WELCOME TO SNIDER MARCHING BAND!
What every band parent needs to know from those who wished they had known!

SUMMER BAND & BAND CAMP

Uniform

The summer band uniform is the Snider band shirt (provided), black shorts, black socks and drill masters (part of full band uniform). BUY THEM EARLY!!!

​

Must Haves

LARGE jug of water, good shoes, loose light-weight clothing, sunscreen, bug spray, hat and sunglasses.

 

Sections
The band is divided into several sections (trumpets, saxophones, front ensemble, flutes, guard, etc.) Each section develops its own personality and pride. Each section will usually order section shirts (which is optional to purchase) and each child is responsible for paying for their own. Color Guard may also have the additional expense of warm-up suits that are optional as well. Sections usually arrange their own get-togethers throughout the season such as dinners, movie nights or something they come up with. These are a great way to promote section unity. Some of them have regular traditions that are carried out each year. Be sure to ask your band member about what is happening.

​

Senior Buddy
During band camp each freshman/new band member will be assigned a senior buddy. This is a person who will guide your child through band camp and the season. It's fun for everybody!

​

Binders
Every marching member will need a STURDY binder for the music. You also need plastic page protectors (start with 20). Tape the top of the pages so the pages don’t fall out.  The books will need repair during the season-duct tape works great.
 
Pictures
At the beginning of the season, pictures will be taken of your child in their uniform with their instrument/equipment. There primary photo is of the full marching band. Their may be an option for section photos as well. If you choose, you can order these pictures in print as well as buttons you can wear to competitions. If produced, you will be given an opportunity to purchase a DVD of the entire season filmed mostly by parents starting with the very first practice through the final competition. It especially honors the seniors, but it is for everybody with silly and heartfelt moments as well. If completed, directors will hand out order forms for the DVD near the end of the season and they usually cost $15.  If you like to take pictures/videos and would like to contribute to these projects, please watch for details in upcoming communications.

 

Carry-In Dinner
It is a band tradition to have a carry-in dinner at the end of band camp. Each family brings their own food (something that you cook or get take out) and we eat in the cafeteria or parking lot depending on weather. After dinner, we clean-up and walk to the field to watch the students perform what they learned.

 

Fall Pep Rally (cancelled for due 2025 due to stadium construction)
Near the end of band camp, there is a fall pep rally which recognizes all fall sports, including band. Each student’s name is announced. Come and cheer for the band!!

 

FINANCES

The marching band fees are $450 for the season. Our marching band fees pay for coaching, music, drill, choreography, costumes, equipment, contest registration fees, as well as other items. You have the option to pay $450 right at the beginning of the season or you can follow the installment schedule listed below.

​

Installment 1: $112.50 Due June 1st (Registration Fee)

Installment 2: $112.50 Due July 1st

Installment 3: $112.50 Due August 1st

Installment 4: $112.50 Due September 1st
 
It is also a requirement that you participate in fundraising events for the marching band. This allows us to create the revenue necessary to continue running the program.

​

You must communicate any request for financial assistance/consideration to Marcus Farr, Director of Bands at Marcus.Farr@fwcs.k12.in.us.

​

Failure to pay band fees, fundraise, or communicate financial assistance will result in a discussion that may remove your child from the program without a refund of any finances given to the program.

​

​

FOOTBALL GAMES

The band is expected to play at all home games. Our home field is Spuller Stadium beside Northrop High School. All band students must ride the bus to and from the games. We encourage parents to attend and have a special section reserved in the bleachers for them near the band. We wear gold so the kids can see where we are from the field. We show our support of the band at games and competitions. Show shirts are available to purchase. During the competitive season, the football games serve as dress rehearsals for the Saturday shows. It gives the staff one more opportunity to view the show under performance conditions. Performing at football games is also important to school spirit and developing a positive rapport with the community. COME TO THE FOOTBALL GAMES AND SUPPORT YOUR CHILD!

 

Uniforms
Summer uniforms (sometimes referred to as "Class B Uniforms") will be worn for all performances unless Mr. Farr tells them otherwise. When they wear any uniform, they MUST wear black socks, drill masters, and black gloves (provided). They must wear shorts and t-shirts underneath the primary marching uniform to make changing easier. No jewelry is allowed and hair MUST be up. (This includes all students as applicable.)

 

For competition rehearsal, students will need to wear their band shirt. This may be expanded to other rehearsals as required by directors. Consider having your child leave an extra pair of black socks in their locker or car. This way if they forget it, they have a spare!!
 
Fast pass meals
During the football games the concession stands are very busy. In order to ensure our kids are fed we offer fast-pass meals to them. They can order and purchase a meal earlier in the week and it will be ready for them during the 3rd quarter of the game which is when the kids get a break.

 

​

COMPETITIONS

Competitions are held on Saturdays during the season. As we progress through the season, we may qualify for Finals in Indianapolis. There is always a practice in the morning before we leave. These are all-day events. Practices begin early in the morning and we don‘t arrive back at the school until late in the evening. Parents are encouraged to attend competitions. All the information you need are given in great detail in the poop sheets and will now be posted online here on our website. As the kids enter the field and perform we DO NOT call out any individual kids’ names!! The Snider Band is a class act and we support ALL other Fort Wayne bands as they perform! We usually meet back in the parking lot at Snider as the buses are returning so the kids are met with horns honking in support of their hard work. Please come back to the school and cheer on the kids! The PAB will be selling show shirts and other Snider merchandise to help you show your Snider Pride.

 

Poop Sheets
A poop sheet is an information sheet that will be given to your child the week of a competition or football game. It contains valuable information about schedules, changes to schedules, meal information, maps and timings of football games and competitions, etc. They will be uploaded each week. If you need a paper copy, please request one from Mr. Farr.

 

Bus Trips
During band season, the bus becomes a 2nd home to the kids. Kids usually bring pillows, blankets, snacks, etc on board. This is when the kids have down time to sleep, play cards, socialize and chill out. Each bus has at least 2 parent chaperones (let us know if you are interested) who are known as “bus mom” or “bus dad”. These parents are truly like parents to the kids. They fix uniform problems, comfort students who are not feeling well, and jump for joy with them after a great performance.    Bus chaperones carry a first aid kit, headache and nervous tummy meds, safety pins, sewing kit, garbage bags and many other supplies to ensure that the trips go smoothly. Every student is responsible for cleaning the bus at least ONCE during the season. This is done after the bus returns to the school and unloads. ALL students must ride the bus to and from football games and competitions or they MUST get a form filled out by the principal, the band director and the parent! Attendance is taken every single time the bus leaves an area and will not leave until ALL students are accounted for.

 

Saturday Meals
Students will receive a meal (at no cost to you) every Saturday before leaving for a competition. We will ask for meal and snack donations. If it's a long day, another small meal will be provided at the competition site. The kids usually bring snacks on the bus. Some bring a few snacks and some pack coolers. We ask that they only bring drinks with a closable lid to deter spilling.

 

Fire-Up Buddies
If your student chooses to participate, they will be assigned a fire-up buddy. It is similar to a secret Santa. Each week, the kids purchase small, fun, inspiring gifts to “fire-up” their buddy for the competitions. These gifts should be small such as a candy bar, a poem, a card, a dollar store treat or something like that. Your student will ask another student to deliver the gift to their buddy to protect their identity. As they progress during the season the gifts can be more meaningful, but not more expensive. After finals, there is a reveal to the buddy! The kids love this activity. We do ask if your student chooses to participate, that they FULLY participate; don’t leave the buddy hanging…

 

Posters
During the competition season, each parents from each class (freshmen, sophomores, juniors, etc.) are responsible for decorating the band hall on Thursday evening to fire-up their student's section for Saturday’s competition. The posters should list the names of each student in the section and can include pictures or words of inspiration. Make sure to ask your child for the names of their section members to plan for poster/candy. Feel free to look at the posters the previous week for examples of what you can do during freshman week. If you choose to provide candy, please provide candy for each member of the section. It can range anywhere from a lollipop to a large treat bag. Posters are hung by parents on Thursdays. The kids come back into the band hall following their practice and are excited to see the hall decorated. Decorate an individual poster for your child on the week of Finals. It can be as simple or elaborate as you wish. Some include baby pictures and highlights of our kids’ lives and some just include the past year. Anything is fine-be creative! The idea is to let your child know how proud you are of them and how much you support their efforts.

 

Friday Dress-Up Days
The entire band dresses up at school the Friday before competitions. It is a long standing tradition and usually they wear a nice outfit or their band shirt.

 

Candlelight Dinner
Near the end of the season, we have a tailgate dinner in Snider’s parking lot. This can be anything from a bucket of KFC to an elaborate dinner with tablecloths and candles. It is meant to be fun for you and your child - feel free to join forces with other families and have a potluck. Bring your own tables and chairs or spread a blanket picnic style. This may be held inside the school cafe so be on the lookout for more information as we get closer to the end of the season.  How you celebrate is up to you. The kids perform the show for us after dinner.

 

Send Off
Parents meet at a specified area and parade via car through the neighborhood around Snider led by the semi on the morning. We decorate our cars and blow our horns in support of the kids. We end up at Snider while the kids are practicing and watch one final run through of the show.

 

Band Banquet
The final event of the season is the band banquet. It is held in November and is the highlight of the season. It is a family affair and a formal dress-up event. It is about $25 per person and well worth the cost. Details to come.

 

Band Trips
Mr. Farr is working to incorporate smaller trips on a yearly basis. More information to come. Every four years Snider has taken a BIG trip (For example: Walt Disney World Resort). The next big trip is scheduled to be for December 2025. Band fees must be paid in full to attend any band trip.

​

CONCESSIONS

Each family is required to work TWO concession events during the school year. These include football, basketball, as well as, all other indoor sporting events. We are also looking for concession managers. A manager would oversee one sporting season (i.e. Football). They would report to the director of concessions. Interested? See any PAB board member.

 

VOLUNTEERING

FWCS requires all volunteers to complete a background check. Please see Laura Ulsh. She will help give you the correct route so your background check will be completed beforehand. See email address below!
We need volunteers for the following positions:

• Pit Crew

• Bus Chaperones

• Saturday Meals

• Uniform Fitting

• Uniform Washing

• Junior Parent Representative

• Concessions
   

Depending on your availability, the PAB will help place you where you would be most successful to serve the band.

 

WE ARE HERE TO HELP
This is a lot of information to absorb. All of the class reps and board members are available to answer ANY of the questions you may have! Please feel free to contact any of us anytime by e-mail. At one time or another we have all been in your position - not knowing what in the world is going on. It does get easier!

 

Snider PAB email sniderpab@gmail.com

Website: sniderperformingarts.com
Facebook: Snider High School Performing Arts Boosters

Instagram: Snider PAB