JAGUAR PRIDE

PARENT MANUAL

Being a parent or family member of a band student at Blue Springs South means embarking on a journey that will provide your family with exciting musical experiences and memories that will truly last a lifetime. While the adventure will be amazing, we understand that it can be overwhelming as a new (or returning) parent, and we want to provide you with the information and support you need to have a fantastic time with the Jaguar Pride. Band staff and Boosters will do their best to communicate all necessary information with parents and students, but it is normal to feel some level of uncertainty. You are not alone. We encourage all parents to get involved by joining the BAND app and by using this website as a resource. Additionally, know that parents of older students in the program have been where you are and are willing to help you.

Please see below for an overview of important information for band parents and families. First, see general band information. Then, see our “Marching Band 101” section for all things Jaguar Pride Marching Band.

  • We utilize 3 main channels of communication within the band program.

    1. This website will be updated frequently with scheduling information and resources. Please bookmark it for easy access. This is a great place to check for information, but will likely not provide live updates on competition days, for example.

    2. Staff emails: Staff will frequently send important pieces of information from their district email addresses.

    3. BAND app: All students and parents need to download the BAND app. We have two separate chats that we utilize.

      • The first only allows for one way communication updates from BSSHS staff. Everyone in the chat can see, but only staff can message in the chat. ALL STUDENTS AND PARENTS SHOULD JOIN THIS CHAT.

      • The second chat is for parent communication and is not limited to just staff messages. Parents should use this chat for questions and communication.

        BAND App Etiquette:

      • When possible, direct questions to the appropriate party instead of the full group to minimize congestion in the chat

      • On competition and show days, please do not message directors through the BAND app, as they will be very busy providing your students with the best possible experience. Please direct questions to other parents or Band Administrator, Molly Walling.

    4. Parent Meetings: Parent meetings typically take place on the 4th Monday of each month (this is subject to change). These meetings will be with band staff and Band Boosters and will cover important information and provide opportunities for questions and discussions. It is very important to attend parent meetings if you can.

  • All students will have an account on CutTime to keep track of program costs and payment, including regular season fees, uniforms, and trip fees.

    For a breakdown of student fees and the payment schedule, please visit the Accounts and Payments page under the Parents and Families tab.

    Contact: For questions or information about CutTime or fees, please contact Zach Johnson (zjohnson@bssd.net) or Molly Walling (mschumacher@bssd.net)

  • Uniform Team: Band uniforms are handled by volunteers, Angelica Sadler and MaryAnn Lutes.

    CONCERT BAND UNIFORMS:

    • School-Issued tuxedo or dress

    • Not School-Issued: Black Socks, Black Shoes, Tuxedo Shirt (will be specified by the school)

    MARCHING BAND UNIFORMS:

    • All band students will be fitted for a Blue Springs South blue marching uniform, REGARDLESS OF COMPETITIVE MARCHING BAND PARTICIPATION. All students, even non-competitive students, will participate in home football games and parades using these uniforms. Marching shoes included in school-issued uniform.

    • The competitive marching band will have a show-specific uniform each year. See the Marching Band 101 section to learn more.

    FITTINGS:

    Band students are fitted for their band uniforms by our uniform volunteers. Students will be made aware of when their fittings will be in advance. To assist in the fitting process, students should wear compression shorts and a t-shirt to quickly change in and out of their uniform.

    LAUNDERING UNIFORMS:

    Students’ band fees cover laundering of concert and competitive uniforms. Students do not need to take uniforms home to launder, other than pieces like performance shirt, black shorts and socks, and tuxedo shirts.

    HOW CAN PARENTS HELP WITH UNIFORMS?

    • All students need to be fitted for their uniforms. This takes place in the spring and summer months of our season by appointment with the uniform volunteer team.

    • Uniforms are hung on large racks during football games for the halftime show and during competitions. Parent volunteers stand with each rack to assist students as they grab and return their uniforms, ensuring the rack stays neat and functional.

    Interested in helping with uniforms? Please fill out a Volunteer Interest Form HERE

  • Summer:

    • Summer band camp begins in July for students in competitive marching band (most students)

    Fall :

    • Friday Home Football Games: All students, competitive and non-competitive, are expected to perform with the band at football games. Schedule will be shared in class and available HERE

    • Homecoming Parade (September 4; tentative guess)

    • Rehearsal Day and Parent Preview (September 13)

    • Fall Fun Fest Parade (Morning of September 20)

    • Hosted Competition: KC Championships (September 20)

      • Performance in evening/ all hands on deck)

    • Saturday marching band competitions: Competitive students only. Schedule available HERE

    • Sounds of the Stadium performance (October 22)

    WINTER :

    • December Band Concert

    • London New Years Parade trip (optional)

    • MMEA Performance, January 2026

    SPRING:

    • Spring band concert

    • Large Ensemble Festival

    • Performance at Kauffman Center, Spring 2026

    Full Band Calendar Available HERE

JAGUAR PRIDE

MARCHING BAND 101

Find more specific information about all things Marching Band here.

REHEARSALS

The Jaguar Pride Marching Band rehearsals begin in the summer and continue through the length of our season, until the end of October. See below for the rehearsal schedule, attendance policy, pick up and drop off information, and required materials for rehearsals.

  • Rehearsal times and details are subject to change; please check the BAND app for most up to date information.*

    SUMMER BAND CAMP:

    Summer Band Camp begins Monday, July 14 and continues until school starts in August.

    7/14-7/18: Monday-Friday 2PM - 10PM

    7/21-7/31: Monday-Thursday 2PM - 10PM

    8/4-8/18: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 6PM - 10PM

    SCHOOL-YEAR REHEARSALS:

    During the school year, rehearsals are either sectionals or full band rehearsals.

    Mondays 2:30PM - 4PM: Winds Sectionals (All students except percussion or guard)

    Tuesdays/Thursdays 6PM - 9PM: Full Band Rehearsals

    Wednesdays 3PM - 4:30PM: Percussion Sectional

  • Rehearsals take place at Blue Springs South High School. Students should be dropped off at the Performing Arts Center (PAC) doors on the North side of the building near the tennis courts.

    Students should be picked up after rehearsal from the same parking lot. Please plan to be at BSSHS promptly by the listed end time of rehearsal.

  • CLOTHING:

    • Rehearsal Uniform: Gray rehearsal shirt (provided by BSSHS), black shorts (1 pair provided by BSSHS. Other dark colored shorts are fine.), closed toed shoes (not provided)

    • Apron (provided by BSSHS) or fanny pack (not provided): to hold dots.

    • Recommended: hat and sunglasses for sun protection

    MUSICAL:

    • Instrument

    • Music Binder (Issued in Spring)

    PERSONAL: (recommended)

    • Water Bottle (many students bring 1L or larger bottles)

    • Sunscreen

    • Sunglasses

    • Deodorant

    **During Summer Band Camp, students should bring a lunch box with food for dinner break.

  • Band rehearsals are open to parents to come watch, unless otherwise stated by Band Staff.

    It is generally best to come to the last hour of rehearsal when we are running the show.

    When attending open rehearsals, please remember that students and staff are there to work hard and make the best use of their rehearsal time. Please do not cause unnecessary distractions or call attention to or from your student as they rehearse.

    While you are welcome to take photos and video, do not share or post anything from rehearsals during the marching season. We are preparing to compete and do not want any competitive advantage lost by posting any part of our show for others to see.

UNIFORMS

Students in competitive marching band will have a show-specific uniform each year. This is covered in your student’s band fee.

Uniforms are stored at the school during the marching band season. Students change into their uniform at a show or competition. While the majority of the uniform will travel with the uniform racks, your student is responsible for bringing their performance shirt, black socks, and school-issued marching shoes to each competition and show.

  • COMPETITIVE MARCHING UNIFORM:

    Pieces that stay at BSSHS and travel with the band:

    • Bibs

    • Uniform Top

    • Uniform Accessories

    Pieces to remember on show/competition days:

    • Black performance shirt

    • Black Socks

    • Black marching shoes

  • Students are fit for uniforms at several fitting appointments throughout the spring and early summer. Fittings for the 2025 marching band season have been completed.

    If your student joined late, or for some reason did not complete a fitting for their uniform last spring, please have your student contact a uniform parent at rehearsal.

  • HOW CAN PARENTS HELP WITH UNIFORMS?

    Uniforms are managed by parent volunteers Angelica Saddler and MaryAnn Lutes.

    Fitting the band for their marching uniforms, bringing uniforms down to the football field for games, managing uniform carts and distributing uniforms to students, and collecting uniforms after games and competitions are all tasks left up to the volunteer uniform team. These responsibilities are not overly difficult, but require a dedicated team to ensure students look their best and our uniforms stay organized.

    Interested in getting involved? We could use your help! Please fill out a volunteer interest form.

COMPETITIONS

The competitive marching season takes place from August to October. For a more detailed season calendar, click HERE.

Marching band competitions take place on Saturdays and are all-day commitments. Students will be given a time to arrive at school, often early in the morning, and we will travel together by bus to the competition. There, other schools will be performing all day, and competitions are great opportunities to see some fantastic marching band. Most competitions have two rounds: Preliminary and Finals. Between rounds, students will rest, hydrate, eat, and then warm up and prepare to perform again. We encourage parents, families, and friends to meet us at competitions to cheer on the band; it is both rewarding to the students to feel supported and for families to see your students thrive. Marching band competitions are days filled with intensity, musical excellence, and the making of life-long memories.

  • UNIFORM PIECES: Remember your black socks, marching shoes, and performance shirt.

    MUSICAL:

    Instrument and accessories

    PERSONAL:

    Recommended :

    • Snacks

    • Large Water Bottle

    • Sunscreen

    • Deodorant

    • Comfy clothes for the bus/ between performances

    • Headphones / bus entertainment

    • Money for concessions (meals will be provided to students. Bring money for any extra concessions you may want there)

  • The day of a competition, the best way to find updates about the band’s schedule, whereabouts, and general information will be in the Band App. Jaguar Pride staff will utilize the main chat for important updates. The parent chat can be used to ask each other questions.

    • On competition days, please be mindful that the Jaguar Pride staff will be exceptionally busy working to create the best experience possible for your students. Direct messages to staff during the competition will not only likely go unanswered, but may also cause distractions for staff. Please do your best to direct questions to fellow parents; thoroughly read informational emails sent prior to the competition; and check that your question has not already been addressed in the Band App.

    Bookmark this site, Midwest Marching, which houses links to all area competitions. On competition days, schedules and information can be accessed here.

  • Parents, families, and friends are encouraged to join us at competitions to support the band. Parents and families are not permitted to travel with students on the bus.

    WHITE CARDS: If you plan on driving separately and driving your student home with you after the competition, students must fill out a white card prior to the competition. This must be on file with the band staff to release students to travel separately.

    PARENTS: WHAT TO BRING TO COMPETITIONS:

    • Money for concessions

    • sunglasses

    • sunscreen

    • comfortable shoes and clothes for the weather (competitions are outdoors)

    • stadium cushion seat (recommended)

    • earplugs (recommended)

  • Students will travel with the band on a bus UNLESS they have filled out a white card and have prior approval to travel with a parent.

    Our bus drivers are FANTASTIC supporters of our bands. Please help us meet the following expectations on the bus:

    • Limit food and drink to bottles that can close and food that will not create a mess. We will keep our buses clean.

    • Same gender seating during dark hours on the bus. No couples sitting together in the dark.

    • No sharing blankets.

    • Respect quiet hours when announced: Prior to competing, certain times on the bus will be used to mentally prepare for competition.

    RECOMMENDED:

    • Bring a pillow, blanket, etc for sleeping on long bus rides

    • Bring headphones if you plan on listening to a device on the bus

    • Pack all chargers and battery packs. Access to outlets and wifi is not guaranteed.

    • Bring homework (for eligibility), coloring books, crosswords puzzles, etc for bus entertainment

    HYGIENE: Bring a hygiene bag with toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, change of socks, underwear, etc. when traveling for long periods of time or overnight

  • SUPPORTING THE BAND: Attend football games, competitions, performances, and parent meetings

    CHEERING: Clap and cheer before and after performance, and during high-impact moments. Do not make distracting sounds otherwise.

    SPORTSMANSHIP:

    • Clap for all other competitors.

    • Do not boo or jeer.

    • Display excellent sportsmanship, as you are representing Blue Springs South High School and the Jaguar Pride.

    SOCIAL MEDIA:

    • Be mindful about what you post online. Remember that you are representing BSSHS and to keep band-related posts positive and respectful.

    • Do not post videos of our competitive show online during the marching season.

    • When in doubt, do not post.

  • Most competitions hosted by high schools will have tickets available upon arrival.

    For BOA St. Louis, please click HERE to purchase tickets.