May 14, 2021

Guard, Parents, Union Bands, 6th Grade Band, 7th Grade Band, 8th Grade Band, Middle School Bands, Weekly Beat Middle School

Weekly Beat Middle School Edition May 13

May 14, 2021

Union Band Parents Club

Guard, Parents, Union Bands, 6th Grade Band, 7th Grade Band, 8th Grade Band, Middle School Bands, Weekly Beat Middle School

2021-22 UHS CONCERT BAND AUDITIONS

WED, MAY 19, 2021 - FRI, MAY 21, 2021
UHS (MAP)

auditions are required of every student and are assessed for a class grade
the results of the auditions will place each student enrolled for band class in 2021-22 into one of the leveled concert band ensembles
auditions take place during class time
exact audition rooms for each instrument TBA
audition music and exact instructions available via Canvas
- High School Band students click here
- 8th Grade Band students click here
- UHS Virtual Band students click here

UBPC GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING: ANNUAL REPORT & WELCOME NEW BOARD

We welcome all band parents who wish to attend, but items will be geared towards current 8th grade and high school families!

TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2021
7:00 PM 8:00 PM

This meeting will be held in person in the High School Band Room 1 and via Zoom video conferencing: Watch our communication channels for Zoom details.

Check out these great summer percussion camps:

**https://www.okcu.edu/music/performing-arts-academy/summer/percussion**

**https://steinhardt.nyu.edu/programs/percussion-studies/summer-workshops/nyu-broadway-percussion-seminar**

**https://finearts.tcu.edu/music/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2021/04/TCU-Percussion-Camp-2021.pdf**

DID YOU KNOW?

For the past fifty years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has been tracking how much Americans spend on their children, and the numbers are staggering. From birth to eighteen, the U.S.D.A. estimates that, for a child born in 2009, an “average family” will spend $241,452 raising that child!

No one can argue that the investment in your children represents a considerable sum that you would be wise to watch and protect. You want to plan for success and to protect your greatest assets. And that’s what MUSIC does.

For young people, music:

· keeps kids away from drugs and alcohol

· keeps kids from being bullied

· keeps kids in a safe space

· helps kids find academic success

But more than that, music also means:

· more laughter

· more friends

· more memories

· more meaningful experiences

· more influential adults in their lives

In short, music represents your best hopes for your child!

Getting older means worrying about the future — especially your biggest investments. Since your child is in music, that investment is only going to grow!

Have a great end to this crazy school year, and let us know if we can help in any way.

Your Union Bands Faculty

2021 UNION COLOR GUARD SUMMER SPIN CAMP

WHEN: June 7-11, 2021

WHO: students entering Grades K-8 in the Fall of 2021

WHERE: UMAC at Union High School

SCHEDULE: 1:30-4pm Monday-Friday

FEE: $100 (includes camp T-shirt and Pizza Party)

WHAT TO EXPECT:
★ Learn from the Union High School Color Guard members and teaching staff
★ Spend the week learning the fundamentals of dance and equipment-spinning
★ One-on-One training
★ Friday afternoon camp conclusion pizza party
★ Friday afternoon "Performance Showcase" for friends and family
★ Open to students entering Grade K-8
★ No previous experience is necessary
★ Masks required and CDC guidelines will be followed

Current Individual Fundraisers

More info about these Fundraisers can be found HERE

World’s Finest Chocolate - Now Available for In School Pickup
Beef Jerky - Now Available for In School Pickup
Shop with Scrips
Print Happy

OneOK Field Concessions

Come work the concession stand at OneOK field for a Drillers, FC Soccer, or Bedlam Baseball Event in the first half of May and earn money for your student’s band/guard account! Find more details HERE.

Login to Charms

It’s a great time of year to login to Charms and make sure your information is all up to date!

Macy’s Payment Due

The next Macy's Fee is Due By May 15. Please log into CHARMS and check your account balance.

REMIND

Learn more about how to sign up for important Remind messages here!

UHS JAZZ ENSEMBLES IN CONCERT

MONDAY, MAY 17, 2021
7:00 PM 8:00 PM

UBPC GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING: ANNUAL REPORT & WELCOME NEW BOARD

TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2021
7:00 PM 8:00 PM

RR SPRING TRAINING

TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021
4:30 PM 7:30 PM

RR SPRING TRAINING

WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 2021
9:00 AM 1:00 PM

RR SPRING TRAINING

THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2021
9:00 AM 1:00 PM

May 7, 2021

Union Band Parents Club

Guard, Union Bands, 6th Grade Band, 7th Grade Band, 8th Grade Band, Parents, Middle School Bands, Weekly Beat Middle School

Weekly Beat Middle School Edition May 7

May 7, 2021

Union Band Parents Club

Guard, Union Bands, 6th Grade Band, 7th Grade Band, 8th Grade Band, Parents, Middle School Bands, Weekly Beat Middle School

In more ways than one, it feels like we are in the homestretch! As we head into the final weeks of school, it is natural to reflect on the challenges and successes your child has encountered this year. Granted, there may have been more challenges than successes, but both provide for important learning lessons. You may be asking yourself whether they should continue their music study next year. You child may have even expressed a desire to “try something new” — sometimes, as parents, we are tempted to give in.

Before making a final decision, consider this…

Over the years, we have talked to many adults who played an instrument as a child, and more often than not, they say that they wish that their parents had not allowed them to quit. Looking back, they see that they missed out on an opportunity to belong to a group, develop a talent, express themselves creatively, develop grit, and so much more!

Even in the midst of a pandemic, your child has been a part of something wonderful this year. And the good news is that it doesn’t stop here! Dedication and hard work breed passionate young people — wonderful young men and women who go on to do great things in life because they were part of something bigger than themselves. They are now one year closer to speaking this new language… one year closer to making beautiful sounds… one year closer to self-expression… one year closer to new friends and experiences. They are ONE YEAR CLOSER!

It may not be easy to see right now, but we promise you: the best is yet to come!

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if we can be of assistance.

Sincerely,

Your Union Bands Faculty

Current Individual Fundraisers

More info about these Fundraisers can be found HERE

World’s Finest Chocolate - Now Available for In School Pickup
Beef Jerky - Now Available for In School Pickup
Shop with Scrips
Print Happy

OneOK Field Concessions

Login to Charms

It’s a great time of year to login to Charms and make sure your information is all up to date!

Macy’s Payment Due

The next Macy's Fee is Due By May 15. Please log into CHARMS and check your account balance.

REMIND

Learn more about how to sign up for important Remind messages here!

UHS CONCERT BANDS PERFORMANCES: CONCERT BAND, SYMPHONIC BAND, SYMPHONIC WINDS & WIND ENSEMBLE

MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021
6:30 PM 9:00 PM

UHS CHAMBER WINDS CONCERT

THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2021
6:30 PM 8:30 PM

UHS JAZZ ENSEMBLES IN CONCERT

MONDAY, MAY 17, 2021
7:00 PM 8:00 PM

UBPC GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING: ANNUAL REPORT & WELCOME NEW BOARD

TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2021
7:00 PM 8:00 PM

UHS SOLO FESTIVAL

TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2021
4:00 PM 7:00 PM

UHS JAZZ ENSEMBLE #1 PERFORMS AT 'RAGGAEBASH' EVENT

THURSDAY, MAY 20, 2021
6:30 PM 7:00 PM

RR SPRING TRAINING

TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021
4:30 PM 7:30 PM

RR SPRING TRAINING

WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 2021
9:00 AM 1:00 PM

RR SPRING TRAINING

THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2021
9:00 AM 1:00 PM

April 29, 2021

Union Band Parents Club

Guard, Union Bands, 6th Grade Band, 7th Grade Band, 8th Grade Band, Parents, Middle School Bands, Weekly Beat Middle School

Weekly Beat | Middle School | Edition April 29

April 29, 2021

Union Band Parents Club

Guard, Union Bands, 6th Grade Band, 7th Grade Band, 8th Grade Band, Parents, Middle School Bands, Weekly Beat Middle School

Get Your Physical, Be Ready for Marching Band

A valid physical form turned in to the school is required for participation in extra curricular activities including marching band. The Union Athletic Department hosts a “Physical Night” to help Union students take care of this requirement. UBPC Board Members will be on site to assist you in the process. This is a shared event for all Union sports, so get there early if possible.

7TH GRADE BANDS SPRING CONCERT

MONDAY, MAY 3, 2021
6:00 PM 8:00 PM
UNION PAC (MAP)

Doors Open 5:45pm

PERCUSSION SHOWCASE CONCERT

THURSDAY, MAY 6, 2021
7:00 PM 9:00 PM
UPAC (MAP)

WHAT: 14th-Annual Union Percussion Spring Showcase Concert
WHERE: UPAC @ Union High School
ADMISSION: Free to the Public

Union Public Schools percussion students from band classes in grades 6-12 will present the 13th-Annual Union Percussion Spring Showcase Concert. This enriching program will include musical performances using snare drums, timpani, marimbas, bells, xylophones, ethnic drums, cymbals, bass drums, shakers and a multiplicity of other percussion instruments, as well as some items the audience might not have previously considered to be instruments! A highlight of the program will be the closing piece, combining nearly 90 Union percussionists at all levels for an exciting finale!

The new competitive marching uniform debuted at the 8th grade concert last week. The Renegade Regiment will be fitted to wear this uniform in the fall of this year, and the entire world can see it in the Macy*s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, November 25, 2021!

Thank you to the voters who passed the bond used to pay for these stylish new uniforms; the old ones were beginning to show their age (10 years old!). And thank you to Lead Drum Major, Emma Plunkett for being our model!

"Its Time to get started"

If you weren’t able to attend the intro meeting that’s ok. We’re meeting this Saturday, May 1 under the visitors bleachers of Tuttle Stadium (East Side) to clean up the white chairs from last year’s show. And we will start building props for the Fall 2021 marching show on May 11. We get great sneak peeks into the show, front row, field access to the action, and lots of interaction with the students during some awesome moments like coming out of the tunnel at a big contest. There is no experience necessary, and if you can hold a paint brush, we can definitely use your talents. If you have any questions please send an email to propertymanager@unionbands.com

Jason Myers, Property Manager, UBPC

Funding and Bonds and Money, OH MY!

Public school funding has been in the news a lot lately here in Oklahoma. As parents of public-school students, this issue is near and dear to our hearts, right? We are also in the process of finishing up a beautiful new stadium with a new band building being built next year, both of which will greatly benefit our band students!

But these big projects raise big questions. How can we afford to build a stadium when the salaries of Oklahoma teachers are among the lowest in the region/nation or classrooms go without important supplies? If state funding is at risk, shouldn’t this money be used to hire teachers or purchase classroom supplies?

To help answer these questions, it is important to note that our district has two types of funding:

1. State School Funding: At Union Public Schools, we are so lucky that much of our state funding goes to teacher salaries. Union does a great job maximizing that state funding to pay more people to work hard and care for our students. This money comes from local and state revenue as well as federal funds for some student populations. For many school districts, this money is used to pay teachers, aids, and administration, as well as supplies such as paper, books and chairs, property items such as new buildings, any and all repairs, new roofs and air conditioners. As you can imagine this money does not go too far. If you get excited about policy discussions, there is some great information on the Oklahoma state funding formula here: https://okpolicy.org/resources/online-budget-guide/expenditures/state-government-expenditures/state-spending-and-services/assessing-our-educational-accomplishments/education-agencies-and-services/

2. Bond Issues: Union Public Schools regularly asks voters to pass bond issues to fund improvements and projects and large purchases. Without these bond issues, all repairs, updates, upgrades, and new construction would have to come out of the state funding, thus eliminating funds for Union’s most important assets: the teaching staff. It is important to note that Bond money cannot pay for staff, teachers, or many other things, so using that money to pay for improvements and projects allows the district to maximize the state funding for those purposes. Bond purchases are items that are meant to last for a minimum of 5 years. Union Public Schools passed its latest bond issue in February of 2018. The stadium construction and new band building are part of that bond, but other things paid for by that bond include band instruments, equipment, and uniforms (marching, concert, and pre-season guard), a greenhouse, new PAC audio, the Union Innovation lab, devices for every student K-12, a new secure entrance for the Collegiate Academy at the High School, and a myriad of projects at other school sites! More information on current Union Bond Project Progress can be found here: https://www.unionps.org/BondProgress2020

You may be left wondering, where does UBPC fit into all of this? Union Band Parents Club is a sanctioned organization through Union Public Schools. We are a booster club, but we are also a 501c3, incorporated and we have a Board of Directors at the helm of all our financial decisions. We do not receive any of Union’s state funding, nor do we receive any bond money to spend. Our role is to fill the gaps between those things. For instance, it would be impossible for our district to fully pay for a competitive marching band that travels and competes at the national level. UBPC fills that gap. We establish a responsible budget in cooperation with the teaching staff, work with families to fundraise, and help in any other way we can! This allows the district to focus on providing a world-class teaching staff, while the bond issues provide us with new uniforms every 10 years or so, as well as state of the art facilities!

If you fell asleep reading this, no worries: it is a lot to digest and understand! If you managed to read all of this and are left with questions, please email president@unionbands.com and I will do my best to answer them!

Current Individual Fundraisers

More info about these Fundraisers can be found HERE

World’s Finest Chocolate - Now Available for In School Pickup
Beef Jerky - Now Available for In School Pickup
Shop with Scrips
Print Happy

OneOK Field Concessions

Come work the concession stand at OneOK field for the Tulsa FC Soccer Game Saturday, May 1 or a Drillers or Bedlam Baseball Event in the first half of May and earn money for your student’s band/guard account! Find more details HERE.

Darryl Starbird Car Show

Come work concessions at the Darryl Starbird Car Show on Friday, April 30, Saturday, May 1, or Sunday, May 2 and earn money for your student’s band/guard account. Find more information HERE.