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Posts posted by FloMoParent
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man, I remember when this had several of the top schools all participating in the marching competition. I'm glad this is still happening.
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What happened to Leander and Keller?
I had the pleasure of speaking with LeanderMomma shortly after the SASR Finals announcement. While it's safe to say both of us were clearly disappointed, I don't think either of us were particularly surprised. I certainly wasn't. Yes, there were questions and a desire to see the Prelims Recap, but right then it was time to acknowledge, accept, and move forward with some new faces in Finals. Leander and Keller will both be back.
So how did Keller get here?
Too much has been made of the recent significant turnover in Keller's staff. Sure, it doesn't help to lose an extremely talented Director who has been there for 28 years. Especially one who spent several of his summers while at Keller on the Cavaliers staff too. He was very instrumental in leading the Cavalier's to a string of DCI National Campionships. (Kind of helps explain Keller's hornline, doesn't it?) The longterm Assistant Director stepped up as expected and was hired as the new Director. The unexpected part was that he would suddenly resign at the end of his first marching season. A semi-plausible explanation was offered by the school district and the resigning Director, but clearly there was more to the story and full disclosure behind such an abrupt departure was not forthcoming. Questions remain. But the season had ended with Keller's second appearance in the BOA Grand National Championship Finals. So how disruptive could have been? We had weathered the storm and marched forward into concert season with a recently retired director from within the district who accepted the short-term role of Interim Director through the remaining concert season. In June, as this marching season was about to begin the program didn't have a permanent Director. The new Assistant Director, who was previously third in line and also had significant tenure with Keller was approached about assuming the position of Director. He agreed. That meant he was taking over a marching show that was primarily put in place by his two recent predecessors along with the design team.
Turnover at the top generally has other consequences and there has been some minor additional impact, but nothing outside of normal expectations. It's time to look elsewhere for root causes.
Others have pointed out that the last time Keller missed Finals at the SASR was 2014, but that's only part of the story. A couple days later Keller advanced to the Texas SMBC and haven't missed Finals since then.
ANYWHERE!
So yesterday hurt, but in my opinion, and that of others, the seeds for this outcome were planted years ago. After the 2019 show the program moved in a new direction regarding design. I don't have an explanation why, but it was the beginning of a subtle downward spiral. (Watch videos of the 2015-2019 shows versus 2020-2024 shows.) I also can't explain why there hasn't been a proper course correction, other than yesterday being the first full-blown failure. But the declining scores and placements have been there for years now. We finally reached a point where, to use the UIL terminology, content and design problems couldn't be overcome by outstanding levels of achievement. Perhaps a stronger run, like at Area B, might have delayed this outcome temporarily. But don't forget, Keller made Finals at BOA Bedford by just one tenth of a point. This bill was due and payment was going to be demanded.
So what's my point? It's time for change and to look past things that can be true. It's time to see and clearly understand the whole truth before taking impulsive action.
It starts with the design team because there is a limit to what the kids performance can do to overcome design problems. The frustrating part is that while this forum is filled with parents and students who don’t completely understand the subtle nuance of how this is what keeps them out of Finals, Keller knows better. But they still got blindly sucked into the trap. This is likely going to be a rough ride, particularly for the Director, but he's not the problem either. Hang in there Mr. Bloss. You did most of what could be done and the show got better along the way. I still believe you are the correct person to lead the program forward. You inherited this design and therefore the consequences were not your responsibility.
But fixing the root cause is.
TLDR: Three Directors in two years has not been the issue, at all. Five years of declining designs finally caught up to Keller.
(My daughter *was* a teacher in KISD until this year, I've been very involved in the on-goings, and failures of the KISD)
Part of the problem with Keller is that the Keller ISD school board. They want to run every aspect of every school as if they are the Super, the principals, and the teachers. You can see a related story about how the KISD BoT requires their seal of approval for any theatre performance. Additionally, they have an excessive debt. They want to just blame the state for it, but their debt is above and beyond the failure of the TexLege to fully fund public schools.
{I know this is touching on a political topic, I kept it as basic as I could} -
They really should change the music caption to "the Hebron Hawks award for musical excellence"
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What happened when they called Ronald Reagan director to the parking lot
Hope there isn't an emergency.
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It’s rare we see a UIL band make the leap to the BOA world with such commitment.
Amazing work from Argyle, great things to come and great things happening as we speak!
Argyle is on the western border of Marcus HS, the high school is in Flower Mound town limits. Argyle ISD (and HS) is a growing community.
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Maybe all the super regionals could get their own trophies?
That would solve the issue
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this sounds like a great idea.
I could see MFA/BOA dragging their feet unless the other Super Regional contests get a similar trophy. I could see them thinking that they don't want SASR to be thought of any different/greater than the other SR (St. Louis/Indy) -
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BOA DFW has always been a favorite of mine. Really good bands, top competition, great stuff.
- Tubalord11, Vidal28 and Nny14
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From the LISD (north) football side of things:
Marcus lost in OT to Prosper
Hebron lost to Allen
Lewisville defeated McKenny Boyd
Flower Mound lost to Denton Guyer -
By outro, do you mean the thing the announcer reads as they are rolling everything off the field after the performance? If so, thanks for noticing and listening--I wrote that! (Rhyming something with Midwest Clinic, not so easy!)
We do need to have the script to the introduction and the closing accolades posted here.
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SHARK WORLD!!!
Too cute- Parkwoodmom and b_radon
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I have been able to watch a little bit so far. I liked what CTJ brought last night. Was my first time to see them this year. With most CTJ shows I need to see them a few times to really get into it. I can't wait to see them twice more. Great show.
Marcus, I was blown away. I thought their drill was amazing (again, I am a novice and don't know anything). I'm a bit OCD, straight lines and precise shapes really please my eye, and hurt when they are off. Marcus marching was eye candy to me.I'm sorry that I didn't get to see Ronald Reagan. I am sure they put on an amazing show and I will see them in semi's
Vista Ridge - great job. I want to comment more, but I was busy getting the house ready for people to come over so I was a bit distracted. What I saw and heard I really liked.
FloMo - That was the best run I've seen for them so far. I could not hear any tone issues like were mentioned for UIL. ABSOLUTELY LOVED THE SUSA FEATURE!!!
Let's go #TeamTexas! Bring Kevin back south for the winter.- Mash, jmj and CTJBandPops
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Also quick question, is the times listed for the performances on the BOA website with the time zone in Indianapolis? Just wondering bc I was gonna catch Marcus at 5:30, but it seems they’ve already gone, but just wanted to confirm. Looks like Texas time is an hour behind the times on tue schedule.
Yes, the times posted are EST. We are CST. I'll attach a file with the times in CST.
(This is from the FMHS Parent page)- Parkwoodmom and VinoGirl
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Marcus just performed in preliminaries, I thought (through my non-expert eyes and ears) that they had an amazing performance. Their movement was crisp and looked great! It is Marcus so you know they sounded great too. Good way to open the #TeamTexas showing!
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It’s good to see you again BTW.
good to be back
Yeah, last year was, well let's just say it was. I missed this community. I think I was in a funk not being able to see any shows so I just turned the whole thing off. -
You are correct, BOA - SA Super Regional is not currently on the FMHS calendar.
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Not too late! ?
Thanks!
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I'm sad that I am just now seeing this and the store is closed. I am sure there would have been many FloMo parents that would have bought merch.
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Start of a new year. Let's bring this to the top.
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There are a lot of great musical moments that were amazing.
However, the best experience, and most memorable, for me has to be the FMHS 2014 Grand Nationals Finals performance. I've recounted it here many times. But having both my children (one senior one freshman) performing at the same event, amongst the best in the nation, and I was there to see them. I can't recall anything else that has ever moved me so much. -
Thank goodness this was "Left pending in committee"
We REALLY need to get members of the TexLege that are friendly towards public education. I'm not talking red/blue or left/right but members of the lege that actually support public schools, teachers, and school activities. There are FAR too many members (both sides) that give lip service and then pass legislation that actually HURTS our schools and our kids (and in turn our communities).
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The "tips, hints, and great things to know" for band parents
in Band Parents
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I've kinda been away for a couple years, but I'm glad to see this is still active