McNeil Band Week of 08/10/25
Good evening everyone,
And it's only just begun! For the past 4 weeks your students have been hard at work learning new concepts, people, and music! From exercise stations to Cha-Cha Planks (and Zumba) they've worked hard. They have shown an incredible work ethic that you don't always see in each high school student. We are so very proud of them and can't wait for you to see their progress on Monday!
Tomorrow, 08/9, we will be hosting the DCI watch party in the Band Room. The doors will open at 5:00 for students and the show starts at 5:30! A list of things to bring was sent out to students through the BAND App by our awesome Band Student Council. Please pick up students by 9:30pm.
This coming Monday is the Maverick Band Watermelon Social! Students will rehearse from 5:00pm-6:30pm. At 6:30pm they will perform the first two movements of their show for you.
At 6:00 pm there will be a General Booster Meeting with updates from the Board as well as voting on approved business. The meeting will only last 30 minutes and then we will head outside to watch the end of their practice and performance! Watermelon will be served after the performance! Please bring your chairs, water, anything else you might need to sit and enjoy.
Below are this week's announcements and schedule for the week:
Calendar
Lessons
March-A-Thon (Update)
Weekly Schedule
8-Hour Rule
Heat Rules
Rehearsal Attendance Expectations
Region Music
Calendar
Our calendar and events are up to date on the website. Please click on the link to access. Google Calendar users may subscribe to the McNeil Band Calendar for easy access.
iCalendar users can subscribe by using the following process:
Open iCal. Calendars > Add Calendar > Add Subscription Calendar. Then, copy and paste this link into the text box, and tap Subscribe.
Lessons
McNeil High School Band is fortunate to have an incredible private lesson staff to offer to our students. We cannot state strongly enough the importance of private lessons for every single musician in the program. Individual instruction with a professional is the biggest factor in a student's growth in playing ability. We hire the best teachers available and they have done an outstanding job. Everyone taking lessons from one of our teachers must enroll in the lesson program every year. Fill out the enrollment now if you have not done it for this upcoming school year.
Your payments are made directly to the teachers on a monthly basis, and our Band Boosters also commit a significant portion of their annual budget to assist families who need financial assistance for private lessons. Simply fill out the Online Lesson Enrollment form and submit your request for assistance and the Boosters will process your request.
MAJOR FUNDRAISER KICK-OFF UPDATE
In just a week we have raised over $25,000! We are at 30% of our fundraising goal! Please keep adding contacts to your RapidFundraising Page and asking for donations to your program!
Ways to keep up the momentum for donations:
Encourage your team and your students to reach out to their contacts and Follow-Up.
Send out the donation link to others in your network: https://rapidfundraising.com/mcneil-band/
Check with employers: Many companies match their employees' donations to 501(c)3 organizations. This is an excellent way to double a gift's impact.
The Splits are following as of 08/02
Team Graham: 7587.40
Team Garza: 5908.45
Team Guard: 6746.59
Team Ramsey: 5083.85
We will have the drink pickle juice and pie in the face for the directors during the Watermelon Social on 08/11!
Weekly Schedule:
Saturday, 08/09
DCI Watch Party
5:00pm-9:00pm
Monday, 08/11
Varsity Marching Rehearsal
5:00pm-7:30pm
Booster General Meeting 6:00pm
Watermelon Social 6:30pm
Tuesday, 08/12
First Day of School
Inside during Class
Band Rehearsal 5:00pm-8:00pm
Wednesday, 08/13
Inside during Class
Thursday, 08/14
Outside during Class
Band Rehearsal 5:00pm-8:00pm
Choreographer Visit
Friday, 08/15
Inside during Class
Band Rehearsal 5:00pm-8:00pm
Please note that JV Marching is not required to attend the Varsity Marching Rehearsals on T, TH, F.
8 Hour Rule
The UIL's 8-hour rule, in short, limits students to a maximum of eight hours of practice time outside of the regular school day for each extracurricular activity per school week, according to the University Interscholastic League (UIL). This rule is in place to prevent overworking students and to ensure a healthy balance between academics and extracurricular activities.
For more information about the 8-Hour Rule, please click on the link below:
Heat Rules
Round Rock ISD follows the UIL (University Interscholastic League)'s guidelines for Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) during outdoor activities to prevent heat-related illnesses. These guidelines mandate the use of WBGT measurements to determine appropriate activity levels and rest breaks, and they require all schools to have emergency action plans that include rapid cooling zones and unlimited access to water during practices.
Please click the link below to get more information about the heat limits and activity guidelines.
Absence Request Form/Rehearsal Attendance Expectations
Please refer to the McNeil Band Handbook pg 13-14 for Band Attendance Expectations
If an Absence MUST occur, please fill out the Absence Request Form on the McNeil Band Website.
Upcoming Events:
08/09: DCI Watch Party in the Band Room
08/11: Last Day of Summer Band! General Booster Meeting. Watermelon Social
08/12 First Day of School
Thank you all and have a great weekend!
Region Band Music/Region Band Listenings
All students in Periods 1,5/2,6 will be required to prepare region music for the directors to listen/grade them on.
Have a great weekend!
--
Chase Ramsey
Director of Bands
McNeil High School
(512) 464-6300x6424
