 8th grade rehearsal; home game #2; and our first competition! We have a lot to cover in rehearsal this week as well!
 
Thanks to all the volunteers who helped get our props ready – we can’t wait to debut those and our show uniforms this coming weekend!
 
September 22 Rehearsal & September 23 Home Football Game:
8th grade band will be joining us on Thursday for a portion of our rehearsal. Our schedule for Friday’s game can be found HERE.
 
September 24 Kansas City Championships
Please view the schedule for our first competition HERE.
 
This will be a terrific experience and opportunity for our students! Parents your support at these events is very much appreciated and helps our students reach a whole new level of performance! If you have never attended a marching festival it is a very unique and exciting experience!

Coolers Needed:
For our performance at Blue Springs, the BVW Band Boosters need some additional coolers. If you have a cooler you would be willing to loan to the band for a couple of days, please contact our food chair, Jen Wall at kj.wall78@gmail.com.
 
Blue Valley District Marching Exhibition:
A great community event! All 5 schools perform their marching show for each other at SWIDAC (stadium next to Blue Valley Northwest.) See our schedule for that evening HERE.
 
October 7 Homecoming Game:
Nearly identical schedule to our other games, except that we will perform our competition show immediately after the game instead of at halftime due to Homecoming activities scheduled during halftime.
 
October 15 Competition Changes:
Due to difficulty in obtaining charter buses for October 15, we have decided to switch from the Branson Marching Invitational to the Odessa Marching Invitational instead in Odessa, MO. This does mean that the day will be significantly shorter with less travel but will still be a fantastic opportunity for us to perform and get feedback. Our schedule will be posted later this week.
 
Honor Band Auditions:
9th grade students interested in auditioning for the Kansas John Philip Sousa Honor Band should visit with Mr. Love or Mr. Ramsey this week.
 
Traditionally all members of Wind Ensemble have been required to audition for the Kansas Music Educators Association East Central District Honor Band. Those auditions take place in November, but students should be preparing music now. Any student interested in auditioning (and specifically any planning to be a member of Wind Ensemble) should be taking on this challenge. See Mr. Love, Mr. Ramsey, or Mr. Westcott for additional information.
 
Upcoming Events
 
This Week
Tuesday, September 20
Color Guard Rehearsal 6-8:30 PM
 
Thursday, September 22
Evening Marching Band Rehearsal & 8th Grade Visit
 
Friday September 23
Home Football & 8th Grade Band Night - SCHEDULE
 
Saturday, September 24
Kansas City Championships Marching Competition @ Blue Springs South HS – SCHEDULE
 
 
Next Week
Tuesday, September 27
Color Guard Rehearsal 6-8:30 PM
 
Thursday, September 29
Evening Marching Band Rehearsal
 
Two Weeks
Monday, October 3
Blue Valley District Marching Festival
 
Tuesday, October 4
Color Guard Rehearsal 6-8:30 PM
 
Thursday, October 6
Evening Marching Band Rehearsal
 
Friday, October 7
Home Football Game #3 – HOMECOMING!
 
 
Looking Ahead
Saturday, October 15
Odessa Marching Invitational
 
 

​Congratulations band and guard on a very successful first game set of performances! While there are always details that we want to continue refining, the spirit, energy, and focus you displayed on Friday were outstanding! Great work!
 
A HUGE thanks as well to the many parent volunteers who assisted with uniforms, food, schlepping, and cheering us on!
 
We have several performances in a row coming up, please make sure to review details below.
 
September 15 Rehearsal & Performing Arts Showcase
As part of our rehearsal this coming Thursday evening, we will be performing for the Blue Valley West Performing Arts Showcase along with the other programs in our Department: choir, orchestra, debate, and theater! Some of our band students will be involved in multiple events that evening!
 
The showcase begins at 6:00 PM in the BV West Performing Arts Center. Band members need to be in the band room with instruments wearing their Grey Band T-Shirt no later than 5:45 PM. We perform last on the Showcase and will only be performing a few pep tunes. Immediately following the showcase (approximately 7:15 PM,) we will move back over to the stadium to continue our rehearsal. Please make sure you are prepared with your Grey Shirt and your rehearsal items. Parents and audience members are more than welcome to come watch rehearsal in the stadium as we continue progress on our show.
 
Parents: The Performing Arts Showcase is presented as a fundraiser, and tickets are needed to attend and watch the portion in the PAC. Please use the following link to purchase tickets for $5 each: https://bvwestjags.com/partner/28/event/675/buy-tickets
 
September 22 Rehearsal & September 23 Home Football Game:
On September 22 we will be welcoming our 8th grade band members from LKMS and PRMS to join us for rehearsal. They will then perform with the Red & Silver Brigade during our pregame performance at the game on September 23. For those of you with 8th grade students in band, information should have been sent last week via Mrs. Gamble and Mrs. Starks. The schedule for our BVW Band Students can be found HERE.
 
September 24 Kansas City Championships
Please view the schedule for our first competition HERE.
 
This will be a terrific experience and opportunity for our students! Parents your support at these events is very much appreciated and helps our students reach a whole new level of performance! If you have never attended a marching festival it is a very unique and exciting experience!
 
Upcoming Events
 
This Week
Tuesday, September 13
Color Guard Rehearsal 6-8:30 PM
 
Thursday, September 15
Evening Marching Band Rehearsal 6-8:30PM / BVW Performing Arts Showcase
 
Next Week
Tuesday, September 20
Color Guard Rehearsal 6-8:30 PM
 
Thursday, September 22
Evening Marching Band Rehearsal & 8th Grade Visit
 
Friday September 23
Home Football & 8th Grade Band Night - SCHEDULE
 
Saturday, September 24
Kansas City Championships Marching Competition @ Blue Springs South HS – SCHEDULE
 
Two Weeks
Tuesday, September 27
Color Guard Rehearsal 6-8:30 PM
 
Thursday, September 29
Evening Marching Band Rehearsal
 
Looking Ahead
Monday, October 3
Blue Valley District Marching Festival
 
 

​Game Day Week!!!! So very excited for our first home game performance! There is a lot for us to cover in our rehearsals in this very short week. A reminder there is no morning rehearsal on Friday, however we will march so be prepared on the lot at 7:40 AM for a run-through of our performance material for the game.
 
September 9 – Home Football vs BVN
This is a review of information shared last week – please make sure you have read it carefully so you are prepared for Friday!
 
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
As we head into next week we will share our full schedule and information to help new families understand the importance and excitement that comes with attending our marching festivals!
 
For planning purposes, our schedule that day will be a rehearsal that begins at 9 AM. We travel from BV West to Blue Springs South HS. Our first performance is at 2:00 PM. We will perform again in the evening (the later the better – meaning it went very well!) These are long days, but a lot of down time, opportunities to see other bands, and lots of food and family bonding time!
 
Upcoming Events
 
This Week
Tuesday, September 6
Color Guard Rehearsal 6-8:30 PM
 
Thursday, September 8
Evening Marching Band Rehearsal 6-8:30PM
 
Friday, September 9
Pep Assembly – PM
 
Home Football Game #1 – Click HERE for Schedule
 
Next Week
Tuesday, September 13
Color Guard Rehearsal 6-8:30 PM
 
Thursday, September 15
Evening Marching Band Rehearsal 6-8:30PM / BVW Performing Arts Showcase
 
Two Weeks
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
 
Looking Ahead
Monday, October 3
Blue Valley District Marching Festival