Tips for 2021-2022 RRHS Band Parents
Welcome to the RRHS Band Family! You will spend a lot of time over the next year with the parents, students and directors who make up this award-winning program. If you are new to the Band program, we realize it can be a little overwhelming at times so here are some tips to let you know what to expect. Even if you are a seasoned Band parent, there might be a few good reminders in here for you, too!
CHARMS
Charms is the office assistant software we use to keep all student and parent information. When all of your information is in Charms, I can easily send an email or text to the entire band. It is vitally important that all of this info is up to date. Charms is also how you can stay up to date on all fees owed and fundraiser money earned. A link to Charms can be found on our webpage.
Band Website
Much of the information you will be looking for is on the band webpage: rrhsband.com. Take a few minutes now to familiarize yourself with the website and check it regularly. All email announcements are posted on the website, and often you will find what you need without having to contact someone. The website includes all contact information for Booster Board Members, Booster Club By-laws, the band calendar, fundraising event details, important forms, and lots of great photos and videos of band performances.
Band Calendar
Go to the band calendar NOW and put all the important dates on your personal calendar. Doing this now will save you a lot of time later! There are instructions on the website for how to sync the calendar to your smartphone.
Social Media
You can get updates about the band program, contest results, as well as bus arrival times after trips and contests by liking/following the Band program on social media.
Facebook:
Students/Parents: Rio Rancho High School Marching Band
Parents: RRHS Band Boosters
Instagram: rrhsbanddirectors
Student Pick-up after practices, games, and contests
After practices, students walk from the practice field to the band hall to put away instruments, get books/homework, and other items. Expect your student to be ready to go about 15 minutes after the stated practice end time. If your student is in the Percussion Front Ensemble (Pit), add a few more minutes to the pick-up time since they have more equipment to move back to the band hall from the practice field. After games and contests, students are expected to enter the band hall to properly hang up their uniforms as well as put away instruments and equipment. Please don’t encourage your student to skip out on their duties so you can leave early! When everyone, including parents, help out, we ALL get to go home sooner. Please do not pull into the parking lot directly outside of the band room doors to pick up your student when we have contests, football games or trips. These are roadways and parking areas that will need to be used by the band trailer and truck to unload instruments and equipment. Blocking these access points will delay the unloading of the trailer and truck; therefore, we will all get home faster if you park and stand away from the band hall entrance area!!! Also, your car will be less likely to get dinged by an instrument case as kids walk between cars to get from the buses to the band hall. ☺
Volunteer
Running an award winning program takes an incredible amount of work and dedication from the students, staff, and parent volunteers. The Band Program could not do what it does without a large parent volunteer base. WE WELCOME PARENT INVOLVEMENT AND THERE IS A ROLE FOR EVERYONE! Please sign up to help with chaperoning, hospitality, costumes & uniforms, Pit Crew, etc. Not only will you help the band program continue at the high level of excellence it has maintained the past years, but you’ll also enjoy the experience a whole lot more. We promise! Volunteering will allow you to get to know other parents and students, will allow you to get familiar with how the program operates behind the scenes, and provide you with some of the best experiences you can have as a member of the RRHS Band Family. WE NEED YOU AND WANT YOUR HELP!!!!
Communication
You will notice that the Band Staff communicates via email frequently. Please read these emails entirely! You will gain a tremendous amount of information about the program and schedules if you read these messages. In weekly announcements, you will find practice and sectional schedules as well as detailed itineraries about Friday night football games and contests once those begin. The Band Boosters also sends out important messages about volunteer opportunities, schedules, fundraising activities, and other pertinent issues. While it can be overwhelming, they are striving to keep you and your family informed of the news that may affect you.
Games and Contests
Please come out and support the students at their games, contests, and concerts! It’s a blast! It means a lot to the students when they can hear you cheering for them from the stands. At contests, look for other RRHS Band parents and sit with them, even if you don’t know them. It makes it much more exciting to cheer for the band when we are in a group, and it makes it easier for the kids to see us from the field as well. Have team spirit- make a spirit flag you can wave or make a sign, wear the school colors, and please show that we are a classy organization by cheering on all the schools out on the field and being friendly towards parents from other band programs. We all share a unique bond and you’ll find a fun camaraderie in it.
Check out an after-school practice
The last 15-20 minutes of each after-school practice is typically when the band will do a full run through of their marching show. It is exciting to watch these and see the progression of the show over the season as they learn more of the parts. We will be easy to find because you will hear the band playing loudly! The band program has some of the hardest working kids on campus. You’ll understand why after you watch a few practices.
Flexibility
No matter what we tell you and what the weekly announcement sheet says, things may change or get adjusted. Sometimes you won’t know about the changes until the day they happen. Remaining flexible will preserve your sanity. Bring along snacks and water, keep a book or smart phone with you in case you need to wait longer than expected, and jump in to help where you can – it makes the time go by faster. ☺
We look forward to a fun and successful year with the RRHS Band. If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to contact us. All contact information is available at rrhsband.com. Go Rams!