Brennan Bear Band Student/Parent Handbook 2023 - 2024

The 2023 - 2024 Brennan Band Handbook is online, on the band website and within the Brennan Band charms Account. Please read and review BEFORE signing and returning the Medical Release and Policy Acknowledgement Forms. 

 

We must have all forms on file for every student, without exception.

 

William J. Brennan High School Band

2400 Cottonwood Way

San Antonio, Texas 78253

Presto: www.presto-assistant.com

Band Website: www.brennanband.org

Staff Information

 

Thomas Kober

Director of Bands

210-398-1350

thomas.kober@nisd.net

 

Shayla Le

Associate Director of Bands

210-398-1351

shayla.le@nisd.net

 

Dillon Shaw

Associate Director of Bands

Director of Percussive Studies 

210-398-1351

dillon.shaw@nisd.net

 

Hello Brennan High School Band Family!

     I want to personally welcome you to the 2023-2024 school year at Brennan High School. It’s shaping up to be a great year to be a part of the band program here, and I can’t wait to tell you about what’s in store. Although, before we get to the future, I’d like to tell you something that you will hopefully get tired of hearing from the band staff – Thank you. The success we will experience this year will not happen without an incredible commitment from parents and students alike. BHS Band Parents can receive more information about how to be involved at our monthly band booster meetings by logging into your Presto account or visiting our band website. (www.brennanband.org)

     With that said, I’m sure you’d like to know why we do what we do at Brennan, and how you fit into our family. While our marching band, The Brennan BMB (Bear Marching Band), and concert bands are very competitive at the District, Region, State, and National levels, competition is not the sole reason for our program’s existence. Rather, I believe it is a result of the educational and student centered environment our staff creates, striving to teach our members to be better musicians, students, and most of all people. Our staff believes that music is a needed and valuable part of any child’s education, as it connects with students on a cognitive level, creating a connection to music and the arts that they will be able to build upon for the rest of their lives. 

     The Brennan High School Band Program provides a goal oriented, learning environment in which students are presented with the opportunity to grow through our staff’s emphasis on self-accountability, responsibility and teamwork. This environment is created through various means, such as consistent playing tests, sectionals, and performances. Although our program is somewhat large, our staff prides itself in the fact that we leave no rock unturned – Every one of our students receives individual attention, instruction, and feedback based on their work, and is held accountable for their progress throughout the year.

     Brennan High School is no stranger to success – The Brennan High School Band has had multiple all-state musicians, has earned exclusive sweepstakes ratings, and has even appeared at the Texas State Marching Contest. With that said, it is not our goal to simply continue our level of success, but to build upon it. This year, we will utilize a student-centered educational philosophy to strive to be the best version of The Brennan High School Band Program that we can be. Although I have already said it, I feel it is worth saying again; none of these goals are remotely achievable without you – our wonderful students, and extraordinary parents. Your devotion and commitment are what will drive our program to new heights. 

Thank you –

Thomas Kober 

Director of Bands, Brennan High School 

Please do not hesitate to contact me at thomas.kober@nisd.net or on my office phone (210) 398-1350 regarding any questions you may have.

Grading Policy

 

Participation – 25% (Cumulative)
Participation is a huge part of being successful as a band program. Participation at Brennan High School means coming to class, on time and fully prepared for the day’s lesson.

A student’s participation grade is based on the following: daily work, music memory, performance, etc… If a student fails to be prepared for the day’s lesson, they will receive a failing grade. The participation grade functions as a daily grade for in-rehearsal assessment. 

Although participation does not equal attendance, the two are in the same family. All rehearsals are mandatory for students, unless a doctor’s note, director approval via absence request, or any major extenuating circumstances are presented. 

 

Playing Tests – 25% (Cumulative)
All students in band at BHS will be participating in periodic playing tests. Grades for these assignments will be based on student achievement and preparation level.  Students will have the opportunity to record their playing tests at school or home in the case of an absence.

Playing tests will occur on a semi-regular schedule (once a week, generally), unless otherwise noted. These playing test are a pass/fail grade. This means that by simply making the effort to ‘pass-off’ the required music for the week will earn the student a grade of 100. 

 

*Performances – 50% (Summative) 
As with any band, performance is an inherent part of what we do at Brennan High School. All performances are mandatory for students throughout the year, without exception. Excuses are possible on a case by case basis, but very limited.

Similar to the student’s participation grade, performance grades are not simply obtained by showing up. Students are required to be on time and prepared for the day’s performance.     

*Communication is key – missing a performance is not the end of the world. As long as the band staff in ‘in the loop,’ exceptions and other opportunities to make-up performance grades will be made. FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE CAN RESULT IN A FAILING GRADE.

Uniform & Equipment Policy

Music, Uniforms, and Equipment must be kept in good condition and be on hand as needed. During the marching season, there will be general inspections prior to performances. During concert season, inspections may also be held. The following is a list of instructions on care and use of uniforms and equipment.

1. Hat – Hat should be worn straight on top of the head.  Hair extending below the collar will be secured and worn inside the hat. Plumes are very delicate and are damaged rather easily – treat them with great care.
2. Jacket – The jacket should be worn completely zipped and fastened at all times, when in public unless otherwise specified by the director. In hot weather, we will take off the jacket. The correct uniform shirt must be worn under the jacket without exception.
3. Bibber – are to be worn in a ‘fitted’ style, with compression shorts underneath. Suspenders are used to adjust length. Bibbers should be worn without a break in the crease, with the tip of the pant touching the shoe. Band Booster parents will help maintain this look.
4. Shoes – Shoes will be black or white and clean. They must be purchased from the band to match. Solid black socks will be worn. Initials should be marked on the inside soles of the shoes.
5. Gloves – Gloves must be kept clean and should fit. Hats and gloves are usually not worn, except during performances.
6. Brass Instruments – Valves and slides must work freely. Mouthpieces and horns must be clean and polished.
7. Woodwind Instruments – Reeds should be clean and without flaws. Instrument should be free of dust and dirt under keys. Pads should be in good condition without frays. 
8. Percussion Instruments – Drum heads should be clean and drum shells polished. Cymbals should be polished.
9. Uniform Cleaning – (marching only) As uniforms are never taken home, students and parents will not have to clean them. The band program will take care of cleaning. However, it is the student’s responsibility to take care of the uniform. Undershirt, gloves, and socks need to be clean each week.
10. Non-Uniform Clothing – Absolutely no non-uniform clothing may be worn where it is visible. If it is cold, layers may be worn underneath the uniform jacket and bibbers. Phones, video games, and electronic devices are not allowed in the stands at football games. 
11. Changing – After performance events (some games, contests, etc.) students will usually be allowed to change out of their uniforms on the bus or at an event (before returning to Brennan). Uniforms will be hung properly on hangers. Shoes are not to be kept in uniform bags.
12. Casual Uniform – After changing, when functioning as a group, or when in casual uniform, students will wear marching band shoes, jeans, and BMB apparel (not tucked in). Black undershirts may be worn with the pep jersey. 
13. No uniforms will be issued without payment of fees. – Refer to cost section of handbook for the total amount. Also, students who owe any fees from the prior year will not receive a uniform until they are cleared.

Discipline Policy

As is congruent with any successful band program, a certain level of discipline is expected in the Brennan High School Band. Our primary goal is making great music and it is our belief that upholding a certain level of order lends itself to a growth oriented, student centered learning environment. With that said, there are some discipline guidelines which we, as a staff, do our very best to keep our as concise and understandable as possible. 

Our rules are as follows:

1. Always be courteous and respectful of directors, staff, and fellow students.

Courtesy and respect lend themselves to a large spectrum of behaviors – such as, not talking while someone else (staff or student) is talking, listening and participating in rehearsal discussions, and generally being a ‘team-player.’    

2. Come ready for the day’s rehearsal(s).

As with any other subject in school, it is unacceptable to come to class (rehearsal) without the materials needed for the day. For most days in band, all students will need a pencil, their instrument (in functional, working condition), and any additional accessories needed for a successful rehearsal (reeds, valve oil, mutes, etc.). 

3. Have a great attitude.

This rule is a no-brainer – without a winning attitude, positive progress is nearly impossible to achieve. However, with great attitude comes great reward!

In the majority of situations, students who are not exhibiting these expected behaviors will simply be asked to recall our expectations and correct their behavior. However, in some circumstances alternative consequences will be used (at director/staff discretion). 

Listed in order of escalation

• Verbal correction
• Removal from rehearsal (alternate assignment) & student conference
• Contact parents
• Parent conference
• Office referral 

Ideally, our students will not have any major discipline issues and won’t have to be reminded of these policies. As always, our goal is not to enforce a plethora of rules onto our students, but to simply have an understandable set of guidelines that lend themselves to a successful experience in the Brennan High School Band Program. 

Eligibility

In order to be eligible in the Brennan High School band to participate in an extracurricular activity following the initial six weeks of a school year, a student must not have a recorded cycle grade average lower than 70.  A student who has a recorded cycle grade average in any course lower than 70 at the end of a grading cycle shall be suspended from participation in any extracurricular activity during a succeeding three week period until she/he regains eligibility seven calendar days after a three week evaluation period (must be passing all courses on the last day of that evaluation period).  

If the student continues to fail a course at the end of the three-week period, ineligibility continues until seven calendar days after the end of the next three-week period.  At this time, a student may remain eligible if all course averages are passing.  The campus principal or his/her designee may remove this suspension if the class is identified as an honors or AP class under the criteria stated in the Texas Administrative Code.

A student who has been suspended from an extracurricular activity due to failing grades may participate in class and outside of the school day practices.  Suspension from participation in extracurricular activities becomes effective seven days after the last day of the grading period during which the grade(s) lower than 70 was earned.  The seven-day interim period begins with the close of school on the last day of the grading period and ends seven days later.  For example, if the grading period ends at 4:05 p.m., Friday, April 12, the suspension would take effect at 4:05 p.m. on Friday, April 19.

This rule is in compliance with both the Texas Education Agency, and the University Interscholastic League (TEA & UIL). 

 

Private Lessons

Private lessons are the quickest, most efficient way for a student to improve on their individual instrument, which is why we encourage all of our students to take them. We are very fortunate in NISD to have many contracted private instructors available to help our students to continue their path to musical excellence. For a comprehensive list of these instructors, contact Ms. Le at shayla.le@nisd.net

Private lessons are an essential part to any serious BHS band student – Please feel free to contact any of the directors for help solidifying a teacher and lesson time. We want our students to be successful!

Absence

Absences will be excused in accordance with NISD Policy. If absence is unavoidable, please email the ensemble director. Sending an email does not excuse the absence, as all submissions will be reviewed with the band staff and attendance office.

For an unforeseeable absence (illness, etc.) to be excused, please send the email 12 hours before the scheduled event. For known absences (Graduations, Family Events, Church Functions, etc.) to be excused, please send an email at least 2 weeks before the scheduled event.

Testing Dates

We are aware that most of our Junior and Senior students will need to take their college entrance exams during the marching season. Please use the below dates for these exams to avoid conflict.

Preferred dates: August 26 or December 2

If these dates are impossible to accommodate, please contact Mr. Kober to work out an alternative plan.

Audition Information

Placement into one of the concert bands or jazz bands by a sequence of placement auditions, in December and May. Students will be placed into a chair order based solely on their audition, regardless of prior history or membership in any of the ensembles. Seniority does not come into play unless the scores of two auditions are exactly equal, in which case the student with seniority will be placed in the higher chair. After the placement auditions, chair tests can and will be held throughout the year, within each ensemble – meaning a student in symphonic band cannot ‘move up’ into wind ensemble during the course of the school year as a result of a chair test. Auditions will be played in front of all directors. 

There is not a formal audition for marching band, but the directors will be evaluating BHS band members during the course of summer band camp to determine which students will be in the competition show. Students not selected for the contest show will be placed in a JV spot, and may challenge students in the competition show for their spot. If a student desires to challenge into the contest show he or she must notify the challenged student and the directors one week before the desired performance. The challenge material will be decided by the directors to be performed at a rehearsal. All decisions made by the directors are absolutely final. 

Stay Connected!

Band Website: www.brennanband.org

Instagram: www.instagram.com/brennanbmb

Twitter: www.twitter.com/brennanband

Presto: We use a database called Presto for all band related activities – finances, handbooks, staff contacts, booster data, etc. All students will be provided an account from the boosters to maintain their band status and information. 

To access your student’s presto account, please visit – www.presto-assistant.com and hit ‘login’. 

Sign up as a Parent/Student Login, and enter the organization code “Brennan”.

Cost

Fair Share Fee

A fair share fee is required of all students in the Brennan Band Program. The Fair Share fee for 2023-2024 is $715.

Included in this fee are the show production and design fees, prop costs, band equipment, contest entry fees, Presto Database subscriptions, uniforms, upkeep, travel costs to all marching contests, band apparel, as well as all additional instruction provided to students – The fair share fee also aids in the program’s general fund - funding many band related activities, such as some booster functions, some fundraising, Colorguard budget, festival submissions and recordings, etc. These fees are educational in need, and not based on unneeded luxury items. 

For a full breakdown of the budget, please contact our president at yolelobos@gmail.com

We have multiple payment plans for the fair share fee – consisting of 1 to 5 payments. Please be aware, 5 or more payment plans must start by July 30th. All payment plans must be completed by Decmber 1, outside of extreme extenuating circumstances. Below are the payment plans for the 2023-2024 fair share fee:

School Owned Instruments

Brennan High School offers rental instruments to students for a fee. The fee for wind students is $30.00, and $75.00 for percussion students, each year. These instruments are great quality instruments but are understandably not usually owned by students, as they can cost up to $10,000. Each of these instruments is cleaned and made ready for the next school year over the summer. All damages that occur while an instrument is rented to a student are the financial responsibility of that student. Instruments should be returned in the same working condition they were rented. All students using a school owned instrument will be expected to pay this fee.

Cost Continued

Additional Items

There are a few items that are extraneous to the fair share fee. These are listed below:

• 
  Game Day Dinners - $55 – This fee is for students and parents who would like a meal provided before games at Brennan High School. This fee is not mandatory, however, it must be paid in full on July 30. 
• Playoff Meals – because we cannot plan for the playoff football season, playoff meals are not covered by the game day dinner fee. 
• Long Distance Trips – We are constantly planning out of state trips, which occur every other year. These trips are not covered by the fair share fee. 
• Food/Concessions at Events – Food and concessions at events will not be covered when the band is traveling to and from contests. At a couple events through the year, our booster club will provide food via a cookout. Food details will be covered in the handout – given out the week of each contest. 
• Winterguard Fee – A winterguard fee will be assessed at the end of the Fall semester to supplement the colorguard budget. Uniforms, show design, and props will be covered by this fee. Amount is TBD, based on volume of participation. 
• Day to Day instrument supplies – Standard instrument supplies will not be regularly supplied to students. Examples of these items are (but not limited to) valve oil, reeds, slide grease, cork grease, etc.  
• Member Jacket – BMB Member Jackets are available to all students in the band program. Prices start at $70, and can go up from that point. Primary orders will occur at prep day, although they are available all year.

No student may be required to attend practice for marching band for more than eight hours of rehearsal outside the academic school day per calendar week (Sunday through Saturday). This provision applies to students in all components of the marching band.

On performance days (football games, competitions and other public performances) bands may hold up to one additional hour of warm-up and practice beyond the scheduled warm-up time at the performance site. Multiple performances on the same day do not allow for additional practice and/or warm-up time.

Examples Of Activities Subject To The UIL Marching Band Eight Hour Rule.

• Marching Band Rehearsal (Both Full Band And Components)
• Any Marching Band Group Instructional Activity
• Breaks
• Announcements
• Debriefing And Viewing Marching Band Videos
• Playing Off Marching Band Music 
• Marching Band Sectionals (Both Director And Student Led) 
• Clinics For The Marching Band Or Any Of Its Component

The Following Activities Are Not Included In The Eight Hour Time Allotment:

• Travel Time To And From Rehearsals And/Or Performances 
• Rehearsal Set-Up Time 
• Pep Rallies, Parades And Other Public Performances
• Instruction And Practice For Music Activities Other Than Marching Band And Its Components

Note:

An extensive Q&A for the Eight Hour Rule for Marching Band can be found on the Music Page of the UIL Web Site at: www.uil.utexas.edu

"We have read and understand the Eight-Hour Rule for Marching Band as stated above and agree to abide by these regulations."

MEDIA RELEASE FORM

 

Dear Brennan Band Parent,

During the 2023-2024 school year, video/reporter/photography crews from various NISD-Approved Media Outlets will take photos and videos of the band and our students. 

This waiver grant an opportunity for you to allow/disallow NISD and the Brennan High School Band the ability to use this media on the School, District and Band Websites, as well as social any media outlets maintained by the program.  

Please indicate your preference by signing and returning this form to the Brennan High School Band Staff with your Band Handbook Forms and Acknowledgements. 

Please note – if your student does not receive parental permission, they will not be included in any form of media in which they can be easily recognized.

I certify that the above translation is true and correct, to the best of my abilities.