The 2026 Mighty Marching Saints after-school practices will typically run about 4 hours after school with a break from 4 pm - 5 pm twice a week on Tuesday and Thursday (and Friday depending on the football game schedule). Practices start right after school. Percussion students will have a Monday Sectional that starts three hours after school ends and will also end at 7 pm. Some students use this time to form study groups in the band hall, find a quiet corner to work on homework, or just enjoy hanging out with friends. Some students go home and come back, others stay, sit in the commons, do homeworks, and eat dinner (delivered by parents, delivery service, or brought with them that day.)
The reason for a later end time is to allow parents and guardians to pick up their student after their work-day, miss out sitting in the rush hour traffic, more stadium time for our students, and allow a chance for our instructional staff to make it to our practice after they finish their own work-day at the adj middle schools..
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The band generally practices for one hour after school on football game days.
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On days with after school practice, in addition to their school backpack, your student will need to take everything they need with them in the morning. The duffle bag you purchased can be used to carry band equipment.
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Instrument
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All music and fanny pack
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Practice clothes
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Athletic shoes/socks
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Water jug (tip: if you fill it about 3/4 full of ice and then add water, they will still have cold water and some ice after school)
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Whatever else they have been using at practice (chalk, etc...)
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Hat and Sunglasses
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Small snack
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Sunscreen
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Deodorant
Traditionally, the Tuesday after school practice is on the football field.
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​Flip Folders and Lyres - Information about what flip folders and lyres are needed will come from the band leadership and the directors. These will be needed for the stands for football games.
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Band Hall Life
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The students can drop off their items in the band hall before heading to class each morning. In fact, many band students hang out in the band hall before school. It’s a great place to wait for the bell to ring. At the end of the school day, they will need to head straight to the band hall to change clothes and begin warm ups. If your students have questions, encourage them to talk to their section leaders or upperclassmen. They are willing to help freshmen through this first year whether it be about band or school. A lot of kids have older band friends that helped with homework and gave advice on navigating their way through high school. It also helps to talk to someone who may have had a particular teacher.
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All band students will be issued lockers. They may not use their band hall cubbies as a locker. Since the band classes are roughly in the middle of the school day, it’s a great place to swap out morning class items for the afternoon ones.
Credits
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One year of band counts as the required 1 credit of Fine Arts needed for graduation. One year of band also counts as ½ credit for PE (1 PE credit is required for graduation). If your student stays in band through their Sophomore year, they will fufill their HOPE credit and will not need to take that class. This is great for Early College students trying to taking more classes. Letter jackets are ordered in spring of the Sophomore year and are delivered to the band students at the start of their Junior year.​​