Colorguard Parent Meeting

Century Band Boosters

Colorguard Meeting Minutes

July 9, 2024

Mr Dunlop Band Director 

Mr Dunlop introduced Zach Dye. He is the Caption Head of the Colorguard. Under Zach is Morgan, Brie, Dylan, Sam.

It is exciting to have Zach come work for us. He has so much experience. He performed for the Carolina Crowns Drum Core. Top 5 in the world. Taught in several schools in Indiana. Indiana and Texas are the 2 best states for Colorguard. 

All official communication comes through Patty Battin, our Secretary. 

Along with the meeting minutes is the hand out from Mr. Dunlop that speaks to the financial part of Band and Colorguard. The calendar will be updated. We try to keep to the schedule on the calendar. Sometimes the times have to be tweaked but we will let you know that. 

Zach Dye

I’ve been with this school in a limited capacity for about 3 years. Doing just choreography sometimes filling in a couple times a week. There was a lot of feedback last year from colorguard staff and parents that things were not moving smoothly. Things were hindering us more than helping us. It seemed unfair experience for the students and unfair for parents who were getting no communication. One thing you can expect is a severe level of over-communication, when possible. I think we all play an important role in making things run smoothly. You put in a lot of time and I feel you shouldn’t be in the dark. 

A little of my history to expand on what Mr. Dunlop has said, I am from Indiana where we are born and bred to do this activity. Top 5 Nationally in Winterguard season was 30 minutes from where I grew up. Did about 7 years working at a school that competes at the World Class level in Winterguard. When I started with them they were experiencing a major downfall. They were one of the most historical schools. They were the first ever WGI championships and were in WGI Finals every year until about 2 years before I got there. There was some rebuilding and by the time I left there they got a bronze medal at WGI again. I feel confident I can carry that with me here to help support your students. 

One thing I told Mr. Dunlop before I took the job was a high level of trust on his part. The way I approach this activity as a whole is radically different than how I have seen it at this school in my time here. I think being competitive is fun. I think winning is fun, not that it is everything but it is fun. So I teach and motivate that way. I think of Colorguard as  more of a competitive team instead of an after school social club. I think we have enough support to get this done. 

I think there will be some growing pains so I want to lay out some ideas for a culture shift along with expectations I have going forward. 

Before getting into that I’d like to talk about the team.

Dylan is coming back as our weapon tech. He is fun and knowledgeable and young. The students can relate to him. 

Morgan is phenomenal at what she does. Fall season she is heavily involved with the band and the colorguard. Morgan is running the dance class. Creating and curating a technique book for us. Which the students have already learned part of. The idea is that even if we are not there perhaps at a sectional the students can press play and students know exactly what to do. Stretch, Warm-up, Body warm-up, Equipment warm-up. Giving them the tools. 

Bri is going to be a flag tech. We all know and love Bri. She has so much patience. It will be nice for the cadet guard to have her there with them. 

I am bringing on my friend Sam. She is a director of Cascadia Winterguard. She is from Las Vegas. She will be our main Flag person. She will be building a technique book for the flag program.  

Delegation is not my strength, I try to have a hand in everything so with Morgan and Sam’s techniques I am getting videos of all this and I am giving feedback to them. Working together. 

As Caption Head I need to make sure my staff are set up for success. 

I have asked the students to communicate directly with me on missing a rehearsal. I have a google drive that I enter the information into so all my staff have access to that information. 

If you are trying to get a hold of me the best way is to text me, email or the band app. The quickest way is text, 2nd is the band app. I do have a school email as well dyez@hsd.k12.or.us  I will not be giving the students my phone number. 

Attendance is key for colorguard. We don’t have a class for our students like the band does. If they miss a rehearsal they will be behind. If too many times missed there will have to be a discussion with parents and student. 

July practices on Thursdays from 5pm - 8pm. If your student can come we appreciate that. We understand that it is summertime. I still would like to be told if your student will not make it to a July practice. 

I don’t believe in waiting until band camp for the guard to get the music so that was a condition of mine to take this job. I have part 1 of the music and the students will be learning choreography. Wanting to keep up with the band. 

Rehearsal attire is key. Long hair to be up all the time. No pajama pants. Athletic wear, tennis shoes, water bottles, hair ties. We will be getting flag bags and students are responsible for their own equipment. Everyone will be wearing gloves across the board. 

We will have spin families to have sectionals. 

We would like to have Guard Parents involved with the board to have a voice to speak for us as well. Guard parents would like to have 2 parents to share the load. 

We are also trying to pair veteran parents with new parents. If you are interested in this then reach out to Kristin Keezel at:  keezelkr@gmail.com This will help once fall season gets going and things can get confusing.