The DSHS Tiger Band is directed by Mr. Derek Woods, Mr. Matt Ehlers, Daniel Cuevas and Brian Mayer.

In addition, there are many student leaders that give guidance to the students. There are four drum majors, who are responsible for making things happen on the field. Each section of the band and color guard has one or more student leaders, known as section leaders, who are also responsible for giving support and guidance to the students. The section leaders are the first point of contact for students when they have questions.

The DS Band Boosters provide support to the directors, students and the program in many ways including sending the director’s weekly announcements and communicating about fundraisers and volunteer needs. The email accounts you used when creating your account on BoosterHub will be used for these communications. If you are not receiving any e-mails from the boosters, please contact the DS Band Booster President at President@dsbandboosters.org.

Communication

All communication will be sent via BoosterHub and email. 

Band Calendar 

BoosterHub and the weekly updates will have the most current dates and times.

You may add this url to your google or outlook calendar.

Https://dsband.boosterhub.com/ical-stream 

Dropping off and Picking up your student at the HS

When dropping off or picking up your student, please follow the rules below. Before and after rehearsals or events, it is important that the driveway loop and the loading dock stay clear so that students can safely get set up and tear down with their equipment.

DO pull as far around the loop as you can

DO park in C lot to wait for your student

Do NOT pull into or park in the loading dock area

Do NOT block the loading dock or staff parking entrances

Do NOT wait, sit or park in the driveway loop. Our school buses and charter buses must be able to safely stage for student loading and unloading in that area.

Thank you for helping to keep our Tiger Band Family safe!

When does my student get her/his formal band uniform?

All formal band uniforms are stored in the uniform room in the HS band hall, formal uniforms will not be taken home. The day of a game, contest or concert, the students will be given a specific time period when they can pick up their uniform at the uniforms room, and get changed into their uniform. On these days, the student will need to bring their gray t-shirt, gray Lycra shorts, marching shoes, long socks and their gloves. During marching season, please refer to the weekly announcement sheet to identify whether the students are wearing the black or white bibbers (pants) for that event. If they are wearing black bibbers, students will need to bring their long black socks and black marching (Viper) shoes. When they wear the white bibbers, they will need to bring their white marching (Viper) shoes and white long socks. After the event (game, contest or concert) the students will change and turn their uniform back in to the volunteers in the Uniform Room.

What happens on game days?

On game days, students report to the band hall as soon as school as school is dismissed, to prepare for the game by gathering all their equipment, practicing music one last time, and changing into their uniforms. For home games, students do have the ability to leave to get meals, but need to be back at their designated time (the Band Council also sells meals before home games as a fundraiser for their activities, so consider supporting this very worthwhile venture by purchasing your home game meals from them!). When the second quarter of a game is almost over, the band leaves the stands and goes onto the track to begin warming up. The Tiger Band performs their marching show on the field during the half-time break. At home games, they remain on the track in front of the crowd, playing spirit songs to pump up the crowd for the beginning of the third quarter, before returning to the stands for the rest of the game.

After the game, the band remains at the stadium until most of the crowd has left. Sometimes, they will run through the show one more time in the stands. Members then march out as a group, and return to the high school band hall. If the Tiger Band has been in formal uniform there is a strict procedure that the students must follow to return their uniforms to the uniform room, which may take up to half an hour or more to process all the students. If you are waiting for your child, we welcome your assistance with unloading trailers and buses. The volunteers who have been working the event would love some extra hands helping them get things unloaded and put away! No training necessary to help, just go up and ask “How may I help you?”

What happens on contest days?

The Tiger Band usually competes in 4-5 marching contests each season, in addition to any UIL contests. We compete in contests to get feedback on our performance from qualified judges. From this, we can assess our progress in marching, musicality, performance, and overall development of our program. In addition, it is exciting to see how we line up against other bands across the State.

Contests are generally a full-day affair, with report time early in the morning and return time late at night. The time that the Tiger Band reports to the band hall to leave for a contest depends upon the performance slot they are assigned. The Directors’ weekly email will always inform you of the report time. Students will get their uniforms and load the trailer. After a brief practice, the students board the buses for the contest. There are usually two rounds of a contest – prelims and finals. You can stay tuned to BoosterHub and the Tiger Band Boosters Facebook page to see these results when they are available. Parents are welcome and encouraged to attend contests – you can serve as a chaperone and ride the bus, or you may bring your own car and cheer from the stands. The band boosters provide students with a meal (usually a sandwich, chips and cookie) and a snack. If it is going to be a particularly long day, however, you may want to send an extra snack with your student. Upon returning to the school, all equipment must be unloaded and uniforms turned in before students can leave. The volunteers who have been working the event would love some extra hands helping them get things unloaded and put away! No training necessary to help, just go up and ask “How may I help you?”

What happens at practice?

Practice may be held at the high school or at the high school stadium. During the summer, practices are held according the the directors schedule. Please check the BoosterHub Calendar and weekly updates for the current times.

The keys to surviving summer practices are comfortable clothing, plenty of sunblock and HYDRATION!

During the school year, most practices are held in the morning, so students will probably want a clean shirt and deodorant before going to classes. For Monday night or any other evening practices, many students bring a ‘second lunch’ to have after school before practice.

How can parents help with practices?

Summer band volunteer opportunities are in BoosterHub under the Volunteer Tab. We have a great need for volunteers, especially in the General Assistance category.

General Assistance in the morning typically means that you are sitting under the med tent, assisting students with heat-related issues, filling water jugs, and tending to blisters and scrapes. Bring your own chair, we'll provide the rest!

General Assistance in the afternoon means that you are doing these same tasks, inside, in the A/C.

Thanks for signing up! Go Tiger Band! 

Are there special clothing requirements for Monday night practices?

For evening practices (typically Mondays, occasionally on a Tuesday), all students are required to wear solid white t-shirts. This is so that the directors can observe the movement of the band as a whole, without anyone standing out because of their clothing. Parents are encouraged to come up and sit in the stands for the last 30-45 minutes of practice to watch the students run through the show. They appreciate the crowd and the applause!

What is the difference between Contest Meals, Away Game Meals, and Home Game Meals?

All meal packages are offered at registration in early August. 

Contest Meals are required for all students and are served to students the day of a contest. It can include one or two meals, depending on the length of the day. Contest meals are typically a boxed meal (sandwich, chips, cookie, bottle of water) from caterers such as Jason’s Deli, Schlotzsky’s, Chick-Fil-A, or can be a pizza meal (2-3 slices of pizza, bottle of water). You and/or your student select their meal choice through the online registration forms.

Away Game Meals are provided by various caterers. Typically, these meals are eaten at the school before loading the bus, but sometimes are taken with them on the bus, depending on the schedule. 

Home Game Meals are offered by the Band Council. The meals can be either pizza, cookie, and soda or a hamburger/hot dog, cookie, and soda. These home game meals are eaten at the high school prior to the football game. 

If you do not register for the optional Away Game Meal or the optional Home Game Meal, you MUST provide a meal for your student.

Do I need to send food or snacks with my child on Contest Days?

The Band Boosters plan out snack breaks for the students, as needed. The Directors work with the Contest Meals team to determine the number of meals and snacks needed for each event, keeping the students refueled through the day. If your child needs very specific snacks, or needs a LOT of food during the day, you may choose to send additional healthy snacks with your student.

What snacks are students given at the football games?

Snacks include fruit (a banana or an apple) and another small snack (pretzels, fruit snacks, etc.) Our volunteers do their best to ensure the students with dietary restrictions have safe snacks, but please ask your student to double check the labels on the snacks to ensure they do not contain any restricted contents.

Does anyone take pictures during the games, contests, or concerts?

Yes, the Band Boosters have some very dedicated parents who take LOTS of pictures of the students in the stands and on the field.  Pictures are posted weekly in SmugMug. The SmugMug account is accessible via the band website at dsband.boosterhub.com. A percent of the photos purchased goes back to the Band Boosters, and ultimately to the Tiger Band.