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Welcome to a New Band Year!

A special welcome to all new (and returning) band parents. This year, like each of those before it, will be the best ever. The RSS Band Program is one of the best in Texas. The RSS Marching Band advanced to the 5A State Marching Contest three times, RSS Band leads Texas Music Region 10 in the number of students who make All-Region Band, All-Region Jazz Band and receive UIL Solo & Ensemble Contest medals. RSS Band consistently earns UIL Sweepstakes Trophies. Yet it is still very much a developing improving program. There is much left to be done to make it better. And band parents can help!

RSS Band Telephone & E-mail Info The Band Hall phone number is 281-420-4507. The Band Hall's voice mail extension to leave a message is 256. The system will prompt you. Ricky Clem- rpclem@gccisd.net Zeb Moore- lnmoore@gccisd.net Band Website- www.rssband.org

Click Here for Driving Directions to Texas High Schools and Stadiums

RSS Band Program overview

The RSS Band Program is a comprehensive band program that includes a marching band, three concert bands, two jazz bands, numerous small ensembles and a course in applied music. The RSS Band provides the wind and percussion players for the RSS Full Orchestra. RSS Band participates in the full program of UIL and TMEA music competitions (see below) and other competitions as the schedule allows. The bands give several concerts each year. The marching band performs at RSS football games and marches in the Baytown Christmas Parade and the Highlands Parade.

About the RSS Band Association Inc.

1 Purpose

The RSSBA is the official support group for RSS Band. We provide money and workers to enhance the program. Ongoing activities include providing chaperones/pit helpers/truck drivers, paying for outstanding band clinicians, providing lunches on contest trips and drinks at football games, buying equipment beyond what the ever tight school budget can afford, making equipment, repairing equipment, helping organize the band banquet, helping with numerous administrative chores, providing funding for scholarships to outstanding band seniors, publishing the newsletter, maintaining the website and just generally providing whatever support our band kids and the directors need.

2 Overview

Annual membership in the RSS Band Association Inc. is $3.00 per person and is open to all who want to support the band. Association meetings are usually held on the first Tuesday of every month at 7 PM in the Sterling Band Hall.

The Ross S. Sterling Band Association Inc. is a corporation chartered in the State of Texas (please see Appendix for the Bylaws). It has received 501(c)3 Tax Exempt status from the Federal Internal Revenue Service as a charitable/cultural organization. It is also exempt from Texas State Corporate Franchise Tax and does not have to pay sales tax on its purchases. The purpose of 501(c)3 status is not to avoid Federal taxes on Association income, which would have been small in the worst case, but to allow contributors to the Association to deduct their contributions on their tax returns. The RSSBA has three tax exempt purposes: support of a school (i.e. the RSS Band program), acting as a booster organization and acting as a scholarship granting organization.

3 How the Association and Band Work Together

Because the Association works so closely with the RSS Band and because many of the same people help with both it can be confusing which activities are the Association’s and which are the Band’s (i.e. the school’s). The Association is a 501c3 cultural corporation that works primarily for the support of the RSS band programs (but when we can accomplish other cultural things like bringing the circus to Baytown so much the better!).

The Association raises money and pays for things like the clinicians (our single largest activity), extra equipment and repairs, the Website, the scholarships and this newsletter. Association members help coordinate band parent labor for chaperones and pit crew but those activities are under the direction of our band directors.

The Band Program collects the band, instrument use and uniform cleaning fees. Those are handled in a school account, not by the Association. This may be especially confusing since before 1998 the Association’s treasurer was also the primary parent volunteer who helped handle the accounting for the school account funds. The Spring Trip is a band program as is the Spring Banquet. The band directors (with volunteer parent help) run student fund-raisers for the student accounts.

4 Who runs the RSSBA

The Association is run by a 14 member board (including the band directors who are board members ex officio) whose members are elected to 1 year terms at the May General Meeting. A nominating committee chosen at the February meeting presents a list of board candidates and further nominations are accepted from the floor. You must be a dues-paid member of the Association in order to vote or to run for the board. The new board at their first meeting in June elects the Association officers (president, executive VP, VP, corresponding secretary, recording secretary and treasurer).

The 2006-2007 Board of Directors.  

Buster Thain, President

Bobby Malone, Exec. VP

Laurel Cunningham, VP

Debbie Thain, Recording Secretary

Pete Lester, Corresponding Secretary

Joy Wurzbach, Treasurer

Jackie Finley

Pat Greene

Kathy James

Linda Johnson

Robin Malone

Suzanne Mercaldo

  Ricky Clem (ex officio), Zeb Moore (ex officio)

5 RSSBA Committees

In addition to the Board there are several RSSBA committees. The Bylaws provide for 8 standing committees and the Board has created several additional committees-:

2006-'07 Committee Chairs

Front Line Ensemble -

Fund-raising -

Membership -

Spring Banquet -

Telephone- Alan Kinsey

Special/Community Events -

Publicity/Historian -

Video Tape -

RSS/REL Game Dinner-

Website - George Yenetchi

6 RSSBA Fundraising
In order to accomplish their goals the RSSBA and the RSS Band need money. Primary Fund-raisers include-

Circus (most recently in 2002)
Band Video (yearly)
Lee-Sterling Game Dinner (yearly)
Spring Fling (yearly)
Begging and Corporate Matching Grants (constant)
Supermarket "Share" Programs (constant)

7 Donations to the RSS Band Association, Inc.

The RSSBA is a 501c3 tax-exempt cultural organization and like all such it depends on the generosity of its patrons. Contributions to the Association are tax deductible. The Association qualifies for most employer charitable matching grant programs including Exxon Cultural Matching Grants (the blue form).

Contributors of $25 to $49 become members of the "Quarter Note Club"
Contributors of $50 to 99 become members of the "Half Note Club"
Contributors of $100 or more become members of the "Whole Note Club".

8 Donations Policies at Gerland’s and Kroger Supermarkets

Do you shop for food? With one or more voracious RSS band members at home of course you do! You can have your favorite supermarket make donations directly to RSS Band. These generous programs have become an important source of funds for the association. Its easy to do. There is no cost to you. Just follow these simple procedures every time you grocery shop.

• Gerland’s Present your Customer Advantage Card and request that your purchases be credited to #113901 before the cashier rings up your purchase. After you have given this number the first time every time thereafter when you use your Advantage Card a percentage of your purchase will automatically be donated to RSS Band!

(Don’t have an Advantage Card? Just stop by the Customer Service Desk at the store.)

• Kroger’s Please see the RSSBA treasurer to obtain a Kroger Share Card for RSS Band. Just present the share card when you pay for your Kroger purchases. A percentage will be donated to RSS Band! Kroger Share Cards can be used at any Kroger’s nationwide so give them to your friends and family too.

9 RSSBA Financial and Tax Matters

Overview: This section is a bit technical but it is important the the RSSBA follow all the rules to retain its tax exempt status. The Association’s tax year runs from January to December. This calendar year period was chosen so that preparation of tax forms would occur in the relatively less hectic concert season.

Every year the Association must file:

Texas Corporate Franchise Tax Report (to report changes in the membership of the board of directors
Form 990EZ and Schedule 990a and possibly Form 990T, if annual gross revenue exceeds $25,000.00

In addition the Association must send Form 1099MISC (due January 31st) to any clinician we pay who earns more than $600 in a year. These must be reported (due February 28th) to the IRS on a Form 1096 It is essential to file these forms properly and on-time. A band booster group near Dallas was hit with a $5000 fine in 1996 for failure to file a timely Form 990.

Texas Corporate Franchise Tax-

We file to report changes in board members and officers. These occur yearly.

Federal Tax-

If the Association’s gross revenue for tax any future tax year is less than $25,000 then no Form 990 needs to be filed. If the gross revenue exceeds $25,000.00 (where gross revenue is defined as everything deposited into the Association’s bank account) then Form 990EZ and Schedule 990a and possibly 990T must be filed. The 990 forms are due April 15^th.

For this reason we should avoid passing money through the Association’s checking account for convenience. This increases gross revenues without increasing net income. For example if we buy T-shirts and resell them to make a profit then that must go through the Association account. If money is collected from band parents to buy T-shirts for them at no profit to the Association then, ideally, that money should not pass through the Association account. If we ever reach the stage where our gross revenues routinely exceed $25,000.00 this would cease to matter from a Form 990 point of view. However pass throughs, which do not clearly serve to support our tax-exempt purposes, could jeopardize our tax-exempt status. All pass throughs should be clearly RSS Band related.

We usually do not need to file Form 990T. Our non-band related fund raising activities (for example a circus) are not conducted on a continuing basis. They are considered "Special Events" under the tax laws and are reported on Form 990EZ.. If we ever profit more than $1000 from photo button and T-shirt sales, etc. then a Form 990T must also be filed.

Association Accounting Requirements-

The Association uses cash basis accounting. A balance and quarterly report must be prepared at the end of each quarter. (As of March 31^st, June 30^th, Sept. 30^th and December 31^st.) A corporate annual report summarizing the financial year must be prepared and distributed in the newsletter to Association members. This is just a single sheet of paper that sums the four quarterly reports.

For operational purposes the Association prepares budgets for the period June 1^st to May 31^{st .} This coincides with the band year. These budgets are for planning purposes and have nothing to do with tax reporting.

The source and purpose of every deposit and every check must be recorded in the Association’s check book in enough detail so that it will be possible to identify the type of revenue and expense for inclusion on Form 990EZ, Part 1, Lines 1 to 17. If a deposit consists of several different amounts having different purposes these amounts and purposes must be recorded individually.

An audit of the Association’s books is required periodically. What these means is that someone who does not keep the books must check the arithmetic for the year and confirm having done so in writing.

Association financial records (quarterly/annual reports, bank statements, canceled checks and check register) must be retained indefinitely.

Financial Points to remember-

1- The Association must not even appear to loan money to anyone or to give money to people except in furtherance of our tax-exempt purpose. When we reimburse members for money spent on behalf of the Association it is important to get a receipt for the article purchased or service performed. When this is not possible the reason for any payment to an individual must be clearly identified in the check register.

2-No Association money can be spent on political or legislative matters. (None ever has been.) We can not endorse/oppose candidates or legislation. This does not prevent us from bringing concerns to the school board or administration.

3-We must provide receipts to donors for every individual contribution over $250.00. They need these to deduct the contribution.

4-The Association has no employees. All clinicians/teachers/service workers paid by the Association are private contractors. Everyone else are unpaid volunteers.

5-In order not to acquire capital the gift of any durable equipment (such as podiums or ice chests or instruments) to the band from the Association must be documented in our financial records. It is not enough to record "purchased podium for $xx" we must record "purchased podium for $xx and donated same to the RSS Band Program.)

6-The Association does not reimburse incidental expenses (for example- mileage) incurred by members performing Association work. Members may be able to deduct these costs if otherwise eligible and they properly document them. Members may not deduct the value of services or time they contribute to the Association. Anyone can deduct the value of materials they donate to the Association. For example the value of items given to garage sales, bake sales etc. would be deductible. The cost of goods and services purchased from the Association (for example musical Xmas cards) would be deductible by the buyer except for the actual value of the goods/service provided. So if we sell a $10 dollar T-shirt for $15 as a fund-raiser the buyer could deduct $5. The Association can provide information to buyers about how much is deductible. In the case of a donation of material it is the donor’s responsibility to value it for tax purposes. The Association will provide a receipt for the items received.

7-The Association is eligible for corporate matching grants in many cases. Exxon has already approved us. It may also be eligible for certain direct grants.

8-The Association does not pay sales tax on items purchased in furtherance of our tax-exempt purpose. We may also be eligible for "school discounts" etc. We must be careful not to abuse these privileges since that could lead to loss of exemption. In order to make a purchase without paying sales tax the buyer must provide the seller with a properly filled out TEXAS SALES AND USE TAX EXEMPTION CERTIFICATION form. These are available from the Association’s treasurer.

Band Parents on the Internet

1 Internet Band Boosters International

The RSSBA is a charter member of the IBBI. This is a private Internet discussion group dedicated to band parents. Active correspondents include band parents, former band parents and band directors from all over the country and Canada, Great Britain and Australia. The IBBI is open to all band supporters. You can join at http://ibbi.seadeo.net/

Another Internet band parent resource is "Band Parenting in the ‘00’s" at http://www.bandparenting.net/

2 RSS Band Website

The RSSBA Website is at http://www.rssband.org

3 Other Web Resources of Interest to Band Parents

• Ensemble, a joint site by the Texas Orchestra/Choral/Band Directors Associations http://www.ensemble.org/
• Texas Music Educators Association  http://www.tmea.org/
• University Interscholastic League http://www.uil.utexas.edu/index.html
• Texas Educator’s Network (TENET) Parent’s Page http://www.tenet.edu/
• Texas Education Agency http://www.tea.state.tx.us/
• Tales from Band Camp, a band WWW comic strip http://www.dawgtoons.com/talesfrombandcamp/

The RSS Band Program

(Also please see the RSS Band Handbook for more information)

1 Our Directors

Starting even before he came to Sterling as assistent director in 1995, Head Band Director Ricky Clem has arranged/composed many of our most successful marching shows (including his original composition "Illusions"). He took his BMEd at West Texas State University in 1983. After four years in Odessa at Odessa High School and Bowie Junior School he moved to Baytown and was for seven years band director at the Gentry Junior School before moving to Sterling. He is a nationally recognized composer of over 60 works. The concert version of "Illusions" had its premiere performed by the Houston Symphonic Band conducted by Robert McElroy, past GCCISD Director of Fine Arts. Mr. Clem became RSS Head Band Director in 2000.  Usually reliable sources indicate that Mr. Clem is fond of fudge brownies. Ricky’s wife, Brenda, a teacher at Pumphrey Elementary School, is renown for her interest in penguins and the preservation of their habitat.

Assistant Director of Bands, Zeb Moore, graduated from Robert E. Lee High School where he was a member of the REL HS Band.  He Attended Lee College and was active in the music program.  He received his BMEd from the University of Houston.  Mr. Moore returned to REL HS as the Assistant Director of Bands for two years. In the fall of 2000 he joined the faculty of RSS as the Assistant Director of Bands.  Mr. Moore is a member of the Baytown Big Band.  Reliable sources report that Mr. Moore is fond of Dr. Pepper and Fritos with been dip.  His wife, Leslie, is a music teacher at Ashbel Smith Elementary School.

2 Band Student Officers

The Field Officers include the Drum Majors, Percussion Captain and Lieutenant and the Field Officers. The band directors, following auditions in May, choose these for the coming year. Students who will be juniors or seniors are eligible to audition. The number of Drum Majors and Field Officers varies (sometimes greatly) from year to year depending on the requirements of the marching show.

Band members elect the Band Officers in the fall. The band officers are president, vice-president, historian and chaplain. At the Homecoming Game band members elect a Band Beau and Sweetheart.

3 Auditions

Auditions for the coming year are held in May. For wind players these auditions determine initial assignment to one of the three concert bands. For percussion players these auditions are for placement in the marching show. Percussion players are assigned to the concert bands after the end of marching season. During the year frequent chair tests are held and it is sometimes possible for students to move up a band during the year. Auditions for the jazz bands and the full orchestra are held during the fall. Students are selected for the marching show in the late summer based on their mastery of the marching show music and marching fundamentals. Most students will be assigned positions in the corps of marchers. Some students will share positions (A-B’ers). The rest will be alternates who may move into positions if any become vacant or are added during the season. Alternates and non-marching A-B’ers go to all performances and competitions. They assist by moving equipment on and off the field. When the marching show requires soloists the band directors choose these, following auditions shortly before the contests begin.

4 Clinician Program

The RSS Clinician program partly funded by the district (some years), partly by the Band Fee and mostly by the RSSBA (our single biggest program) brings outstanding music educators to RSS to work with the band.

5 Band Expenses

There are a number of expenses involved in being a band member. Throughout the year there will be fund-raisers in which students can earn money to cover required expenses and spring trip costs via the Student Band Accounts.

Required Expenses (these are estimates, subject to change)

• Band Fee, all band members, $50/year paid thru Student Band Accounts

• School instrument use fee, all students using school instruments, $30/year paid thru student’s band account

• Uniform Dry Cleaning Fee, all students in marching band, $15/year paid thru student’s band account

• NOTE: If a student’s uniform is found improperly stored and needs cleaning as a result it will be cleaned at the student’s expense

• Marching Shoes, all freshmen (upperclassmen as needed), ~$25 per pair paid to shoe vendor

• Marching Show T-shirt, all band members, $10 each

• Flip Folder, all freshmen (upperclassmen as needed), $10 to 20 each

• In addition band members must provide their own black socks for use with their band uniform.

Other Optional Costs (these are estimate, all amounts subject to change) Tote Bags $15.16 each paid to vendor. If they do not have a tote bag band members must provide their own garment bag for their uniform

• Band Jackets, purchase optional, $90-150 each depending on amount and type of ornamentation, paid to vendor

• Solo & Ensemble Music, all students competing in S&E Contest, about $5 to $15 paid to music vendor

• Spring Band Trip, about $275 to 350, paid thru student’s band account

• Private Lessons, ~$15 per weekly lesson paid to private lesson teacher

How the Student Band Accounts Work- The student accounts are not administered by the Association. The band directors maintain them using a school district account. The accounts are sometimes managed with help from a band parent volunteer. Every band student has an account balance made up of what they owe (such as the $50 band fee, the $30 instrument user fee, uniform dry cleaning fee, spring trip fee, etc.) and how much they have put in (profit from their fundraising, direct payments, etc.). Payments must be by cashier’s check or money order. If a student has money in their account when a payment comes due the payment is deducted. If there is not enough money in the account to cover a payment then the balance must be paid directly. Please allow one month from the time money is earned in a fund-raiser until it will become available in your student’s account. Please note- money from fund-raisers can not be refunded. Money can be carried forward from one year to the next. Plans ahead to zero out your band member’s account at the end of their last band year.

6. The Blue Box in the Band Hall

Band members should put all payments and filled out forms into the Blue Box located to the left of the Band Hall Offices. Please put payments into an envelope (envelopes are stacked near the Blue Box) and be sure to write your name and what the payment is for clearly on the envelope.

7 .The 2006 RSS Band Marching Show

The 2006 Show will soon be named.

8. RSS Band Spring Trip

Every year the band takes a trip in the spring to a contest or performing venue. Recent past trips included:1996 Dallas, 1997 Hawaii, 1998 San Antonio, 1999 New Orleans, 2000 Los Angeles, 2001 Dallas, 2002 New Orleans.  Band members who go on the trip are responsible for paying their own way. There are many fundraising opportunities for students to raise money to cover the costs of the trip. Once every 4 years the band takes an airplane trip to a more distant location. The band directors select bus chaperones (with RSSBA Board members given right of first refusal) for the bus trips (usually only 8 to 10 are needed). Other parents usually can not go along on the buses since seats are limited (in order to minimize the cost since if we are one seat over we need a whole extra bus!) and sometimes even designated chaperones drive in their own cars. Parents of course are welcome to drive themselves if they want to attend the contest. Sometimes any parent may go along on the flying trips and get the same trip package offered the students. All parents who do so pay their own way. Parents who fly along will be asked to share in the chaperone duties.

The 2007 RSS Band Spring Trip-

The band will be traveling to TBA.

Also please note: Band members must be passing all classes on the six week grading period which ends prior to the trip in order to go on the trip. All cancellations must be made 30 prior to departure.

School Music Programs in Texas

At a time when music programs across the country are being scaled back or even cut completely ("Mr. Holland’s Opus" is the reality in many states) we can be proud that in Texas public schools fine arts programs are required by law. Together the UIL, the TMEA and the ATSSB (Association of Texas Small School Bands) in association with the TEA (Texas Education Agency) administer a full statewide school music program not equaled in scope by any other state. (Indiana does come close.)

1 Texas UIL Music Contest Program

The University Interscholastic League administered out of the University of Texas runs most of the athletic, academic, drama and music competitions for Texas public schools. The UIL music program includes marching contests, concert contests, sight-reading contests and solo & ensemble contests.

UIL Music Region 10 For purposes of music competition Texas is divided in 28 Music Regions. These 28 Regions are grouped into 7 Music Areas. RSS Band competes in Region 10 and Area F. The UIL also groups high schools by size. Following the latest reclassification in 2006 the number and sizes of public high schools in Texas was- 5A (245 schools, enrollment >1985), 4A (230 schools, average enrollment ~1500), 3A (179 schools, average enrollment ~750), 2A (236 schools, average enrollment ~300) and 1A’s (355 schools, enrollment less than 194). RSS is an average size 5A high school. The RSSBA operates under the UIL Booster Guidelines.

Region 10 Schools-

Small schools: marching area C

Large schools: marching area F
 

TEA Code	District Name	City or County
036-901	ANAHUAC ISD	Anahuac
036-902	BARBERS HILL ISD	Mont Belvieu
123-910	BEAUMONT ISD	Beaumont
187-901	BIG SANDY ISD	Dallardsville
181-901	BRIDGE CITY ISD	Bridge City
121-902	BROOKELAND ISD	Brookeland
121-903	BUNA ISD	Buna
176-901	BURKEVILLE ISD	Burkeville
229-906	CHESTER ISD	Chester
229-901	COLMESNEIL ISD	Colmesneil
146-902	DAYTON ISD	Dayton
146-903	DEVERS ISD	Devers
176-903	DEWEYVILLE ISD	Deweyville
036-903	EAST CHAMBERS ISD	Winnie
121-906	EVADALE ISD	Evadale
187-903	GOODRICH ISD	Goodrich
101-911	GOOSE CREEK ISD	Baytown
123-914	HAMSHIRE-FANNETT ISD	Hamshire
146-904	HARDIN ISD	Hardin
100-905	HARDIN-JEFFERSON ISD	Sour Lake
202-903	HEMPHILL ISD	Hemphill
084-903	HIGH ISLAND ISD	High Island
146-905	HULL-DAISETTA ISD	Daisetta
121-904	JASPER ISD	Jasper
121-905	KIRBYVILLE CONS ISD	Kirbyville
100-903	KOUNTZE ISD	Kountze
101-916	LA PORTE ISD	La Porte
187-906	LEGGETT ISD	Leggett
146-906	LIBERTY ISD	Liberty
181-908	LITTLE CYPRESS-MAURICEVILLE CONS ISD	Orange
187-907	LIVINGSTON ISD	Livingston
100-907	LUMBERTON ISD	Lumberton
123-905	NEDERLAND ISD	Nederland
176-902	NEWTON ISD	Newton
187-910	ONALASKA ISD	Livingston
181-905	ORANGEFIELD ISD	Orangefield
123-907	PORT ARTHUR ISD	Port Arthur
123-908	PORT NECHES-GROVES ISD	Port Neches
123-913	SABINE PASS ISD	Sabine Pass
100-904	SILSBEE ISD	Silsbee
229-905	SPURGER ISD	Spurger
123-503	TEXAS ACADEMY OF LEADERSHIP IN THE HUMANITIES	Beaumont
181-907	VIDOR ISD	Vidor
229-904	WARREN ISD	Warren
100-908	WEST HARDIN COUNTY CONS ISD	Saratoga
181-906	WEST ORANGE-COVE CONS ISD	Orange
229-903	WOODVILLE ISD	Woodville

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UIL Marching Contest Program- Each Region holds a marching contest in mid-October. In alternate years (3A & 5A in even numbered years) all bands which get a score of 1 (using a three judge 1 to 5 scoring system) advance to the Area marching contest. At the Area Marching Contest the top 2 scoring bands (the top 3 if 15 or more bands are competing) advance to the State Marching contest held the 1st Monday in November.

UIL Concert and Sight-reading Contest Program- Every Spring each Region holds a concert and sight-reading contest in April. Bands, which achieve a score of 1 in the UIL marching, concert and sight-reading contests win a UIL Sweepstakes award for that school year.

UIL Solo & Ensemble Contest Program- Each Region holds a Solo & Ensemble Contest in February. Individual students and small groups (brass ensemble, clarinet quintet, etc.) audition and get a score and critique. Top scoring students receive medals.

2 TMEA Music Contest Program

The Texas Music Educators Association runs many contest programs. Those in which RSS Band participates are the All-Region/All-State Bands/Orchestras/Jazz Bands and the honor band/orchestra program. The TMEA uses the same Music Regions/Areas as the UIL. Auditions for the Region 10 All-Region Jazz Band are in October, for the All-Region Bands and Orchestra in December. The top scoring students in the All-Region Band and Orchestra are certified to the Area Auditions where they compete for the All-State Bands and Orchestra.

More Things RSS Band Parents Need to Know

1 Eligibility and the Texas No Pass/No Play Law

In order to participate in most band activities (concerts, contests, football games, parades, auditions, etc.) band members must be eligible. Mostly that means that they must get a passing grade (70 or above) in every course (including AP courses, that is a GCCISD rule) at the end of each six week marking period. If they fail a course they become ineligible at the end of the school day at the end of the week following the end of the marking period. If they can get their grade to a passing level at the end of 3 weeks following the end of the marking period they can regain eligibility at that time. If not, they remain ineligible for the whole 6 weeks. In a very few cases involving AP courses it may be possible to get a wavier so that a student can remain eligible despite a slightly below 70 grade.

If your student is having trouble in a course RSS teachers are willing to work with them after or before school to help get their grade up. Our band directors will let them miss band rehearsals to do this but if they must miss a scheduled band practice they should inform one of the directors in advance.

Eligibility can also be lost if you move into another attendance zone, etc. Everything about the State No Pass law can be found on the UIL website but remember that the GCCISD rules are stricter (failing AP courses makes you ineligible, etc.) than the UIL rules.

2 Band Parent Football Game Information

On game day Fridays there will be an approximately 1/2 hour-long marching practice after school. After practice the student and parent loading crews will load the Band Truck. Other band members are free until the bus loading time (away games) usually 5:00 PM.  Parents should deliver food to departing band members between 4:00-4:15 PM so they will have ample time to eat and prepare to depart.  Band students will not have time to obtain their own meals prior to departure. The Stallworth report time (home games) usually 5:45 PM. Game day Saturday schedules will be announced.

For away games assigned parent chaperones will ride on the buses. At all games additional band parent help in the stands, particularly in delivering water to the band members after half-time and cleaning the band area in the stands after the game, will be greatly appreciated. This is a great way to get to know your fellow band parents. (Besides, if you sit right next to the band you can hear it really clearly and we mean REALLY CLEARLY!!)

The Parent FLEA Crew helps unload/reload the Band Truck at the stadium and helps unload back at the band hall and assists moving equipment on field.

Please note-

• In some instances members of the band may wish not to return from an away game with the band. This will be allowed only if y they have written permission from Mr. Frank Hutchins, principal of Sterling High School. Students may leave only with their own parent or guardian. The students must turn in their uniform to their field officer before leaving the stadium
• If you follow the Band and Star buses our bus drivers ask you please not to drive your vehicle between buses. For safety and ease of navigation they like to keep the buses as close together as possible.

3 RSS Band Chaperone Information

RSS Band chaperones must follow these guidelines to stay within GCCISD policy.

Chaperone Guidelines

• All GCCISD chaperones (except GCCISD employees) must submit police background check forms and be approved. This is a GCCISD requirement for all volunteers who work with students.
• Please don’t discipline or argue with students. Stop the unacceptable act and take names.
• You may say, "Mr. Clem does not want you to do that."
• Do not give information to students if you are not sure it is correct.
• If you don’t know the answer to a question, ask a field officer.
• Do not administer medication, aspirin, etc.
• Stay visible.
• Do not eat or drink in the stands when the students can not.
• Remember the golden rule is "If everyone can’t do it, no one can."
• Monitor the rest room areas when students are allowed to leave the stands.
• Help hand out drinks after half time and clean the band seating area while the band leaves the stadium.
• Collect loaner black socks at the end of the trip.
• On Bus Trips:
  • Band Directors will make chaperone bus assignments.
  • Pick up first aid kit, bus roster, bus number card, trash bags, paper towels before you board.
  • Carefully check roll on both departure and return.
  • Field officers are assigned to each bus for uniform check, etc. Help insure every band member is checked before they board the bus.
  • Sit in the middle or back of the bus.
  • Make sure the buses are clean and the bus windows are closed at the end of the trip.

4 Rules for RSS Band Member Conduct

The bands are ambassadors of our school, district and community. We expect band members to always conduct themselves properly. All school rules apply during all band trips. These RSS Band rules also apply:

RSS Band Bus Rules- Headphones must be used when listening to radios/tape/CD players. (Note: the District, the directors and the chaperones are not responsible in the event of theft.) Students must stay seated at all times. No yelling, singing, or chanting. Do not litter and clean up at the end of the trip. Pay attention during announcements and roll check. Keep everything inside the bus at all times including hands. Nothing is ever to be thrown out of a bus window. Close all bus windows when exiting the bus. Do not open the emergency door while the bus is in motion. Be polite to chaperones, they are in charge. On returning to Sterling be sure to take all your belongings off the bus.

Football Game Rules for RSS Band Members- The band will enter and exit as a unit. Non-band members are not allowed to sit in the band formation in the stands. Band parents will supply band members with drinks after half time. Band members are not allowed to purchase food or drinks and may have no other food, drink or gum in the stands. The band will stand when Sterling is on offense and sit when Sterling is on defense. While the band is not playing you may visit with your neighbors or watch the game. Books, magazines or radios etc. are not allowed. Hold on to your instrument at all times. Do not move out of your assigned position. At home games no one is allowed to go to the restroom except for emergencies. Alternates not helping move equipment on field must sit in their places in the stands during half time.

Be aware that chaperones are part of the band. Their actions reflect upon the band.

· Do not yell at the students.

· Do not threaten students in any way.

· Do not call other parents and talk about students other than your own children.

· Do not call any other adult to discuss any student other than your own.

· Do not call businesses, other schools, etc. using Sterling Band's name unless you have been authorized to do so by a band director.

· Pass out water after we play "The Horse for the opening kickoff.

· Pick up trash as the band is leaving the stands at the end of the game. Please do not start this activity early as the band has many songs to play at the end of the game.

· NEVER PASS OUT MEDICINE TO ANY STUDENT

· We do allow former students to visit with band members. If someone is causing problems a band director will ask them to leave. We do not allow siblings to sit in the band formation.

· Report problems to a band director ASAP.

· We do not go to the rest rooms at home games. We visit the rest rooms during the 3rd quarter of away games. A band director will deal with all emergencies.

Interesting Things Related to RSS Band

The Sterling Stars

The Sterling Stars are our partners in the Sterling Silver Spectacular’s marching contest show. Most high school bands have non-playing marchers who wave flags or batons. In marching band terminology these are called auxiliaries or guard. Usually they are band members or non-band members recruited and trained by the band. Most Texas schools also have a separate drill/dance team that performs at football games and in dance shows but takes no part in the marching contest show. At Sterling, the Stars, otherwise a separate organization, perform in the RSS marching contest show. Because of this rare and highly satisfactory arrangement the "Sterling Silver Spectacular" (the name of the RSS Band and Stars when performing together) boasts one of the largest and best trained corps of high school marching contest show dancers anywhere. The Stars' Director is Jeannine Watson.