Welcome to LEE HS Band!

Here is an outline of what to expect this year:

Directors

Alex Yañez, Director of Bands

• • For more information on Mr. Yañez, see our Directors page HERE

Vicky Watson, Associate Director

• • For more information on Ms. Watson, see our Directors page HERE

Elijah Alonzo, Associate Director

• • For more information on Mr. Alonzo, see our Directors page HERE

Communications

VolsBand.org

• • Your band information lifeline!

Email/Phone

• • Band Directors may be contacted by phone or email

  • Board members of LEE Band Parent Association can be contacted by email

  • For email addresses and phone numbers, see our Communications page HERE

  • For links to the most recent emails sent out by the LEE BPA, see our News page HERE

Remind

• • This is a text communication system used by the band directors to communicate important and/or time-sensitive information

  • For more information on Remind, see our Communications page HERE

CharmsOffice.com

• • Charms is an online communication and organizational tool to help manage a complex band program

  • Directors use Charms to manage individual student accounts (Fee and Form details)

  • For more information on Charms, see our Using Charms page HERE

SignUpGenius.com

• • LEE Band Parent Association uses SignUpGenius to manage volunteer and other sign-up opportunities

  • For more information on SignUpGenius, see our SignUpGenius Instructions page HERE

 LEE Band News Newsletter

• • The newsletter is emailed out individuals once a week and posted on VolsBand.org

  • It contains a message from the Director, upcoming event details, and other important information

  • For more information about our newsletter, see our News page HERE

Facebook and Twitter

• • On both of these, we share comments on, ask questions about, and post photos and videos of LEE HS Band

  • For more information on joining our Facebook page or following our Twitter feed, see our News page HERE

Annual Band Activities and Events

Check VolsBand.org for the exact event, rehearsal, and performance dates, times, and other details.

For all outdoor activities and events, HEAT & SUN SAFETY is a priority, especially in the warmer months.

Encourage your student to DRINK LOTS OF WATER and APPLY SUNSCREEN.

Fall Band Activities

Marching Rehearsals: 

• • The general rehearsal schedule is as follows: Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday (4:40 pm to 7:00 pm) and Friday (7:00 am).  However, please check the calendar because some weeks are different

Game Days:

• • For information on Uniform and Appearance requirements please see the LEE Band Handbook HERE

  • Band members must travel with the band

  • Call time for Saturday football games is usually early afternoon in order to accommodate practice, dinner, changing into uniforms, and loading buses

  • Student Meals are a service provided by the LEE BPA.  It is an affordable way for students to eat dinner before games and competitions 

    • For our Student Meal information for this year, please see our Student Meals page HERE  

    • Directors have peanut butter, jelly, and bread as a backup for students who forget to make pre-game dinner arrangements

  • Band Buddy gifts are a LEE Band tradition: 

    • Each student is paired with another student

    • Band Buddies exchange a small, inexpensive gift on game days 

    • Gifts usually include snacks for the students to enjoy before boarding buses but creativity is encouraged!

Marching Competitions:

• • Competitions take place most weekends in late September and throughout October 

  • Unless you are volunteering as a chaperone or rig crew, expect to pay entrance fees to attend marching competitions 

  • You may purchase Shout Outs at competitions for a nominal cash fee.  Shout Outs are messages of encouragement that event announcers read over the loudspeaker right before the band performs 

  • LEE BPA organizes the sale of event patches for marching competitions (Batch of Patches). Patches may be added to letter jackets or saved as souvenirs 

  • LEE BPA hosts a UIL Send-Off Celebration before the UIL Marching Competition to create excitement and wish the Band success:

    • While students rehearse on the lot, parents decorate the band hall with individual posters celebrating their band student and/or band section 

    • LEE BPA grills burgers and feeds the entire band after rehearsal

    • We cheer the band as they load the buses for the competition

Fall Band Events

Meet the Vols

• • School-wide event

  • Kick-off pep rally for the new school year

  • Introduces all LEE HS sports teams, pep/cheer, and band to the community

  • LEE Band performs 

  • Spirit merchandise is for sale

  • Come early to get a seat!

            LEE-esta

• • Occurs during Homecoming week

  • A school-wide event that engages the LEE community

  • Includes a parade through the surrounding neighborhood followed by a pep rally (with a DJ) in the parking lot

  • Food and spirit merchandise for sale

Spring Band Activities

Jazz Band 

• • The Jazz band, the LEE-Tones, begins rehearsals at the conclusion of marching season and continues them throughout the Spring 

  • For more information on Jazz Band, see our Jazz Band page HERE

Indoor Percussion 

• • The Indoor Percussion ensemble usually participates in the indoor percussion competition season every other year. 

  • The competition season is February through April and involves some travel

  • Rehearsals during a competition year begin at the conclusion of the marching season

  • For more information on our percussionists, see our Percussion page HERE

Winter Guard 

• • The Winter Guard competition season is February through April and involves some travel

  • Rehearsals begin at the conclusion of the marching season

  • For more information regarding Winter Guard, see our Guard page HERE

Concert Ensembles

• • Our three Concert Ensembles are Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Concert Band

  • Made up of students from all grade levels, these concert season ensembles perform throughout the school year and participate in the TMEA UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Contest in April.

  • For more information on our three Concert Ensembles, see our Ensembles page HERE

Spring Band Events

Fiesta Parades

• • The band marches every other year (even years) in the Battle of Flowers daytime parade.

Band Banquet

• • End-of-year celebration for the students held in May

  • Special recognition for Seniors

  • Families may buy tickets to attend the dinner and awards

  • There is a dance following the awards (students only)

LEE Band Parent Association (LEE BPA)

Primary Purpose:

• • Support the LEE Band program in matters not covered by NEISD:

    • Raising funds

    • Facilitating band activities and events

    • Celebrating band accomplishments

    • For more information on the LEE BPA, see our page Band Parent Association page HERE

BPA Volunteers:

• • The BPA and the support it provides relies on volunteer assistance

  • There are several volunteer opportunities during the marching season and throughout the year

  • No experience is necessary to volunteer

  • Trained people are at every volunteer event and can help and guide you in the tasks required 

  • For more information about volunteering, please see our Volunteer page HERE

BPA Fundraisers:

• • While fundraisers vary year to year, below is information about standard fundraisers:

    • Concessions

  • Concessions are by far the band’s top fundraiser every year. 

  • Football concessions are the biggest operation, require the most volunteers, and make the most money. Football concession proceeds are not pooled and divided among NEISD’s 7 high schools. Instead, LEE Band makes money only on the football concessions it works (LEE games and non-LEE playoff games to which we are assigned)

  • Proceeds for all other sporting events throughout the year (volleyball, basketball, swimming, track, baseball, and soccer) go into a “General Pool” and are divided according to a percentage system agreed upon by the North East Band Parent Association (the Presidents of NEISD’s 7 High School Band Parent Associations)

  • Fall Band BBQ and Spring Dinner

    • One of BPA’s top fundraisers

    • Students are encouraged to sell as many tickets to friends and family as possible

    • Silent auction (donations greatly appreciated)

  • Fiesta Parade Seats 

    • One of the BPA’s biggest fundraisers is the sale of Battle of Flowers and Fiesta Flambeau parade tickets.

    • While the band marches in Battle of Flowers parade every other year, BPA sells tickets to both parades every year.

    • We have one of the best parade sections on the entire parade route! (in front of the Alamo and much is in the shade).

    • LEE BPA is responsible for managing ticket sales and managing its assigned parade section (setting up and taking down chairs, assisting parade viewers in our section). Volunteers are needed!

      • Tickets will be sold to the general public using a systematic and fair process.

      • Sale dates and details will be announced in the Fall. 

Se habla español.

Si tiene preguntas, puede enviar un correo electrónico a bpa@volsband.org y alguien le responderá en español.