Welcome to SEP Bands

Band Update - 8/4/25

Hello Band Families,

Happy end of family week! We hope you had some relaxing and memorable times with your families! Here we go again with the important updates! Please take a few minutes and read through the important information below. There is a LOT and not ALL of it is just for marching band. Read below and get involved! We need all the parent help we can get for SO many things!

STATE FAIR PARKING VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP

SEP is once again serving as one of the Iowa State Fair Park and Ride locations this summer! This is a Band Booster fundraiser that earns funds that directly benefit all HS band students. We are in need of both student and parent volunteers to help organize parking during each day of the state fair. No prior experience is needed. Students can receive letter points (15/shift) for volunteering! Learn more and sign up here: 

https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/12717113340103/false#/invitation

UNIFORM FITTING 

Uniform fittings are happening this weekend, Friday, August 8 - Sunday, August 10. They are scheduled generally by class so seniors MUST sign up for a fitting time on Friday. The fitting sign ups will be sent out through Remind with direct instructions as to who should sign up when. It is important that students are able to make time to get fitted during these 3 days. Our uniform coordinator, Danielle Kunze can be contacted at 515-491-4021. If you have any questions or concerns - please contact her directly. Thanks for your help in getting your child signed up to be fitted.

BAND CAMP VOLUNTEER/DONATION NEEDS

Please consider signing up to volunteer time or to donate items for band camp. Look at our needs/opportunities here: https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/1044046748072/false#/invitation

BAND CAMP SCHEDULE - THIS WEEK (8/4-8/6)

Please double check the Marching Rams calendar to ensure you know when/where rehearsals will be taking place. Note: We have camp both morning and evenings Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday this week.. Look at the schedule very closely and be sure students are in the rehearsal location, ready to go, at the time listed. Marching Band Calendar Link

59 MINUTE FUNDRAISER

We will be having our annual 59 Minute Fundraiser on Wednesday, August 6th between 4:30-6:00pm. We have provided each student with a contact list sheet. They have been instructed to create their list of people they plan to contact that evening for sales. Please help your child come up with a solid list of contacts. Think friends, family, neighbors, co-workers… Thank you for your support!

FRIENDS AND FAMILY OPEN REHEARSAL

Following our 59 Minute Fundraiser we will be heading to the stadium for our last "camp" rehearsal from 6:30-9:00pm. Friends and family are welcome to come to the rehearsal to observe the students in action, putting our show together. They are always encouraged to work hard when there is an audience to impress. Please consider joining us!

MORNING REHEARSALS

Morning rehearsals begin Monday, August 18th. This will be a big adjustment for everyone but it is important that we get these started before school officially starts in order to get everyone into the routine of rehearsing at our normal rehearsal time during the season. Rehearsals will take place at the stadium from 6:30-8:00am. Our expectations, as they are for ALL rehearsals, is that students will arrive early enough to be in the fundamental block before 6:30am so we can start promptly at 6:30am. Please help your child transition into this early rehearsal schedule. It is vitally important that we have all members at all rehearsals and for them to be there in plenty of time to start. Thank you for your support!

FINAL "FULL BAND" MONDAY NIGHT REHEARSAL AND "BLACK & GOLD" NIGHT PERFORMANCE

Our final "full band" Monday night rehearsal is on Monday, August 18th. We will meet at the stadium from 6:00-9:00pm. This rehearsal will also be our dress rehearsal for our upcoming FIRST public performance on Tuesday, August 19th for SEP's "Black and Gold" night. The time commitment will be from approximately 5:00-7:00pm. We will send more details about this evening as we get closer. Please ensure that your child has their proper performance attire for this performance. Khaki shorts, marching show t-shirt and black marching shoes. Just another note, your child will need long black socks for our performances in uniform. Please ensure your child has all the required attire needed for the season. Thank you for your support! 

FIRST DRUMLINE REHEARSAL

The first Drumline rehearsal will be on Tuesday, August 26th. They will meet each Tuesday night throughout the season at the stadium from 6:30-8:30pm. As with all rehearsals, the same expectations for attendance and punctuality apply to these rehearsals as well. Thanks for your support!

NEW!! - ULTIMATE DRILL BOOK APP

We are very excited to share that the switch to using the Ultimate Drill Book App has been a GREAT success and a wonderful learning tool for our students! All students have been given an assignment to write their drill moves and other marching information in their music. Please ask your child if they have completed the assignment and, if not, encourage them to do so. Thank you for your support! 

For any questions about the app, technical troubleshooting, or concerns you may have, please contact Mr. Schott ( gabriel.schott@southeastpolk.org). For more information about the app: https://www.ultimatedrillbook.com/

BAND CAMP OUTSIDE REHEARALS ESSENTIALS

Please continue to ensure your child is prepared for our outside rehearsals. Encourage him/her to do things outside now to begin getting acclimated to the heat. The list below should help your child be more comfortable and set up for success!

*Sunscreen

*Hat

*Sunglasses

*Water (everyone should have their own water bottle that can be refilled as needed)

*Appropriate clothing (light colored & breathable - avoid dark colors as they absorb the heat more)

*Athletic tennis shoes with good support (no converse or vans…)

*Cooling neck towel

*Neck fans

*Snacks, if desired or needed

* Khaki shorts (not needed for rehearsals but for our parade performances.)

Every year we have students fall ill due to not eating enough before rehearsals and not getting enough rest. During our hot summer camp days, please be sure your child has eaten well (especially a sufficient breakfast) and gotten good rest! 

Lastly, students should have ALL materials with them at every rehearsal: music, pencil, flip folders, lyres, instruments, accessories (reeds, valve oil, neck straps…) and their Menards waste apron. 

FINAL PROP BUILD HELP

Final work on our show props will take place on Tuesday, August 5th at the stadium garage from 6:00-8:00pm. If you are interested in volunteering to help that evening, please contact Matt Bennum at mbennum@gmail.com. 

PE OPT-OUT

In order to avoid scheduling issues, students participating in marching band MUST either opt out of PE or schedule PE during one of their class periods. Early bird PE will conflict with Marching Band. If your student would like to opt out, this form must be filled out before school begins: 9th grade PE Opt Out Form  / 10-12th grade PE Opt Out Form

A parent/guardian must submit the PE opt out request for your student(s). When answering the last question, select the second option: "A Southeast Polk activity that meets the minimum requirement of 900 minutes of physical activity in this semester."

PARENT to PARENT COMMUNICATION

Moving forward, please use Remind as your communication tool between one another. You do have the ability to message a person you wish to contact directly. That way you don't need to go through the volunteer coordinators to change shifts for volunteering… Thank you all for your support! 

ALL STATE INFORMATION

We currently have 50 students interested in auditioning for All State this year! That is tremendous. Auditioning for All State is no easy task. Students who audition grow tremendously, both as musicians and as hard-working humans! All students who have expressed interest have also been invited to join the All State 2025 Remind Class. If you wish to join to receive the information your child is receiving, if he/she is auditioning, you can do so by texting @asband25 to 81010 and follow the prompts. We always ask for FULL names. 

SEP BAND APPAREL STORE - 515 Creative Designs

Check out the store for all of your SEP Band apparel needs!  15% of all orders are donated back to the band program! https://www.515creativedesigns.com/collections/sep-marching-rams

AMAZON WISH LIST

New items have been added! Please consider supporting the band through the purchase of items that will be shipped directly to and used by the HS band program! You can access the SEP HS Band Wishlist here: LINK 

UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES

Monday, August 4 - Wednesday, August 6 - final camp rehearsals 

Monday, August 18 - Early morning rehearsals begin

Monday, August 18 - Final "full band" evening rehearsal (6-9pm)

Tuesday, August 19 - Black & Gold Night - First public performance

Monday, August 25 - First day of school - early morning rehearsals continue.

Tuesday, August 26 - First Drumline Rehearsal (6:30-8:30)

(See calendar for details for each day. Be sure to have all performances for the season in your calendars as well.)

Go Rams!

Mrs. Jacqui Meunier ( jacquelyn.meunier@southeastpolk.org) 

Mr. Gabriel Schott ( gabriel.schott@southeastpolk.org)