This week is sort of quiet,....until SATURDAY. Saturday is a marathon, and will require help by all available parents. We have a competition in Spring, TX in the afternoon and an away football game at Pridgeon Stadium in the evening. We will be feeding the kids lunch and dinner. Thus we have a need for bus chaperones, hospitality, chaperones and pit crew at both events.

What goes on at a band competition?

This idea may be new to many of you, so I'll try to explain from a parent standpoint...

Band competitions are when bands from many high schools perform to be judged. The competitions have either one of two formats: (1) one performance with an award ceremony afterward; or (2) a "preliminary" performance with a potential invite back to "Finals" later in the day. Saturday's US Bands competition is the former, so I will explain that format here.

USBands is an organization that sponsors a series of marching competitions from Texas to New England. Startford will be one of 17 bands performing throughout the day on Saturday at the North Houston Regional event in Spring,TX. Instead of our typical UIL competition that is based on our Texas school size (ex 5A or 6A), this competition makes us compete with bands based on number of students performing. Startford will compete against 6 other Group III bands. Note that there are 4 groups or competition divisions at this competition.

What can parents do to support our kids?

You should know that these competitions are spectator events. Usually, the crowds can be sparse throughout the day, as parents and families come and go, primarily attending to watching their school's band perform. There are assigned times for each band. The crowds and bands will typically assemble inside the stadium for the (exciting) awards ceremony at the end of the day. Parents can choose to volunteer to help chaperone or join pit crew, or attend as spectators with family and friends.  To be honest, we are in desperate need of volunteers to help, but also encourage spectators to cheer the kids on!  Wear your new show shirt (to be delivered later this week) to show support for the band and guard!  Order more today at our website below.       
Our competition performance is at 1:45PM on Saturday at Planet Ford Stadium in Spring, TX. It is all-hands on deck for volunteers to help with backdrops, front screens and trees for the field! The event concludes with awards at 4:15PM. Go to https://usbands.org/events/details.php?ID=996 to learn more about the competition details, event tickets and stadium restrictions. Go to the volunteer sign-up to make sure we have enough help, so that the Stratford show goes off well. Here is the volunteer link-   Fall 2024 Game Day and Marching Contest Volunteers