This is my FAVORITE time of year!!! The cooler weather, jackets, finally the bugs leaving us alone at the field, and the lights.  If you are a freshman, you are thinking - what lights? 

The light . . . . SHOW!!!!  October 26th

The last week of regular season is SENIOR week.  I am SOOOO looking forward to this as well as my senior, Emma.   

There is a lot going on during this week but to celebrate the year is the half-time performance with the stadium lights out. Planning should start soon so I am giving you a heads up because you don't want to spend the night before scrambling for this one.  

Ask your cadet what their costume will be - every week until they decide!  But start prepping NOW! 

I have included a link above for last year's light show (maybe - it hasn't been working).  This is SOOOOOOOO much fun to watch!  It's a combination of Halloween and walking Christmas trees rolled into one! The kids come to the last game of the year (Skiatook again this year) dressed up in whatever costume they can come up with.  Granted it HAS to work around their ability to play their instrument... but I have seen some creative ones.  Bacon.... Jake from State Farm.... lots of various animals.... and our fearless leader from last year brought her light saber in order to conduct in the dark!

What will be needed are strands of battery operated lights.  The best way to get these is to use one of those 40% off coupons over a period of a few days to get some from Hobby Lobby ($5-10 each without the coupon) or similar.  They should be battery operated (very important) (and helpful to have switches that the cadets can turn on and off).  Amazon has some cool ones that are light ropes, blinking, various colors, etc.  Easy to go around big and small bodies.... :) Also, a cool thing is to think of ways to attach to big instruments if you have a base drum, tuba or mellophone player!

Don't forget the shoes - it is nice for the kids to have lights on their feet so they can see where they are going - not the easiest thing to attach, though.  I am still working on this one.  I bought itty bitty pill lights that I tried using last year - but could not find a way to make them stay attached.  If you wrap a small flashlight to their shoes, it does pinch and become uncomfortable for your child with all the marching they do. 

Whatever you choose, the hard part is coming up with a way to attach them to the costume in just a few short minutes.  Velcro anyone?  (I do have a kiddo that dislikes the sound but will have to deal once a year. For my sake!)  They will not be able to put the lights on their clothing until the actual performance so you (or another cadet) will only have a few minutes to help out before they take the field.  BRING extra safety pins... just sayin'!

So, the challenge is before you.  What will you come up with?  If you have any questions, please feel free to holler at myself or any other parent. (**if anyone has any good ideas for attaching small lights to shoes, please let me know!) 

don't forget to watch last year's video above!!
​my apologies, I tried putting the link but if it doesn't work, search:
                       YouTube for Collinsville Crimson Cadets 2017 light show

FYI - anyone working concessions, they will close the sales windows for volunteers to come watch the performance - and to make it safer and not have anyone walking around the stands while it's dark because the stadium lights are completely turned off -

We still need volunteers!! Please sign up using the Charms App!  As of today:  

*cook is needed (one)
*food line persons (two needed)
*prep and restock which is done before the game and after 4th quarter (two needed)
*roamers (two)  
*window cashier (three)
​
This is a great opportunity for freshman parents to get some hours for next year for their cadets.  It is nice that the Senior parents should have a night off for this one evening!

OK, so we have the most amazing band directors around .... but just wanted to post specifically about how excited (we) all are about our new Drum Majors!!!

Congrats Abby Baldwin and Brendan Marler!! Can't wait to see you lead this awesomest, funnest, talented-est Cadet group.  They are ready to take this year on with smiles and ... well, we will see. 

So, other than at football games, the Cadets perform at three contests each year: 

*Owasso (9/29)
*Broken Arrow (10/6)
*OBA (Oklahoma Bandmasters Association) - otherwise known as state contest (10/27)  

Attendance is mandatory at all!

OBA is usually held in Yukon but is rotated every few years - and this year, it is in Broken Arrow!!! 

The kids work so hard to be ready for these - parents are ENCOURAGED, if possible, to attend the contests.  This is when all their early morning practices pay off!! Last year we had several FIRST place finishes!  The performances are by bands from all over the state.

These contests are all day ordeals - Mr. Mackey has the cadets practice in the morning at the field before leaving, practice after arrival, then they have their prelim performance, and if they make finals, they have finals performance.  We flex lunch and dinner around the times of performances.

So, here are some inside tips for parents who are first-timers: 

**BRING - Have your Cadet bring a refillable water bottle to use at the contest.  The boosters provide a large thermos of water the cadets can refill from.  They will need it!

HAIR - any cadet with hair that needs to be pinned up:  BRING extra BOBBIE PINS and extra hair bands!!! Hair must be kept up pinned under the hat for performance!

The CCC food committee is amazing and gathers donations throughout the year - so the kids are fed for all contests.  
*Breakfast
*Lunch
*Dinner
are all provided.  In the past, it has been Sonic breakfast burritos or McDonalds sausage biscuits.   
I believe this year we have Panera on board!  Thanks to all who make this happen!  Any parent who goes to the contest and would like to help set up the tents for shade, the tables, and serve food is more than welcome!  You are free to watch the other bands performances in between meals.  (If you know of any other local companies that are willing to sponsor food for the band, get in touch with someone from the Food Committee.) 

ALLERGIES: If your kiddo has any allergies, please inform someone on the committee so that we can provide alternate foods. 

COSTS:  there is a gate entry fee for each contest (OBA is more than Owasso and BA) - average cost for prelims is $10-$15 at the door and prelims + finals is more $$.  Collinsville has always made finals!  The host school does not allow any movement while a band is performing on the field, so be sure to get to the location - to park and walk - in plenty of time because they will stop anyone from climbing up and down the stadium stairs during performances.  Suggested amount of time is one hour before!

SUPPLIES: cadets travel on buses in black shorts worn under bibbers and show shirts, black socks, black shoes.  **RECOMMENDED - purchase a strong hanger that jackets and bibbers can be hung on - the plastic ones will break easily and cause the uniform to easily get damaged or dirty.  The uniforms are kept in garment bags (part of your supply cost) - Cadets should label these as soon as they get them - or take them to get their name embroidered.  

LABEL ALL HATBOXES!!! A cool way to keep them separate is to find a unique patterned tape that can be taken off the box at the end of the year.  (be sure to clean off any sticky residue) All the hatboxes are identical and they can be easily mixed up with 80+ hatboxes all in a pile at contest.  Be careful to close the lid carefully - if it breaks - the hat falls out - there are not any spares. 

Plumes: We have unique plumes that are only given to the Cadet right before performance. 

Gauntlets - Are passed out right before contest - worn around wrists - are white - and need to be cleaned!  (volunteers?)  

Hat wraps - given out soon.  Cadets will keep these in hat boxes for the year. 

All uniforms, gauntlets, hat wraps, hats and boxes must be turned in at the end of the year.  Cadets get to keep their garmet bag.

(**another topic for later will be individual photos - which will be taken right before the uniforms are turned in...)

Randomness - kids will sleep or visit in between breaks of performances.  There is not a lot of extra room on the buses (three buses driven by parent volunteers) other than instruments and uniforms so they cannot bring much other than a pillow with them... slide (sandals) are acceptable in between performances if they want to take shoes off - they walk around on a parking lot.

Please pass along to freshmen parents whom you feel might need this info!

OK, so we are going to try this out and get a feel for what kind of information is needed. My goal is to get the conversation going to keep everyone in the loop.  I am someone who likes to plan waaaaay ahead of time!

Everyone is working hard to make this website really great - so feel free to let any of us know what else needs to be added or talked about. 

I would love to keep these comments going - from different students each week - they can be anonomous or named, up to the student.... and parents too! 

Thoughts from a senior CCC student - 
"Band has taught me time management, discipline and self-reliance. The things I look forward to are any kind of things that people will do just messing around during band camp and the analogies Mr. Mackey tries to make."  ~Emma

Thoughts from (this) proud band parent - 
"I love seeing my child(ren) achieve these amazing goals and become proud of their new talent.  As freshmen, they see marching band as impossible to learn - marching, playing the music, and knowing where they need to be on the field.  As sophomores and juniors, they grow and become more proficient. As seniors, the time has gone way too fast and they realize all the things they have accomplished, which is a great platform to begin the next phase of their lives."  

Personally, I have a sophomore percussionist (girl) and a senior flute player - also girl.  Band is a LOT of time and hard work but it is the most rewarding activity and the kids bond like family!  Be ready to be TIRED until November!  The progress from the beginning of the year as they start to put the show together until the last contest at OBA (location is closer to home this year - YIPPEE!!! - more on that later) is completely AMAZING!  Be ready to celebrate with a FUN trip in the spring!!!


To begin with, let's start with what to look forward to and "supplies" that are needed now: 

Best way to stay in the loop is to join the boosters - even if you are not able to make the meetings, you will receive emails with all the info!  We are always looking for new ideas and more hands to help!  Cost is very affordable!

2 gallon water containers are a definate for band camp - many people use something like this (pictured below) which can be found at Sam's or Costco or similar.  Fill it completely with ice water!  

Cool rags - get at Target or Walmart - soak in ice water and place around neck or over head to stay cool.  Definately helps!

Sunscreen - it's Oklahoma. Enough said.

black marching shoes - will be ordered together all as a group so be ready for that soon!

black socks!  go shopping and have these BEFORE the first home football game (Aug. 31st vs. Oologah)!! 

black shorts - goes with their show shirt (which is provided for each Cadet by the boosters) before the first game

At home football games, kids are given the opportunity to purchase a meal for $5 after their halftime performance and will have a break before coming back to play at 3rd quarter.  Be sure to give your kids $$ before the game so they are not searching you down in the stands!!!  The costs for concessions vary when we travel so be ready to give them additional $$.  The boosters provide snacks and drinks at each game (gatorade, water, chips, etc) but the kids work up an appetite so they will be HUNGRY after performing!  

If you plan on attending away games, the Cadets travel TO the location together by bus but are available to ride home with parents afterwards.  You MUST send Mr. Mackey an email the week of the football game informing him of your intention to take your student home.  No Cadet left behind!

Just as reminder: Band game schedule - 
Aug. 31 CHS vs Oologah
Sept. 7 CHS vs. Bartlesville
Sept 14 travel to Ponca City - travel times vary but on average, the bus leaves the band room about 5pm (adjusted depending on distance), Cadets travel in their bibbers and show shirt. There are racks in a trailer to carry the uniforms - kids are expected to keep up with their uniforms and bags.  
Sept. 21 - travel to Claremore
Sept 28 - CHS vs. Memorial - Homecoming game
Oct. 5 - travel to Tahlequah - this is played at NSU stadium - which is very steep.  Anyone with asthma should bring an inhaler (personal experience here)
Oct 12 - CHS vs East Central 
Oct. 18 - travel to Pryor (Thursday game).  If you notice, this is Fall Break.  We WILL have practices daily during Fall Break to prepare for OBA contest that are required by all Cadets to attend - please do not plan on going out of town!
Oct. 26 - CHS vs Skiatook. Last home game. SENIOR night. Lights out performance - just an all-around fun evening!
Nov. 1 - travel to Rogers High School (Rogers does not have a football stadium) - game is played at East Central High School stadium on 11th between Garnett and 129th E Ave.

Please holler at me anytime!
Cadets - feel free to comment at anything I may have missed!  

Rachel Wight
parent of Senior/flute Emma Stephens and Sophomore/percussionist Zoe Grace Stephens