Directors’ Notes: August 31-Sept 4, 2026
Power-Up:
The Power-Up schedule in the band room for the week is as follows:
Tues/Wed- Jazz Combo
Thurs- Practice time for Woodwind/Percussion students
Fri- Practice time for Brass/Orchestra students
As a reminder: Students wanting to attending practice sessions must request to be added to the roster no later than the day before. Jazz Combo students are already on the roster for those specific days and do not need to request to be added.
Students on the official Power-Up Roster that do not wish to participate in Jazz Combo or specific practice sessions: should coordinate another power-up location for those specific days with another teacher.
Marching Band Specifics:
Attendance Policy Clarification and Request:
We have noticed a significant increase in 0 hour absences over the past two weeks. Previous seasons, the 0 hour class periods have averaged around 2.7 student absences per day. This semester’s average is already at 6.5 students per day with an unprecedented 14 students absent from last Thursday’s 0 hour class. Especially after canceling Saturday camps August & September, it is crucial that all students take 0 hour attendance as seriously as they do after-school rehearsal attendance. We cannot have productive rehearsals and will not reach our goals for the season if the entire band is not committed to giving 100% every week.
While most of this is related to the numerous illnesses going around the school, it is important that students are able to identify (and self-regulate) the difference between being sick and simply not feeling well. We pride ourselves on building students that are ready to be productive members of society when they leave high school, grit and pushing through fatigue are part of that effort. As a reminder, 0 hour is a normal, curricular/graded class, the same as other periods of the day. We are fortunate enough to have almost every Friday morning off, which most families (including my own) use to schedule appointments and other events.
CHS reserves the right to remove students from a 0 hour class period after 7 absences with or without the teacher’s consent. If Cienega chooses to enforce this policy, there is nothing the band staff can do to prevent students from being removed.
Weekly Agenda:
Mon 0- band meeting/inside music rehearsal
Mon PM- rehearsal from 6-9 pm with focus on putting Part 2 on the field
- Perc/Guard will start at 5:30 per usual
Tues 0- Part 2 on field
Tues PM- open band room/study hall (4-5 pm)
Wed- Inside music rehearsal (MS Band Night prep)
Thurs 0- part 2 on field
Thurs PM- sectionals (4-6 pm)
Fri- No scheduled events
Sat- No scheduled events
Coming Soon:
Friday, Sept. 11- first home game/MS Band Night
- info on volunteer needs to come from boosters, expecting over 150 middle school students in attendance!
Saturday, Sept. 19- First show @ Casa Grande UHS! Itinerary to come soon
Friday, Sept. 25- band departs for BOA- Flagstaff regional
Saturday, Sept. 26- band competes at BOA- Flagstaff regional
- Details, as current as we have them, can be found in last week’s Directors’ Notes
- Student rooming lists and parent volunteer slots are are complete
- Finalized student rooming list will be posted in band room and distributed privately to families.
Friday, October 2- Home football game (during Fall Break)
- all students that are not out-of-town on this date are expected to attend the game
- We understand that family vacations may have been planned prior to the football schedule release and will excuse those conflicts