“Pride Of The Valley”
Pauls Valley High School Band
Mr. Drew Etheredge, Director of Bands
Mr. Stan Stevenson, Assistant Director of Bands
2009-2010 PVHS Band Handbook
Welcome back to another school year! Hopefully you are refreshed with new energy and feel enthused about the
upcoming school year. There are many great things planned for this year, and in order for us to accomplish as much
as possible, it is very important that you carefully read through all information in the band handbook. Let’s continue
to work together and build on the proud tradition of the Pauls Valley Band!
Six Expectations For PVHS Band Members:
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Always show respect for other students and faculty.
Always try to do the right thing. When in doubt, don’t!
Always do your very best and work hard. Laziness is the main ingredient in failure.
Always remember you represent our school, our city, and our state. Be a good ambassador and represent us
in a positive manner. It only takes one person to make us all look bad.
Always be on time!
Eyes – With PRIDE!
Rehearsal Times/Locations
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During marching season, daily rehearsal STARTS at 7:30am on the practice field adjacent to the tennis courts
at the high school, weather permitting. On days with inclement weather, we will start rehearsal in the
bandroom at 7:30am. Students need to plan on arriving no later than 7:15am so that you are ready to start at
7:30. Please refer to the attendance policy for further information. Not in your place ready to play at 7:30am
will be tardy!
If transportation is a problem, Mr. Etheredge needs to be notified ASAP, so that a solution can be found.
Thursday night rehearsals during marching season will either be held at the high school practice field or at the
football stadium in Wacker Park. This just depends on whether the junior high football games are home or
away. We will notify you of the location and rehearsal time ahead of time.
Some Friday mornings we will also rehearse at the football stadium at 7:30am. Students will be notified ahead
of time.
General Guidelines And Conduct
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Be as mature and professional as possible at all times.
All school rules apply, whether we are in the bandroom, on the practice field, or on a trip. This includes the
dress code policy, cell phone policy, attendance, swearing, PDA, etc.
The school cell phone policy/electronic devices policy applies to band as well. Cell phones, Mp3 players, etc.
will be confiscated and turned in to the office if you have it out during class time, whether we are on the
practice field, in the bandroom, at a pep assembly, etc. Cell phones, Mp3 players, etc. are not allowed out at
any time during rehearsal and will be confiscated.
EVERYONE plays their instrument EVERYDAY in band. Do not expect to take my class time because you
didn’t finish a paper or finish an assignment. Your homework is your responsibility, and your responsibility
in band each day is to participate.
DO NOT ask to leave the room for anything other than an emergency. Take care of other business outside of
our class time.
PDA – Public Display of Affection is inappropriate, against school rules, and will not be tolerated. This
includes any form of touching that is deemed inappropriate for school.
General Rules For The Bandroom
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Take care and take pride in our bandroom. Everyone enjoys and benefits from a clean, organized, and wellkept room.
2. No irresponsible or immature behavior at any time.
3. All food and drinks must be disposed of properly, or this privilege will be taken away. No food or drinks
other than water during rehearsal. This includes chewing gum!
4. Instruments and music must be stored away properly each day if left in the bandroom.
5. DO NOT leave the classroom before the bell rings.
6. Always pick up trash and clean your area after rehearsal each day. Music stands must be stacked daily in
front of office window.
7. Squads will be assigned on a weekly basis to ensure that the bandroom is organized and clean each day after
rehearsal.
8. During concert season, students will be assigned to set up chairs, stands, as well as passing out folders for
rehearsal each day.
9. You are not allowed in the auditorium unless you have permission. Restrooms are available in the gym lobby.
10. DO NOT enter director’s office unless a director is present or you have permission.
General Rules for Band Trips
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All trips will be posted in advance. Sickness is the only excused absence. You must provide Mr. Etheredge
with a note signed by a parent before the absence is excused. Jobs will not be excused under any
circumstances.
We will travel to football games and marching contests in our band shirts. If you do not have a band shirt,
you must wear a black t-shirt.
You must always be on time for all departures! If you are not early, you are late!
Always arrive at least 15-30 minutes before the designated departure time, which will give you ample time to
load your instrument and uniform.
Load and unload your own instrument and uniform. Do not rely on someone else at any time! No uniform
goes on the trailer not properly hung, and no instrument goes on the trailer without being properly stored in a
case.
Only band members are allowed on the bus. No exceptions! Parents that wish to go on trips as a sponsor
need to make arrangements with Mr. Etheredge.
You must be respectful and cooperate with the bus driver and/or sponsors at all times.
There is no standing, yelling, or sticking arms/legs out of the windows of the bus at any time. These are safety
issues and violations of state law.
Always stay together and never walk around alone. Report any suspicious behavior immediately.
Do not leave valuables on the bus at any time.
We ALWAYS load and unload the bus together. Students are not allowed to “hang out” on the bus at any
time on trips. Get what you will need when we unload together.
Boys and girls will ride separate buses home from football games and contests, or any other times designated
by Mr. Etheredge. If we do not have two large buses on the trip, boys will ride in the front and girls will ride
in the back on the way home.
If you wish to ride home with a parent, your parent must sign you out with Mr. Etheredge before you leave!
You may not ride home with other students and their parents unless you have a note signed by your parent!
Be responsible and help keep the bus clean by picking up trash around you before you get off. Squads will be
assigned to help clean buses when we return from trips.
We will clean around our bus and other areas before we depart. A good rule of thumb: leave it cleaner than
the way we found it!
Always remember you represent our school, our city, and our state. Your actions represent how we are all
perceived. Always represent us in a first class manner!
Stadium Conduct
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Our job at football games is to provide unconditional support for the football team, win or lose. Pay close
attention to the game and be ready to play at any time.
2. You must conduct yourself professionally and maturely at all times in the bleachers. This is when we are
exposed for everyone to examine us for long periods of time. Impress people and make them comfortable
sitting around us. You are in the spotlight and must take pride in our organization and represent us in a first
class manner! Make people want to say good things about us.
3. There will be a seating chart for the bleachers.
4. You must stay in your section and in your designated spot at all times!!
5. Do not ask to leave the bleachers for any reason other than an emergency.
6. You must stand any time you are playing in the bleachers!
7. No playing instruments until you are instructed to do so by a director or the drum major.
8. No one allowed in the band except band members!! No friends, brothers, sisters, etc. The only exception will
be former band alumni.
9. Uniform will be worn at all times in the bleachers (coat, pants, shoes), and zipped up. No gauntlets or hats. In
cases of extreme weather circumstances, exceptions will be made at Mr. Etheredge’s discretion.
10. Always be gracious and hospitable to the opposing team and their fans. Be gracious, supportive, and
applaud the other band. We would want the same if we were performing.
11. You will have third quarter off. Uniform is to be worn in entirety (coat zipped, pants, shoes) during this time.
You must be back to the bleachers in your spot ready to play no later than 2:00 left in third quarter. We will
play between the third and fourth quarters. Failure to be back in time will result in loss of 3 rd quarter
privileges for entire band.
12. At the conclusion of the game, you will be dismissed by the director or the drum major. At this time, you will
need to go to the band trailer and hang uniform properly.
Uniforms
It is extremely important that we RESPECT our uniforms. Anytime you are wearing our uniform, you are displaying
and representing our school, city, and even our state at times. We want to show the utmost respect to our school, city,
and state by proudly wearing our uniforms properly and professionally at all times. By our appearance always
looking sharp, professional, classy, and respectful, we are sending the message that we are proud of our school and
take pride in our organization. It is essential that you are mature and cooperative in this area.
This means:
1. Either we are all in full uniform, or we are not. We will all be the same either way. This depends on the
circumstances and will be determined by Mr. Etheredge.
2. We will wear uniforms in their entirety at football games. This includes the 3rd quarter break as well. In
extreme weather circumstances, Mr. Etheredge will make a decision on whether we will wear uniforms or not
for the game.
3. Anytime you put on our uniform, you MUST put it on in its entirety (coat, pants, shoes, black socks). It must
be appropriately worn and zipped immediately.
4. NEVER walk around wearing the jacket unzipped. You must wait until you are at where you will hang the
uniform to unzip the coat.
5. NEVER walk around just wearing the pants without the coat or shoes. Never an exception.
6. ALWAYS carry your hat and do not put it on until we all put them on together. Any long hair must be worn
up inside the hat.
7. NEVER wear the hat on backwards. If it is to be worn, it must be on appropriately.
8. NEVER wear anything over your band coat (jackets, etc.) unless permitted to do so.
9. Gauntlets and plumes will be passed out prior to performances and turned back in afterwards.
10. You MUST have black socks worn with your uniform.
11. You MUST hang your uniform properly on a wooden hanger when not in use. Failure to do will result in a
$10 fee to have your uniform dry cleaned.
Attendance
In order for us to be successful and function at a high level, you must be early to rehearsals, performances, sectionals,
etc. The success and efficiency of a band highly depends on their attendance and time management.
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All attendance at daily rehearsals, performances, contests, and sectionals is graded.
Work is NEVER an excuse. No exceptions. All rehearsals, sectionals, and performances are scheduled well in
advance, so you must accommodate work schedules, etc.
Always try to arrive at rehearsals, performances, sectionals, etc. at least 15 minutes early so you will have
ample time to assemble your instrument, warm-up, and be ready to play.
Just because you are in the bandroom when the bell rings or pulling into the practice field when rehearsal
starts does not mean you are on time.
On time means that you are in your appropriate seat or place, with your instrument out, ready to play when
the director starts. If not, you are tardy.
On any of your first three tardies, you will be assigned to help clean the buses after trips and/or clean the
bandroom after rehearsal.
On the 4th tardy and thereafter, you will be referred to the principal’s office.
Points will be deducted from your daily grade for each tardy starting with the first tardy.
Please schedule any tutoring, club meetings, doctor appointments, dentist appointments, etc. for outside of
band. Most of these things are avoidable and most will not be an excuse for missing a rehearsal or
performance. There are exceptions, which will be considered by Mr. Etheredge. At any rate, you need to
approve these things ahead of time through Mr. Etheredge, and before anything can be excused, there has to
be a note.
Grading
Daily Participation/Rehearsal Grade (100-120 pts/week)
Contests (200 pts/ea)
Thursday Night Rehearsals/Extra Rehearsals (50 pts)
Football Games/Concerts/Parades (100 pts)
Sectionals (50 pts)
Playing Grades/Quizzes (25-50 pts)
Any other scheduled performance (50-100 pts)
Extra Credit: All-District/All-State Band Tryouts
Extra Credit: Basketball Game performances
Extra Credit: Solo/Ensemble Contest
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For each tardy, 15 points will be deducted from daily participation/rehearsal grade.
Unexcused absences at any rehearsal, performance, sectional, etc. will be given a zero.
Contests will count as two test grades. Football games will also count as a test grade.
Showing up to a rehearsal or performance lacking proper materials (instrument, uniform, music) will result in
grade being lowered. Not having an instrument would be the same as an unexcused absence, thus a grade of
zero.
Students who are ineligible for performances and other required activities must make up assignment by doing
written work or other tasks around bandroom determined by directors.
Students who fail band and/or have poor attendance records will not be allowed to participate in band the
following year.
If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to call the band office at 238-7449 or PVHS at 238-6497. Thanks very
much and we wish you all a great year!