Winter Guard season is upon us and the kids are working hard!  The calendar has been updated with the list of competitions, camp dates and rehearsals.  Some of these rehearsals and camps may go away, but we wanted to give you the full possible schedule, so you could plan.  It is always easier to take some off later than to add more.

Note the SAT planned date of January 23rd!  This date has been left open for your student to take the test and is the only Spring date that will not be booked with rehearsals or competitions.

We are looking forward to the season and expect it to not only be successful but to be lots of fun for everyone!

Weekly rehearsals will be 3:00 PM - 5:30 PM on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings.  They will be held at  Pineville United Methodist Church (PUMC) in the gym.  Students will carpool to the church from school at 2:45 PM.  Any parents able to aid in carpooling should contact Hayley or Zakia.  Students should be picked up from the church.

There will also be some camp dates that are mandatory.  Expected absences from these camps must be cleared with Hayley or Zakia ASAP.

Students will have had to meet all previous financial responsibility to the Sabre Regiment.  Any student with outstanding fees will NOT be allowed to audition.  If a student DOES owe fees to the SMHS Sabre Regiment they will have to have been working with fundraising and attempting to pay off those fees ASAP.  Keep in mind any money raised during the winterguard season will go to paying off fall dues FIRST.

While we will be offering NUMEROUS fundraising opportunities this winter, it will require both student and parent participation on some level.  We will be meeting as a parent staff once the guard is set to braintstorm and help set up fundraising.  Students are encouraged to seek out corporate and private sponsorships.

Just like in fall, we ask students to pay for half and fundraise half of their dues.  This does not mean that students can not fundraise all of choose to pay the full amount of their dues.  Dues amount to $500 will be broken up into 5 monthly payments:

1. $100 due December 1, 2009
2. $100 due January 1, 2010
3. $100 due February 1, 2010
4. $100 due March 1, 2010
5. $100 due April 1, 2010.

Students are asked to then fundraise an additional $450.  If students have not paid the dues for that term the GUARD will NOT travel to the next WGI contest.

We are willing to work with those that may have economic hardships if possible.  Please direct those questions to the staff prior to auditions.

All checks should be made out to the SMHS Band Boosters.

While this year travel and accommodations are included in dues, there are a few items not included.  The warm up is the only item that must be ordered through the boosters.  Everything else students may purchase on their own if they so choose.

Items include:

• Warm-up: $56
• Shoes: $26
• Body Tight & Dance Belt: $15
• Bag (optional): $30