Marching Bobcat Policy

2022 - 2023

Thank you for your interest in the Battlefield High School Marching Band! Our band has enjoyed much success over the years due to the dedication of our students, staff, and parents, with the support of the BHS administration and the BSO. This page outlines the policies and procedures for the Marching Band program. We are looking forward to great things this season!

Michael Britcher, Director

Vision

The Marching Bobcats will achieve the highest level of success because students, staff, parents, and BHS administration will work together to facilitate an environment that enhances the lives of our band students through:

• Quality music education in both marching and concert environments
• Team-work and camaraderie
• Discipline and integrity
• Pride in self, band, school, and community
• Leadership opportunities
• Importance of commitment and follow-through
• Recognition at local, state, and national levels

Attendance

The success of our group depends heavily on attendance. When a student is missing from practice, it makes everyone else’s practice more difficult. Our performance is visual and it will usually result in a score deduction for our band at competitions. If a student is not keeping up with grades, it is unfair to keep a student home from practice. This results in the student’s problem becoming the band’s problem. When joining the Marching Bobcats, you are making a commitment to a group of people who work hard for success. If a student misses practice due to illness, the student will not lose points for the day. In order not to lose points, the Band Director must receive a signed doctor’s note. Sudden family emergencies, including the death of a loved one, constitute an excused absence. Jobs/babysitting conflicts are NOT excused absences. The calendar was issued early enough so that potential conflicts could be resolved well in advance.

Clubs and Activities

Clubs are NOT an excuse for missing rehearsal time. After school practice takes place on Wednesdays only and we start practice late enough so that students should be able to get pertinent information from a meeting and still make it to the practice field by 2:30. Any arrangement not set forth by the Band Director is an unexcused absence.

After School Help

After school help should be scheduled on Mondays, Tuesdays, or Thursdays. I would prefer that a student miss part of their sectional time rather than when we are focusing on drill and music. A note from a teacher would be needed to count this as an excused absence. If for some reason a student needs to meet with a teacher on a Wednesday, I will require a note from the teacher. In addition, the student should not miss more than half of the rehearsal.

Performance Point System (50% of grade: 5 points per each performance)                                                 

Rehearsal/Participation Point System (50% of grade: 5 points per each performance)

Communication

Most issues that arise can be solved quickly by contacting me early. Issues can be resolved with early communication between the director, parent, and student. I constantly check my email during the season. This is the best form of communication.

Behavior and Sportsmanship

As a member of the band, it is each student’s responsibility to exhibit exemplary behavior and good sportsmanship at all times. Students are representatives of the band, school, and the community. It is important to respect the direction of staff and student leadership, as well as the feelings of others. Do not criticize the performance of another student or band. Everyone has worked hard to achieve their goals and deserves positive recognition for their efforts. We learn to stand together with pride as scores are announced. Respect those who have scored ahead of us, and gracefully accept our own success. Never cheer for someone else’s loss. Expectations are outlined in the Marching Band Contract.

Uniforms

Band Camp and After School Practice Uniforms

Students are expected to wear white t-shirts and black athletic shorts for all practices. Shirts must be worn at all times.

Marching Uniforms

Students will be fitted to a uniform. The marching band uniform consists of a jacket, a pair of marching pants (bib), a shako (marching band hat) or beret (sousaphones), marching band t-shirt, athletic shorts/pants, black shoes, gloves, and long, black dress socks. (The shorts/pants, shoes, socks, and gloves will be purchased by each student.). For color guard members, the uniform consists of the show costume, shoes, and gloves.

Shoes, Gloves, Gauntlets, and Socks

Students will be measured for a pair of marching band shoes during the first week of camp. The cost of shoes is $35. Returning students may wear their current shoes provided they fit and are in excellent condition. Shoes are required to be brought to uniform fittings in order to check the condition and determine if new shoes will need to be purchased for the season. Payment for shoes and gloves will be due on the first day of band camp. The BSO will place one order for shoes. If additional shoes are needed after the initial order is placed, the student will incur the cost of the shoes plus shipping.  Students will also be fitted for gloves. The cost of gloves is $5. It is a good idea to purchase two pairs of gloves to have an extra pair as backup. Students are expected to purchase long, black socks. Ankle and “no show” socks are unacceptable.

 If a student forgets his/her shoes, gloves, gauntlets, or socks for a game or competition, shoes may be rented for $5, and a new pair of gloves must be purchased for $5. Socks may be purchased for $5. Gauntlets may be rented for $5. Rented items must be returned to a chaperone after each event. Students will be issued a receipt for any items that are rented/purchased. That receipt must be returned with payment to ensure proper credit to the student’s account. The receipt and payment may be placed in the black box in the band room or given to a chaperone. Payment must be placed in an envelope marked with the student’s name and the reason for your payment.

Wind Suit

Students will purchase a two-piece wind suit (jacket and pants). The wind suit will be worn at competitions, when not in uniform, and as an alternate uniform in inclement weather. Students will be able to try on samples to determine fit. Wind suits will be purchased one time only, unless the jacket or pants become damaged or do not fit.

Wearing Your Uniform

• Long hair must be pinned up neatlyunder shako. Hair accessories should closely match the color of your hair.
• No jewelry, including wrist watches.
• No hair dye/product or make up foundation that might transfer to the uniform.This is especially important as our shakos and the shoulders of the uniform are white and hair dyes/products or foundation will ruin them, requiring replacement.
• Neutral nail polish only.
• No eating or drinking (except water) while wearing the marching band uniform.
• There are snap hems in both the pants and jackets that are specifically measured to fit each student so that cuffs lay properly.  Students should be careful when putting their legs/arms into their uniforms to keep these snaps intact. If snaps come undone, the student can reference the name card in their garment bag for proper snap placement.  If assistance is needed, a student may ask a chaperone for help. 

Replacement Costs

New uniforms were purchased in 2016. If a uniform needs to be replaced due to negligence or improper care, either in whole or in part, the cost of replacement will be the responsibility of the student. Replacement costs are as follows:

Jacket - $220

Bibs - $110

Shako - $65

Gauntlets - $45

Plume - $20

General Performance Guidelines

• Only band members are allowed to sit with the band! This will be enforced by the drum majors and section leaders.
• No gum during rehearsals or performances.
• The full uniform must be worn at all times, unless instructed by the director. 
• Shoes must be cleaned and polished for each performance.
• There is absolutely NO cell phone use prior to/during a performance. 
• There is NO “PDA” while in uniform, on the bus, in the band room, etc. Inappropriate behavior like this will not be tolerated. 

Instruments

Students will use personal instruments or, if the student plays a larger instrument, he/she will be assigned a school-owned instrument. Instruments must be treated with care and negligence resulting in damage or destruction of a school-owned instrument may result in a charge to the student.

Transportation

Students are required to ride the bus or authorized vehicles to all events and competitions. If a student wishes to return home from an activity with his/her parent, the parent must sign out with the director at the event. Students may be allowed to return home with another student’s parent or another family member if prior arrangements have been made with Battlefield’s Principal. If prior arrangements have not been made, the student must go home with the band or with a parent. Inappropriate behavior on school buses or charter buses will not be tolerated. Violators will be completely removed from marching band (practices, performances, pictures, etc.) for a period of 2 weeks from the time of the infraction. In addition, the involved students will not receive a letter or a bar at the end of the season. The students will not receive any points for practices or events during the two weeks missed.

Payments, Fundraising and Student Accounts

All fees are required to be paid in a timely manner. They should be placed in the BSO black box in the band room, clearly marked with the payment purpose and student name.  Please include a receipt, if applicable.

Participation in school sanctioned band fundraising is vital for our band program to be successful. To increase student participation, a portion of a student’s individual fundraising efforts will be held in a student account and managed by the Band Support Organization Treasurer. These funds may be used for marching band fees, rental fees for gloves/shoes/socks, band trip costs, audition fees, or other initiatives determined by the Band Director or BSO. All monies not used prior to graduation or transfer from Battlefield High School will be returned to the BSO general account.

Marching Fees cover:  

Withdrawing “Money” From Student Accounts

In order to apply credits earned to your fees, students will need to submit a Request for Student Account Funds.

GL SCRIP FUNDRAISING PROGRAM

GL SCRIP is a program offered by the BSO to accrue monies in student accounts to be used for band fees. Participation in GL SCRIP is optional. Families will buy gift cards for retailers where you already shop and earn on every gift card purchased at face value. The rebate goes to the BSO and is then marked for your student’s virtual account as defined in the By Laws. We run our scrip program through ShopWithScrip.com, which has worked with over 30,000 nonprofit organizations over the course of 23 years. You’ll need to sign up and create an account to order online.  Please contact Karen Williams, SCRIP Coordinator, at bhsmarchingbobcats@gmail.com to get started.

100% of monies raised through the GL SCRIP gift card program will be reflected in the student account! Credits will be updated on the first of each month and can be viewed in CHARMS.

Reimbursements

Parents and volunteers that would like to request reimbursement for purchases made on behalf of the BSO must fill out and submit a Reimbursement Request. The PDF can be found HERE

Schedule 

All practices, football games, competitions, and other scheduled events are mandatory. Please discuss any conflicts with Mr. Britcher. The schedule is provided well in advance for proper planning. 

Mini Camp

TBD

Summer Band Camp

• Guard and Percussion Band Camp:  TBD
• Leadership and New Members Band Camp:  TBD
• Full Day Band Camp:  TBD
• Full Day Band Camp: TBD
• Full Day Band Camp:  TBD
• Evening Band Camp:  TBD

After School Practices

Practices will be held Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6pm-8:30pm. On Wednesdays, practices will be held immediately after school until 5pm. Friday practices, will be held as necessary. There will be no practice on Mondays.

Football Games

TBD 

Competitions

• Woodbridge - TBD
• Colgan - TBD
• BOA Mid Atlantic (University of Maryland) - TBD
• Battle Royale - TBD (at Battlefield)
• James Madison University Parade of Champions - TBD
• VBODA Marching Assessment - TBD

Other Events

• Parent Potluck and Preview - TBD
• Tag Day – TBD
• Haymarket Day Parade – TBD
• Band Banquet – TBD
• Manassas Christmas Parade - December