Weekly Update
Hello OEHS Marching Wolves Families,
We are so proud of all of our students for their work and improvements this week! We have lots of room to grow still, but we are thrilled about the trajectory we are on. A special congratulations to our new members who may have faced some setbacks this week, but continue to persevere!
We look forward to our first performance of the season at the Prairie Fest Parade this Sunday (see below).
Thank you also to everyone who attended the parent meeting this past Tuesday. It was great to see many familiar faces and to meet many new ones! If you missed the meeting, please see below.
Next Marching Band Rehearsals
Wednesday, 7/20 - 5pm-8pm
Wednesday, 7/27 - 5pm-8pm
August 1st-5th - 5pm-8pm
August 8th-12th - 1pm-8pm
Fundraiser - NOW LIVE!
Our Fundraiser Genius fundraiser is NOW LIVE. Please continue to share the link to the fundraiser as much as possible. The fundraiser will close on Wednesday, June 29th. We need to keep the momentum up and raise as many funds as possible so that we can purchase our new marching uniforms sooner than later! A reminder that for every student that raises at least $400 (the cost of one uniform), they will get the opportunity to throw water balloons at Mr. Rexroat and Mr. Roberts! You can access the fundraiser HERE. Please please please spread the word.
If you would like to make a direct donation, rather than going through the website. Checks can be made payable to OEHS Band Boosters and dropped off at the front desk at OEHS with attention to Mr. Rexroat, or mailed to:
OEHS Band Boosters
Attn. Mr. Rexroat
1525 Harvey Rd,
Oswego, IL 60543
A Note for Senior and Junior Students/Families
We realize that our senior and junior students may not have the opportunity to wear these new uniforms (depending on how much we raise). We ask that you still take this fundraiser seriously and are just as energized and excited about it as possible. If you think about all of the equipment, clinicians, transportation, etc. that you have benefited from during your time in the band program, most of the funds that paid for those items were raised by students who are no longer in the band program and are now alumni. Please consider the legacy you want to leave behind here at OEHS! Will the program be better off because of your help?
Donation Letter
Attached to this email is a donation letter that can be presented to businesses and organizations to help request funds for our uniforms! Please consider asking your employer or other local businesses for direct donations to the OEHS Band Boosters. If any tax information is required, we are happy to provide that. You can also access the letter HERE.
What Should My Student Be Doing Over the Summer?
Although we do not have rehearsal again until the end of July, it is vital that students are working on their marching band music/routine over the summer.
Our show is 8 minutes long, and the students will need to have that memorized by August in order for us to be able to learn our show correctly. Please help us by encouraging your students to practice their music/routine as much as possible so that we can come back after the break ready to go!
Additionally, if your student struggles with marching in time, please encourage them to practice listening to music (that they enjoy) and marking time to the beat of the music.
These simple tasks will help us out tremendously for the start of our competition season.
Equipment Needed for All Rehearsals
For all rehearsals, students will need the following:
Parent/Guardian Meeting
Thank you to everyone who attended our parent meeting this past Tuesday. If you were unable to attend, please review the recording of the meeting HERE. The meeting starts at the 2:40 timestamp. You can access the presentation from the meeting HERE.
Inclement Weather & Student Drop Off/Pick Up
Inclement Weather
Please know that if there is inclement or severe weather, we will still have rehearsal indoors.
Drop Off
For every event, students should be dropped off at door #3 at OEHS. This is the band room door and is located on the southeast corner of the building, closest to Harvey Rd.
We will start on time every rehearsal. The times listed in the rehearsal schedule and this email are when students need to be ready with all equipment and materials ready to rehearse. With that, it is recommended your student arrive 15-20 minutes early to every rehearsal in order to ensure they are on time. Failure to be ready at the start of rehearsal will result in enforcement of the attendance policy, resulting in students not performing in events.
Pick Up
Staff members cannot leave OEHS until your student has been picked up. While we love working with your students, waiting for students to be picked up after rehearsals can greatly impact the personal lives of staff members. We respectfully request that you ensure that your student is picked up on time every rehearsal. If you are unable to secure transportation, please have your student contact their section leader so that arrangements can be made.
Marching Wolves Google Classroom
All students have been invited to the Marching Wolves google classroom (sent to their school email). Please check with your student to ensure they have joined the classroom, as that is where information and materials will be posted and shared throughout the season.
Remind101 Communication
All students and families need to sign up for the appropriate Marching Wolves Remind101
Student Remind101
Text @oemb22 to the number 81010
Parent/Guardian Remind101
Text @oembpg22 to the number 81010
Prairiefest Parade Information
The Marching Wolves first performance of the season will be at the Prairiefest Parade on Sunday, June 19th. We are the 30th group in the parade out of 45, so you will see us later on in the parade route.
Attire
Marching Wolves 2022-2023 T-Shirt, khaki shorts, and gym shoes. All students will receive their marching band t-shirts the week of June 13th during rehearsal.
Call Time and Drop Off
Students will be dropped off at Eastview Academy (next to the district office, across from Oswego HS) in the circle driveway. Call time for students is 12pm.
Equipment & Instruments
All students are responsible for getting their instrument to the parade, and then take the instrument home to practice over the summer. All instrument cases should be left in vehicles.
Volunteers
If you volunteered to help in the parade, I sent you an email today with information about Sunday.
Parade Route and Pick-Up
The parade steps off behind Eastview Academy and goes down Jefferson St., turns left onto Main St., then turns left again to go up Tyler St. The parade ends at the Old Traughber Building.
All students should be picked up at the Old Traughber Building at approximately 1:45pm-2pm.
Directors
For our marching band, we have five instructors. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
Stevan Rexroat - Band Director - srexroat@sd308.org
Mike Roberts - Band Director - email coming soon
Joi Jordan - Color Guard Instructor - jjordan@sd308.org
Morgan Martin - Percussion Instructor - morgan-martin@sd308.org
Luke Choi-McFarlane - Percussion Instructor - N/A (Please email Ms. Martin)
--
Stevan Rexroat
He/Him/His
Band Director
Oswego East High School
srexroat@sd308.org
630-636-2379
We are so proud of all of our students for their work and improvements this week! We have lots of room to grow still, but we are thrilled about the trajectory we are on. A special congratulations to our new members who may have faced some setbacks this week, but continue to persevere!
We look forward to our first performance of the season at the Prairie Fest Parade this Sunday (see below).
Thank you also to everyone who attended the parent meeting this past Tuesday. It was great to see many familiar faces and to meet many new ones! If you missed the meeting, please see below.
Next Marching Band Rehearsals
Wednesday, 7/20 - 5pm-8pm
Wednesday, 7/27 - 5pm-8pm
August 1st-5th - 5pm-8pm
August 8th-12th - 1pm-8pm
Fundraiser - NOW LIVE!
Our Fundraiser Genius fundraiser is NOW LIVE. Please continue to share the link to the fundraiser as much as possible. The fundraiser will close on Wednesday, June 29th. We need to keep the momentum up and raise as many funds as possible so that we can purchase our new marching uniforms sooner than later! A reminder that for every student that raises at least $400 (the cost of one uniform), they will get the opportunity to throw water balloons at Mr. Rexroat and Mr. Roberts! You can access the fundraiser HERE. Please please please spread the word.
If you would like to make a direct donation, rather than going through the website. Checks can be made payable to OEHS Band Boosters and dropped off at the front desk at OEHS with attention to Mr. Rexroat, or mailed to:
OEHS Band Boosters
Attn. Mr. Rexroat
1525 Harvey Rd,
Oswego, IL 60543
A Note for Senior and Junior Students/Families
We realize that our senior and junior students may not have the opportunity to wear these new uniforms (depending on how much we raise). We ask that you still take this fundraiser seriously and are just as energized and excited about it as possible. If you think about all of the equipment, clinicians, transportation, etc. that you have benefited from during your time in the band program, most of the funds that paid for those items were raised by students who are no longer in the band program and are now alumni. Please consider the legacy you want to leave behind here at OEHS! Will the program be better off because of your help?
Donation Letter
Attached to this email is a donation letter that can be presented to businesses and organizations to help request funds for our uniforms! Please consider asking your employer or other local businesses for direct donations to the OEHS Band Boosters. If any tax information is required, we are happy to provide that. You can also access the letter HERE.
What Should My Student Be Doing Over the Summer?
Although we do not have rehearsal again until the end of July, it is vital that students are working on their marching band music/routine over the summer.
Our show is 8 minutes long, and the students will need to have that memorized by August in order for us to be able to learn our show correctly. Please help us by encouraging your students to practice their music/routine as much as possible so that we can come back after the break ready to go!
Additionally, if your student struggles with marching in time, please encourage them to practice listening to music (that they enjoy) and marking time to the beat of the music.
These simple tasks will help us out tremendously for the start of our competition season.
Equipment Needed for All Rehearsals
For all rehearsals, students will need the following:
- Instrument/Flag/Sticks
- Music (given on day one)
- Lyre and Flipfolder (brass and woodwinds only)
- Dressed in gym shoes (NO open toed shoes).
- Wearing comfortable clothing appropriate for the weather that day.
- Bottle of Water
- Sunscreen
Parent/Guardian Meeting
Thank you to everyone who attended our parent meeting this past Tuesday. If you were unable to attend, please review the recording of the meeting HERE. The meeting starts at the 2:40 timestamp. You can access the presentation from the meeting HERE.
Inclement Weather & Student Drop Off/Pick Up
Inclement Weather
Please know that if there is inclement or severe weather, we will still have rehearsal indoors.
Drop Off
For every event, students should be dropped off at door #3 at OEHS. This is the band room door and is located on the southeast corner of the building, closest to Harvey Rd.
We will start on time every rehearsal. The times listed in the rehearsal schedule and this email are when students need to be ready with all equipment and materials ready to rehearse. With that, it is recommended your student arrive 15-20 minutes early to every rehearsal in order to ensure they are on time. Failure to be ready at the start of rehearsal will result in enforcement of the attendance policy, resulting in students not performing in events.
Pick Up
Staff members cannot leave OEHS until your student has been picked up. While we love working with your students, waiting for students to be picked up after rehearsals can greatly impact the personal lives of staff members. We respectfully request that you ensure that your student is picked up on time every rehearsal. If you are unable to secure transportation, please have your student contact their section leader so that arrangements can be made.
Marching Wolves Google Classroom
All students have been invited to the Marching Wolves google classroom (sent to their school email). Please check with your student to ensure they have joined the classroom, as that is where information and materials will be posted and shared throughout the season.
Remind101 Communication
All students and families need to sign up for the appropriate Marching Wolves Remind101
Student Remind101
Text @oemb22 to the number 81010
Parent/Guardian Remind101
Text @oembpg22 to the number 81010
Prairiefest Parade Information
The Marching Wolves first performance of the season will be at the Prairiefest Parade on Sunday, June 19th. We are the 30th group in the parade out of 45, so you will see us later on in the parade route.
Attire
Marching Wolves 2022-2023 T-Shirt, khaki shorts, and gym shoes. All students will receive their marching band t-shirts the week of June 13th during rehearsal.
Call Time and Drop Off
Students will be dropped off at Eastview Academy (next to the district office, across from Oswego HS) in the circle driveway. Call time for students is 12pm.
Equipment & Instruments
All students are responsible for getting their instrument to the parade, and then take the instrument home to practice over the summer. All instrument cases should be left in vehicles.
Volunteers
If you volunteered to help in the parade, I sent you an email today with information about Sunday.
Parade Route and Pick-Up
The parade steps off behind Eastview Academy and goes down Jefferson St., turns left onto Main St., then turns left again to go up Tyler St. The parade ends at the Old Traughber Building.
All students should be picked up at the Old Traughber Building at approximately 1:45pm-2pm.
Directors
For our marching band, we have five instructors. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
Stevan Rexroat - Band Director - srexroat@sd308.org
Mike Roberts - Band Director - email coming soon
Joi Jordan - Color Guard Instructor - jjordan@sd308.org
Morgan Martin - Percussion Instructor - morgan-martin@sd308.org
Luke Choi-McFarlane - Percussion Instructor - N/A (Please email Ms. Martin)
--
Stevan Rexroat
He/Him/His
Band Director
Oswego East High School
srexroat@sd308.org
630-636-2379
