Welcome to Nieman Elementary Bands

wrapping up marching & band announcements Oct. 30-Nov.7

by Chad Reed | Oct 30, 2023 | Mr. Reed's Notes

Dear band family-

It’s hard to express everything I’m feeling. Last Saturday was definitely one for the books…in so many ways! It was amazing and satisfying to see the kids’ work and efforts over the last three months be rewarded at that level. What an amazing accomplishment. To my knowledge, that’s the best ranking SM North has had in the 43-year history of the UCM marching festival!

I was so excited to be in the top five for prelims, but then to get second place in finals was beyond anything I could have imagined. It was not only the perseverance, grit and determination the kids demonstrated in rain and 30° weather, it was the grit and determination over three months. Parents, I’m so proud of your kids, it’s humbling to work with these wonderful young men and women.

I’m also incredibly thankful for all of the parents that helped on Saturday. At times, the only thing that kept me warm were the positive vibes and energy that the parents brought throughout the day. It was cold and raining on you too, but the kids couldn’t have done it without you. There are too many parents to thank, but a huge shout out to Michele Keller for organizing everything. A special shoutout to Corey and Jennifer Goering, for making the beautiful masterpiece, that beautiful rosebush…Thank you so much for the countless hours of making a bold idea into a beautiful, amazing reality.

Long story short, it was an intense marching season that ended perfectly… Thank you everyone, from the bottom of my heart.

Band announcements:

We’re kicking off our yearly fundraiser, those materials are being handed out tomorrow and Wednesday during class. Parents, please look for these materials this week.

We are taking the varsity marching band yearbook photo this Friday, Nov. 3^rd before school. The band room will be open at 6:45 AM, everyone should be in full uniform with instruments in the field house no later than 7:10 AM. We need to take the picture before school so we can have winds/percussion/dance team together.

Saturday, Nov. 4^th– District honor band auditions. Students who are auditioning for the district band should be at Gardner Edgerton high school by 7:30am. See Mr. Reed with any other questions.

Next Monday, November 6th-

We’re going to have a band movie night! Beginning at 7:00PM, we will watch a movie either in the band room or little theater. Bring popcorn or candy, whatever you would normally have at the movies, and we can all enjoy each other for a couple of hours without any work attached! Of course, this is 100% optional, just for fun.

Nov. 7^th– Jazz band concert at 7PM in the auditorium. Both North jazz bands will perform. Everyone is invited to attend, and it will last around 45 minutes. Jazz students should arrive no later than 6:40PM with jazz shirt and ready to warm up.

And off we go towards new adventures! 🙂

Mr. Reed

updated itinerary for Warrensburg Fri/Sat

by Chad Reed | Oct 24, 2023 | Mr. Reed's Notes

New updated itinerary for UCM/Warrensburg plans:

Friday, Oct. 27th, 2:40PM- all percussion and anyone wanting to earn lettering points, please help load the equipment trucks after school. ALL wind instruments should have their instruments lined up by Friday after school…or you will need to take it with you on the bus! Flutes/clarinets can bring their instruments on the bus, but I would prefer all other instruments are on the equipment trucks.

9:00AM- band room opens, begin loading uniform trailer.

9:30- full band at school, getting ready for visual rehearsal on field.

9:45- visual/marching rehearsal on field without instruments but wearing uniform hats.

10:30- load hats and depart SM North for Warrensburg

12:00PM- arrive at UCM parking lot (location TBD), unload truck, eat lunch in parking lot (provided by boosters), get into uniform.

2:00- musical and visual WARMUP

2:45- leave parking lot

3:00- stage for performance

3:15PM- performance

3:30- everyone stays in the stadium to watch the last 3 bands.

4:30- UCM Marching Mules performance & prelim awards ceremony

If we do NOT make finals, we head towards the busses, load truck and uniform trailer & eat dinner (provided by boosters), then head back to school. Expected ETA to North would be around 7:15PM.

If we DO make finals, we will head back to busses, eat dinner (provided by boosters) warm up and perform, but not necessarily in that order, as it depends on when we play. Finals performances run 6:00PM-8:15PM. Finals awards ceremony is at 8:45PM. We will then load truck and uniform trailer and head back to North. Depending on our performance time, we will arrive back to North somewhere between 11:00PM-12:30AM.

band announcements Oct. 23-28, Warrensburg itinerary

by Chad Reed | Oct 22, 2023 | Mr. Reed's Notes

Monday, Oct. 23rd- 6:45AM rehearsal for varsity band. Also on this day, as announced last week in class, we need to move Monday night’s rehearsal time back one hour, so 7:30-9:30PM. The JV football game is starting later due to bussing shortfalls, so we can’t get the field until 7:30PM.

Wednesday- 6:45AM rehearsal for varsity band.

Friday- 6:45AM rehearsal for varsity band.

Saturday, UCM Festival of Champions, Warrensburg, MO itinerary:

Students, wear show shirt, but dress in layers as the temps will range from 45-55 degrees, plus 40% chance of rain. Remember, no jeans underneath uniforms, and have LONG, BLACK socks.

FYI- the itinerary below is plan A, however, I want to have some conversations with some key individuals about loading the truck Friday after school when we know it won’t be raining, stay tuned!

8:00AM- band room opens, load trucks, uniform trailer. All percussion students and those wanting to earn lettering points.
9:30- full band at school, getting ready for visual rehearsal on field.
9:45- visual/marching rehearsal on field without instruments but wearing uniform hats.
10:30- load hats and depart SM North for Warrensburg
12:00PM- arrive at UCM parking lot (location TBD), unload truck, eat lunch in parking lot (provided by boosters), get into uniform.
2:00- musical and visual WARMUP
2:45- leave parking lot
3:00- stage for performance
3:15PM- performance
3:30- everyone stays in the stadium to watch the last 3 bands.
4:30- UCM Marching Mules performance & prelim awards ceremony

If we do NOT make finals, we head towards the busses, load truck and uniform trailer & eat dinner (provided by boosters), then head back to school. Expected ETA to North would be around 7:15PM.

I am REALLY looking forward to this week of rehearsals…kids, we’re not winding down to the finish, we’re ramping up to the finish! I’m proud of all of you, let’s give everything we have this final week!

Mr. Reed

band announcements Oct. 16-20

by Chad Reed | Oct 15, 2023 | Mr. Reed's Notes

Words cannot express the gratitude I feel for everyone’s help yesterday at the SM North Marching Invitational. The sense of community and positive vibes are difficult to express in words. I can’t begin naming everyone who helped yesterday, so I’ll just mention our two key parent leaders, booster president Michele Keller and Invitational chair, Tony Duckworth, thank you for your countless hours of preparation and leadership. Thank you to all the parents who helped yesterday. I hope you had fun as we all hosted the 10^th annual Invitational!

I wish I could spend more time on last week, but we have another jam packed week…so here we go!

Monday, Oct. 16- 6:45AM varsity rehearsal. Also on this night, 6:30-8:30PM varsity rehearsal.

Wednesday- 6:45AM varsity rehearsal.

Friday- no school. Senior night football game itinerary:

5:00PM- band room doors open, begin uniform checkout

6:15- attendance taken for varsity and participating JV students on upper field, in full uniform and instrument ready.

6:40ish- band performs national anthem and pregame sequence.

7:00- game begins

7:40ish- with about 3 minutes left in the 1^st half of the football game, parents/escorts of 12^th grade band students should report to the track. We will line you up alphabetical by students last name. Enjoy watching the show from the track!

7:45ish- halftime performance. At conclusion of halftime, seniors will line up on field across from their parents/escorts. When senior name is called, parents/escorts meet their child on the track, give them a flower (provided by band boosters) and hug/stand by them. At the conclusion of senior night festivities, all band students return their uniform to the band room and prepare for the LIGHT SHOW.

LIGHT SHOW details: Varsity students, upon returning marching uniform, students should change into dark clothing, top to bottom, so lighting shows up better. All students should at the very least, provide two medium sized flashlights (to be taped on the outside of their legs) with fresh batteries. Additional lighting is up to individual students. Younger kids, I would ask the older kids for ideas…lots of possibilities. At the conclusion of the game, we will wait 12 minutes, then turn off the lights and we will perform our halftime show in the dark! Lots of fun.

SENIOR STUDENTS: Please fill out the following G form by this Monday, Oct. 16^th. Here’s the link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScZGB8Knix5IeGVxlGV0nVFGgNB7Vwrq1PVvWZ6CPm4lAu4Nw/viewform?usp=sf_link

Varsity, 5 early rehearsals and less than 2 weeks left. Saturday night’s show was amazing…and we’re going to keep getting better!

Mr. Reed

modified rehearsal schedule, Oct. 11th-13th

by Chad Reed | Oct 10, 2023 | Mr. Reed's Notes

Hello parents and students-

As announced yesterday in rehearsal today and yesterday, we had to modify this week’s rehearsal schedule for a number of reasons. The remaining week:

Wednesday, Oct. 11^th–

No early rehearsal. Students not taking the PSAT will meet on the field at 7:40AM with no instruments. FYI- none of us will have access to the band room from 7:30AM-12:30PM.

Thursday-

No school or rehearsals

Friday-

New rehearsal time from 6:45-9:30AM. Students, we will also cover final logistics for the marching festival, to be held the following day,

Apologies for the change of times.

band announcements Oct. 9-14

by Chad Reed | Oct 8, 2023 | Mr. Reed's Notes

A special thanks to all the parents who helped last Monday, as well as Friday’s Homecoming game and yesterday’s Olathe festival. You are the best!

Monday, Oct. 9- 6:45AM- early rehearsal for varsity band. Also on same night, 6:30PM varsity rehearsal.

Wed.- Although this is the National Day of Testing, North is still running an assembly schedule day of school, so we will still rehearse at 6:45AM through block 1 (and 2 for percussion). Of course, band students are excused from rehearsal if you are taking the test. I’ll get a list from Dr. Brogdon of band students who are testing.

Friday- although there is no school, as per your summer/fall band calendar, we have a graded rehearsal from 9AM-noon (3X normal points). We will also cover last minute SM North Marching Invitational stuff.

Sat- SM North Marching Invitational. Student information will be covered in class, parents should sign up for jobs on the signup genius (see below). Everyone should report to the legacy patio 20 minutes prior to any job they have so we know who is here to help. The legacy patio is the brick patio outside of the pool area.

Remember that NO ONE should park on campus on Saturday, including myself and other volunteers. I’m parking on 61^st street behind the stadium. Parents, here’s the link to volunteer: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409044CACAB2FA2FA7-38269464-2023#/

Finally, remember that we should greet EVERYONE with those 5 wonderful words, ”Welcome to Shawnee Mission North!”

Looking forward to another fun and important week in band!

Mr. Reed

band announcements Oct. 2-7

by Chad Reed | Oct 1, 2023 | Mr. Reed's Notes

Monday, Oct. 2^nd– 6:45AM early rehearsal for varsity students.

ALSO on this day is the SM Marching Festival:

This will be held at SM South stadium. Parents, performance times begin at 7:00PM and the order of bands is West, North, East, Northwest, South. This is a free event to the public. All seating is on the west side of the stadium (closest to Lamar, further away from the school). SM North fans should sit just south of the 50 yard line. It will look like it does when you’re sitting in our North stadium. Students, this is a graded event and you need to stay for all 5 bands, and travel back on the bus to North.

Here’s the itinerary:

3:00PM- load percussion/equipment trucks after school. All percussion and anyone else that wants to earn lettering points, please help after school. Once loaded, everyone breaks for dinner.

4:45- band room opens, begin uniform checkout

5:30- busses depart for SM South

6:00- unload truck, begin warmup process

7:00- performances begin.

8:15ish- performances conclude. Load trucks and busses and depart for SM North

9:15ish- arrive at North, unload trucks, turn in uniforms

Wed- 6:45AM early rehearsal for varsity students

6:30PM- also on Wednesday, there is a “block party” organized by pep-club. Drumline has been asked to play. Probably a call time of around 6:00PM, we will discuss this in class.

Fri- 6:45AM early rehearsal for varsity students

12:30PM- band dismiss from class to prepare for Homecoming parade. Wear your show shirt and black or brown shorts.

1:30- PARADE begins. Band dismiss after parade.

5:00- band room opens, distribute uniforms

6:00- varsity/JV attendance on upper football field, in full uniform, ready to play.

6:35- FULL “HALFTIME” SHOW PERFORMANCE BEFORE GAME. Parents, please be in your seats by 6:30PM so you don’t miss the marching band show.

7:00- game begins
7:45ish- we may or may NOT play our first song for halftime, still no final word. Regardless, Homecoming crowning occurs at halftime.

9:30ish- game concludes, turn in uniforms

Sat- OLATHE MARCHING INVITATIONAL itinerary:

8:00AM- band room opens to load trucks and uniform trailers with garment bags, as we will wear our uniforms on bus. All percussion and those wanting to earn lettering points should arrive at 8AM.

9:15- all varsity members at North, change into uniform

9:50- depart SM North

10:15- arrive at Olathe NW, unload trucks

12:00PM- begin warmup.

12:50- on deck

1:00- PERFORMANCE

1:15- change out of uniform, eat lunch and load trucks/uniform trailer.

2:15ish- busses depart back to North

2:45ish- busses arrive, unload equipment, return uniform bags

Happy Homecoming night!

Parents, there is a $10 admission ticket to enter the stadium. Although we get 10 free parent helper admission tickets, there’s WAY more than 10 of you helping…so please just plan on purchasing a $10 admission ticket, even if you’re helping. There’s a $5 student/child admission ticket charge as well.

PARENTS, the following sign-up genius links have gone out, but here they are in one place. There might be one for the Homecoming game out later this week.

Oct. 2^nd SMSD marching festival link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084EA4A92DA5FEC52-44282508-smsd#/

Oct. 14^th SMN Marching Invitational volunteer link:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409044CACAB2FA2FA7-38269464-2023#/

The next four weeks will test out ability to get rest when we can, and to understand how much EVERYONE is depending on EVERYONE to do their best and be on time, ready to work. Kids, you’ve all worked really hard, I can’t wait to see your efforts in a performance. 😊

Mr. Reed

band announcements Sept. 25- Oct. 2

by Chad Reed | Sep 24, 2023 | Mr. Reed's Notes

Monday, Sept. 25- 6:45AM early rehearsal for varsity students. Due to a JV football game, we are bumping Monday night’s rehearsal to 7:00-9:00PM (instead of the regular 6:30-8:30pm). I hope this will not cause a scheduling conflict with anyone. Any parents that want to continue working on props, etc. during this rehearsal, please come on out!

Wednesday- 6:45AM early rehearsal for varsity students.

Friday- 6:45AM early rehearsal for varsity students.

Monday, Oct. 2^nd– 6:45AM early rehearsal for varsity students.

ALSO on this day is the SM Marching Festival:

Here’s the itinerary:

3:00PM- load percussion/equipment trucks after school. All percussion and anyone else that wants to earn lettering points, please help after school. Once loaded, everyone breaks for dinner.

4:45- band room opens, begin uniform checkout

5:30- busses depart for SM South

6:00- unload truck, begin warmup process

7:00- performances begin.

8:15ish- performances conclude. Load trucks and busses and depart for SM North

9:15ish- arrive at North, unload trucks, turn in uniforms

Other events in October:

Although the full itinerary is not completed for the Oct. 7^th Olathe Marching Invitational, we have a 1:00PM performance time, and due to North’s Homecoming, we will only play the first round. Students will decide and sign up to take a bus back to North after our performance, or stay for the duration of the day/evening. Finals awards will conclude at 10:00PM, so we would depart back to North at that time. More details about the Homecoming game and Olathe marching festival to follow next weekend.

Parents, if you haven’t done so already, please use this link to sign up for a volunteer shift for our SM North Marching Invitational, to be held on Saturday, Oct. 14^th! This is of all days of the year, an “all hands on deck” day for parents! Everyone helping for just a couple hours will make a huge difference. Thanks in advance for your help! Here’s the link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409044CACAB2FA2FA7-38269464-2023#/

The show is really shaping up, thank you everyone for your hard work and efforts!

Mr. Reed

band announcements Sept. 18-22

by Chad Reed | Sep 17, 2023 | Mr. Reed's Notes

Band announcements Sept. 18th-22nd

Monday, Sept. 18- 6:45AM varsity rehearsal. Also, 6:30-8:30PM varsity rehearsal.

Wednesday, 6:45AM varsity rehearsal.

Friday- 6:45AM varsity rehearsal. Also on Friday, home football game:

4:30PM- band room opens up.

4:45- big brother/sisters arrive. This list will be posted by Wednesday or so, usually juniors and seniors.

5:00- Hocker Grove students arrive at band room eat with big brother/sister HS students.

5:15- begin checking out full uniforms to varsity students, and JV students who choose to participate with this football game.

6:05- attendance taken on upper field, everyone in full uniform and instruments, ready to go.

6:40- pre-game performance.

7:00- game begins

7:45ish- halftime performance. AFTER HALFTIME, parents, we will have our SMN Marching Invitational meeting, to be held in the North CHOIR room (HG students being picked up in band room) during the 3^rd quarter. We will keep the meeting brief so you can head out to the game for the 4^th quarter.

9:30ish- game concludes, turn in uniforms and dismiss.

Looking forward to a productive week in band!

Mr. Reed

band announcements Sept. 11-15

by Chad Reed | Sep 10, 2023 | Mr. Reed's Notes

Monday, Sept. 11- 6:45AM varsity rehearsal (if raining, we will begin inside). Also, 6:30-8:30PM varsity rehearsal. Parents, anyone wanting to help with the new rose bush prop, sound system or podiums, the band room will be open beginning 5:15PM and on to work on these projects. Thanks in advance for anyone that can help.

Wednesday, 6:45AM varsity rehearsal. Also on Wednesday, the Bonner Springs Marching Festival:

10:20AM- drumline excused from block 3 class to begin helping load truck.

11:00- all varsity members should eat 1^st lunch.

11:30- all varsity members report to band room, change into show shirt and khaki (or as close to brown color, do your best) shorts, and help load truck.

12:30PM- begin loading bus.

1:00- arrive at Bonner Springs HS, begin loading truck.

2:00- begin music/visual warm-up process.

2:30- PERFORMANCE

2:45- begin clinic.
3:15- clinic ends, 15-minute break, then percussion begin loading truck.

3:40- all winds begin music rehearsal in Bonner Springs band room as we wait for our busses to arrive.

4:45ish-load busses and depart for North.

5:15ish-arrive at North, unload truck and dismiss.

PARENTS: please use this sign-up genius to help with the Bonner Springs festival: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084EA4A92DA5FEC52-bonner#/

Looking forward to a busy and rewarding week in band!

Mr. Reed