Visual Performance Ensemble

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

2010-02-09T09:52:00.001-05:00

We will NOT rehearse today. The bad weather is just starting and we don't know what it will do as the day goes on. Plus, NOBODY is at school today because it is a Code 0 (usually it's just a code 2) which means the weather will probably get really bad.

I bet we will be back to normal by the next rehearsal (Thursday night). Remember that most of the other guards in AIA are having the same weather we are. In fact, Northern Virginia is going to be out of school even longer than us. Even in Virginia Beach they missed school last week. Fortunately, you all have worked hard and our show is complete! We just have to clean, clean, clean when we get back.

Be safe and enjoy another day stuck at home!

Snow Plans for next week

2010-02-04T10:00:00.002-05:00

Hope everyone is enjoyed their snow days and staying safe. 99% of the time we will NOT practice on a snow day because of the low temps during our normal practice time. However, more bad weather is predicted this weekend and who knows when we will be back at school.

So for next Tuesday and Thursday, if we are out of school for bad weather, we will still practice, but from 1-3pm instead of 6-8:30pm. Hopefully the roads will be safe to travel during the warmest part of the day. The only person who should have a conflict is Jeremy who might have Pit Orchestra practice. If you know you will need a ride, talk to people NOW to arrange a carpool if we have to practice from 1-3pm next week. Make sure Amber has your phone number to contact you if there are any changes. Please share this message with anyone who is not part of this FB group (I will also post it on www.ecgvpe.blogspot.com).

In the meantime, please MENTALLY practice. I know all of your equipment is at LMS, but you can listen to the music and watch the videos on this page.

FYI....the Brookville competition will not be rescheduled. AIA has credited us the competition entry fee that will carry over into next year since we cannot afford a bus to any additional competitions. We are still looking for opportunities to perform before the Feb. 27 Deep Run Competition (basketball game, public prevew show, etc.).

Brookville Itinerary

2010-01-20T16:45:00.003-05:00

VPE Schedule, Brookville HS Competition

Thu, Jan.21 Practice at LMS from 6-8:30pm

Mon, Jan. 25 Practice at LMS from 6-8:30pm

Tue, Jan. 25 Practice at LMS from 6-8:30pm

Thu, Jan. 28 Practice at LMS from 6-8:30pm

Fri, Jan. 29 Practice at LMS from 3:00-5:00pm

Saturday, January 30, Brookville High School Competition:

Please eat breakfast AND lunch before you leave to come to LMS. Drink water throughout the day so that you do not become dehydrated.

1:00pm Meet at LMS auxiliary gym wearing your scrubs and shoes. (Bring clipboards and hair clips!)
We will rehearse with all props and equipment. Do not put on any make-up until after we practice.

4:00pm Load props and equipment onto Big Blue (chaperones needed to assist)

4:30pm Depart LMS (use the bathroom BEFORE we leave)

4:45pm Arrive at Brookville HS. Unload props and equipment to holding area
(need parent help)

5:15pm Begin stretches in hallway and then go on to Body and Equipment warm-up

6:15pm Perform

6:30-7:00 Load all props and equipment back onto the band truck (need
parent help). Eat dinner at the concessions (bring $$). We
may not have time to change out of the scrubs because Powhatan
performs at 7:03pm.

7:03-7:45 Watch the rest of the guards perform, we will all sit together. You
are only allowed to leave the gym in case of an emergency (you must
go in groups of 3). This is a short competition and you will not
want to miss any of the performances (parent chaperones sit with the
group)

8:00pm Awards Ceremony

8:30pm Leave for LMS

8:45pm ETA @ LMS

9:00pm The time you can leave to go home if everyone helps unload the props If only a few people help, it will take much longer.

Special Reminders:

• Spectator tickets are $10. (The first unit performs at 4:00pm and the last
unit performs at 7:30pm, so this is still cheaper than a movie ticket!) 2
parent chaperones and truck driver get in free with our team.

• We are competing in the Scholastic Regional A Class, also called “SRA”.

• We have 7 minutes to set up all of our props, perform our 4 minute 20 second
show AND get our props off the floor. If your
parents/siblings/boyfriends/girlfriends are going to watch the competition,
tell them to get out of the bleachers to help us get our stuff on and off
the floor. We need the help!!

• Please try to get all of your friends and family to come to this
competition! We want a big crowd to cheer us on!! Make sure they know that
they can cheer during the performance (during a toss, sections where we are
all doing something cool, etc.)

Flag Hit Video to Practice at Home

2009-12-03T21:19:00.001-05:00

Flag Practice

2009-12-03T21:18:00.000-05:00

Please download and print this for your guard notebook. Next week we will do the entire excerise without stoppping.
Flag Warm-Up Exercise

VID 00004-20091201-1947.3GP

2009-12-01T21:30:00.000-05:00

Flags practicing new work for the show
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Download the show music!

2009-11-30T19:13:00.000-05:00

Click the link below to download the mp3 of our 2009-10 competition music. Please put it on your mp3 player or burn it to a CD so that you can practice at home.

E.C. Glass VPE Show Music (09-10)

Equipment Skills Check Off Sheet

2009-11-30T19:09:00.000-05:00

All VPE members are encouraged to practice all pieces of equipment outside of group rehearsals. Below is a link to the Equipment Skills Check Off Sheet for Flag, Rifle, and Saber. Students can demonstrate a skill for an instructor and receive a "star" for satisfactory performance on that particular skill. Prizes will be awarded at the end of the season for members who "check off" the most skills.

Equipment Skills Check Off Sheet

2010 Visual Performance Ensemble Auditions

2009-10-27T18:54:00.001-04:00

The following are links to information from the Parent and Student Information meeting held on Monday, October 26. Please remember that all forms are due by November 11 (Emergency Medical is available on the main band site).

Presentation about Visual Performance Ensemble

Audition Packet

Colorgurad Try-outs

2009-04-03T09:07:00.002-04:00

Colorguard Try-outs
April 23, 27, & 30(6:00pm - 8:00 pm)
Meet in the ECG Band Room

Thank you for you interest in Colorguard. I am pleased to welcome you to one of E.C. Glass High School's most elite organizations. The Colorguard has been hugely successful in the past and we intend to keep this award-winning tradition going strong in the future. Look at the following information and if you have any questions please feel free to accompany your child to the first day of try-outs (April 23, 6:00pm - 8:00 pm). Or send me an e-mail, lipfordjm@lcsedu.net. Parents are not allowed to watch on the last day of try-outs (April 30, 6:00pm - 8:00 pm). Medical forms and agreement form will be given to each student on April 23.

If your child is chosen for the Colorguard, you and your child must agree to all of the following costs and summer practice dates. Payment arrangements can me made after the initial payment of $50 (Due April 30, checks can be post-dated for May 15).

Dates:
June 15- June 19 (8:00am - 3:00pm) Entire Colorguard must attend
August 3-7 (Time TBA) Full colorguard
August 10-14 (All Day) Full Colorguard BAND CAMP
August 17-21 (Evening rehearsals) Full Colorguard
August 24 First Day of School (First semester calendar will be issued)

Costs:

Freshmen must purchase all of the items listed above. Returning members will only be required to buy items needed. Other costs are make-up and practice uniforms. We will tell the students where to buy these items. Members of the colorguard will also need to buy a band t-shirt $12.

Payment Dates - Items will not be released until the payments are made.

End of Season Slide Show

2009-04-03T08:06:00.001-04:00

Fall Color Guard Auditions

2009-04-02T15:36:00.001-04:00

VPE makes finals at AIA Championships!

2009-04-01T12:11:00.002-04:00

Visual Performance Ensemble made SRA Finals for the second year in a row! VPE placed 7th overall out of 30 units in prelims and 12th out of 15 units in finals.

A Winter Guard Movie!

2009-03-17T08:23:00.003-04:00

Live To Spin is a documentary, filmed in high definition, revolving around the true drama, competition, and struggle that one Canadian Color Guard team has undergone while competing against the U.S. teams. Live To Spin is also about the history and determination of one dedicated group of people and the difference they make in the lives of young people....

They are following the team all the way to the World Championships in Ohio. Watch as they work hard and make their way to the U.S.A.

Here are a few short but amazing videos of the team in action as well as the personal videos of the team members. They add new videos weekly so make sure to visit often: http://www.livetospin.com/

Championship Information

2009-03-17T08:19:00.002-04:00

Dear Visual Performance Ensemble parents,

Please look over the following information regarding our championship competition. Especially for new parents, it can be confusing since this event takes place at 2 schools at the same time. Plus, we will share one charter bus with the ECG drumline as opposed to taking separate school buses. The schedule for the beginning of each day is pretty much set, but it will be flexible in the afternoons depending on our performances. We will watch other groups perform and try to fit in some time at Potomac Mills. Students are responsible for their own meals except for breakfast on Sunday morning.

We are asking each VPE member to turn in $10 to off-set the cost of the hotel and charter bus. We underestimated the cost for these items when we calculated the membership fee. This can be paid by cash or check (made payable to LMS Band) and is due before March 28.
Parents who are interested in chaperoning and/or helping with props and watch the competition will have to drive separately. We have just enough room on the bus for all VPE and Drumline members and coaches. Carpooling is recommended, especially since we have such an early departure time. Parents who would like to spend the night at the same hotel as the students on Saturday, should contact the Hampton Inn using the contact information below. A room with 2 double beds cost $92.40 including tax. Let them know you would like a room near the EC Glass group.

The following are locations we will be during the weekend:

The Hampton Inn-Stafford/Quantico
2925 Jefferson Davis HwyStafford, VA 22554
(540) 657-0999
Hotel Contact: Erika Medrano erika.medrano@hilton.com

Potomac Senior High School (VPE prelims and possibly finals here, drum line prelims here)
3401 Panther Pride DriveDumfries, VA 22026
(703) 441-4200

CD Hylton High School (possibly drumline finals here)
14051 Spriggs RdWoodbridge, VA 22193
(703) 580-4000

Potomac Mills Outlet Mall, Woodbridge, VA

Please contact Mrs. Lipford or Ms. Guske with any questions or concerns.
Thank you for your patience and support! We will also be able to answer any questions at the Friends and Family show on Thursday, March 26.

Championship Itinerary:

Saturday, March 28, 2009

5amDepart from EC Glass. Wear your unitard on the bus so it is quicker to change into uniform. We will NOT stop for breakfast, so bring it with you. Donations of juice and breakfast food is welcome. We will start hair and make-up on the bus at about 7:30

8am Arrive at Potomac Senior High School and change into uniform, finish hair and make-up.

8:30am Begin official AIA warm-ups

10:04am VPE Prelims performance

10:15am Team picture in uniform with AIA photographer

10:30am Change into Rain t-shirt and jeans and watch the rest of our class perform.

Lunch will be at the competition concessions area. Our class is so large, that it isn’t over until 2:45pm. We should know by 3:30pm if we made finals. The top 3 units from each round, plus the next overall 9 highest scoring units move on to perform at finals on Sunday. We will then travel to CD Hylton HS to watch other classes perform. Dinner will be at those concessions or at a stop between schools.

We will not check into the hotel until about 9:30pm after Assembly Line has performed. Lights out will be at 10:30pm. Students are suggested to bring a cell phone to use to check in with their parents. Students can use Ms. Guske or Mrs. Lipford’s cell phones if they do not have a personal cell phone or a calling card.

Sunday, March 29, 2009:

IF WE MAKE FINALS:We would perform anytime between 1 and 3:00pm. We would eat the continental breakfast at the hotel, check-out, and then travel to Potomac Senior HS to watch the drumline perform in prelims and then we would perform in our finals. Then we would have free time at Potomac Mills mall depending on when our finals performance was.

IF WE DON’T MAKE FINALS:We would eat breakfast and check-out at the same time so that we could travel with the drumline to Potomac Senior HS for their prelims performance. We would watch the groups that DID make finals in our class and then head to Potomac Mills.

IF THE DRUMLINE MAKES FINALS:Since we are all on one charter bus, we cannot leave Woodbridge until the drumline is done. Their finals performance time could be 2:15 and 3:30pm at CD Hylton HS. This would make our approximate return to EC Glass High School at about 9:00pm (stopping for dinner on the way home).

Reminders and Updates

2009-03-10T15:58:00.001-04:00

Our season is soon coming to a close and like any endurance race; we need to sprint at the end to stay ahead. Please look over the calendar reminders. Due to the snow storm and conflicts with school field trips, one rehearsal has been added. Parent volunteers are still needed to help fold the floor on Thursdays, donate bottled water and snacks for championships, and to help put together an awards banquet. Please let Mrs. Lipford or Ms. Guske know if you are available to help.

March Calendar Reminders

Thursday, March 12
Rehearsal @ LMS 6-8:30pm (parent help needed to fold the floor at 8:15pm)

Monday, March 16
Rehearsal @ LMS 6-8:30pm (this is a make-up from the snow day/field trips)

Tuesday, March 17
Rehearsal @ LMS 6-8:30pm (Dress up for St. Patrick’s Day)

Thursday, March 19
Rehearsal @ LMS 6-8:30pm (parent help needed to fold the floor at 8:15pm)

Friday, March 20
Rock Band Tournament @ LMS (students are not required to attend, but asked to sell tickets and/or sign-up bands to compete. Parent help is needed to donate prizes and concession items)

Tuesday, March 24
Rehearsal @ LMS, 6-8:30pm

Thursday, March 26
Friends and Family Performance at 7:00pm in the main gym. All VPE members should report to the auxiliary gym at 6:00pm in uniform and show hair/make-up to rehearse before the performance. This is a FREE event and the bigger the audience the better!

Friday, March 27
After-school rehearsal @ LMS from 3-5:30pm. We will need parent help to load the floor and props and transport them to Woodbridge. All VPE members should take their flag bags home and pack them on the bottom of the charter bus on Saturday. We were previously scheduled to perform at Jefferson Forest HS, but this has not been confirmed.

Saturday, March 28-Sunday, March 29
AIA Championships in Woodbridge, Virginia. Detailed itinerary will be available soon. We will leave Saturday morning and come back Sunday evening. Prelims are on Saturday and Finals (if we are in the top 50%) are on Sunday. We will be traveling with the drum line and they do not perform until Sunday. We will try to schedule in some time to shop at Potomac Mills. You will not be excused from school on Monday, so bring homework.

5th place at AIA's Deep Run Competition!

2009-03-02T11:31:00.003-05:00

Pineapple Ponytail Night

2009-02-27T08:08:00.001-05:00

Deep Run Itinerary

2009-02-16T14:02:00.005-05:00

Friday, February 27th Rehearsal @ LMS from 3:00-5:00pm

Saturday, February 28th:

8:00-9:00am Rehearse in the auxiliary gym at LMS. Flag bags and other equipment will be transported with the performers on the bus.

9:00-9:30am Performers change into uniform and fix your hair (including glitter gel and hair spray).

10:00am Leave from LMS (bring snacks and a bag lunch to eat on the way. We will not stop for lunch.)

1:00pm Arrive at Deep Run HS. Unload the floor cover from the trailer. Parent help is needed to take the floor from the trailer into the school. We will do make-up on the bus in the Deep Run parking lot. Please bring your make-up kit and a mirror.

1:20pm Final bathroom break before performance. Stretch in the hall and then begin official warm-up.

2:21pm Perform. Parent help is needed getting the floor cover on and off the performance floor.

2:30-3:00pm Load the floor back onto the trailer, load flags and equipment onto the bus and change into t-shirt and jeans.

3-5:30pm Watch the rest of the guards perform. We will sit together in the bleachers with chaperones.

5:30pm Awards Ceremony and Critique (where the judges meet with instructors to give feedback for the next competition). Amber, Emily S, and Emily C will go out for retreat.

6:00-6:30pm Dinner break at the concessions area. Bring $. There will also be various souvenirs for sale (t-shirts, photos, etc).

6:45-7:15pm Help ECG Percussion move props and equipment onto the floor. We will watch their performance in the gym and then help move everything off the floor and back onto the truck.

8:00pm Leave Deep Run HS.

10:30pm Approximate return to LMS. The building will be locked when we return, so students are encouraged to bring a cell phone on the trip so that they can call home when we are close to the school.

Special Competition Information:
Chaperones get free admission passes. General spectator tickets are $10 and purchased at the main entrance.

Each performing group only gets 1 video pass. If you are available to video tape our performance, please let us know. We would like to watch our performance at the following Tuesday’s rehearsal.

Flash photography is not allowed during performances.

Proper etiquette while watching a winter guard performance is to clap and cheer during the parts of the performance you find interesting (like after a toss).

Winter Guards from UVA, JMU, William & Mary, and Longwood will be performing at this competition!

Directions to Deep Run HS:
4801 Twin Hickory Rd, Glen Allen, Virginia 23059
US 29N to I-64E, take exit 177 (I-295S towards Washington/Norfolk)
Take exit 51A for Nuckols Rd N, Turn left at Twin Hickory Rd

Reminders

2009-02-13T08:04:00.002-05:00

Next week we have rehearsal on Tuesday and Thursday from 6-8:30pm. You must have prior permission from Mrs. Lipford to miss any part of these rehearsals per your signed participation agreement. We are still adding and cleaning choreography for our February 28 competition at Deep Run High School. Please mark you calendar for Friday, February 27th dress rehearsal at LMS from 3-5pm.

Warm-up Video

2009-02-12T17:20:00.001-05:00

This is the first part of our body warm-up.

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This is a foot warm-up we are going to learn soon.

Video of Competition Performance

2009-02-07T21:09:00.002-05:00

VPE places 6th at Powhatan Competition

2009-02-02T08:58:00.005-05:00

On Saturday, January 31st, VPE placed 6th in the Scholastic Regional A (SRA) class at Powhatan HS. This is a fantastic way to start the season! Judges comments were positive and will help us as we finish filling in choreography for the show.

VPE will perform next on Tuesday, February 10th during half-time of the Varsity Girls Basketball game at EC Glass. Approximate time of performance is 8:00pm. Parent help will be needed to get students in uniform and to get the floor cover on and off the gym floor.

VPE will NOT be participating at the WGI Regional in Raleigh on February 14th. Our next competition will be at Deep Run HS on February 28. AIA will post the schedule for this show on February 16th.

Thanks again to all parents who attended the Powhatan competition! Please send any pictures or video of the competition to Mrs. Lipford to post on the web.

Tuesday's practice Rescheduled!

2009-01-27T13:08:00.002-05:00

Due to the weather, tonight's rehearsal has been rescheduled to Friday, January 30, at LMS from 3-5pm. We will need parent help carpooling students from ECG to LMS.

Please continue to make preparations for the competition this weekend. On Thursday, we will need parent help at 8:15pm to help fold the floor. If you ordered a unitard from Carolina Connections, they are here and please make arrangments to pick them up from the store. All flag poles should be taped the same color as the silk (except for blue flags w/ umbrellas...those should have stoppers taped white).

T-shirts are here and will be passed out at Thursday's practice. Please check the website for any other updates. "Pajama Nite" has been rescheduled to Thursday. Please wear your practice clothes underneath or incoporate it into your outfit.
FYI, the basketball games scheduled for tonight have been rescheduled to tomorrow (Wednesday). The Indoor Percussion Theatre will still be performing at half-time. Come out and show your support!

Winter Weather Back-up

2009-01-26T13:04:00.001-05:00

Just want to address the chance for winter weather on Tuesday. Hopefully everything will be clear by practice time. In case practice is cancelled, we will practice Friday from 3-5pm at LMS. We will do e-mail and the phone tree to communicate on Tuesday if there are any changes.

Pajama Tuesday

2009-01-23T07:58:00.003-05:00

Thursday was an impromptu "Urban" theme for the Middle School VPE members. They had so much fun flashing their zipcode for the camera that we are doing a themed practice again next Tuesday.

Tuesday, January 27, is "Pajama Night" for all VPE members, complete with a Silly Slipper contest. Please make sure you wear your rehearsal clothes underneath or incorporate it into your costume.

January 31st Competition Itinerary

2009-01-20T17:26:00.002-05:00

9-10:00am Rehearse in the auxiliary gym at LMS. We will need parent help in the beginning to help load the floor onto the trailer. Flag bags and other equipment will be transported with the performers on the bus.

10-11:00am Performers change into uniform, do hair and make-up (please remove nail polish before Saturday). You will need to bring your own mirror as we will probably use the band room as a dressing room.

11:30am Leave LMS (lunch stop on the way, bring $ or a bag lunch)

2:00pm Arrive at Powhatan HS and go straight into the gym to watch ECG Percussion perform

2:30pm Unload the floor cover from trailer, final bathroom break before warm-up. Parent help is needed to take the floor from the trailer into the school.

4:48pm Perform! We have a 7 minute time limit to get on the floor, perform our 4 minute routine, and get everything off the floor. Parent help is needed getting the floor cover on and off the performance floor as it weighs about 300 pounds.

5-5:30pm Load the floor back onto the trailer, load flags and equipment onto the bus and change into t-shirt and jeans

5:30-6:15pm Watch the rest of the guards in our class (Scholastic Regional A). We will sit together in the bleachers with chaperones.

6:15-7:00pm Dinner break at the concessions area. Bring $. There will also be various souvenirs for sale (t-shirts, photos, etc). We will bring leftover water bottles and snacks from Monday’s camp as concessions food can be expensive.

7-8:30pm Watch the rest of the color guards perform. We will sit together with chaperones.

8:30-9:30pm Awards Ceremony and Critique (where the judges meet with instructors to give feedback for the next competition)

11:30pm Approximate return to LMS. The building will be locked when we return, so students are encouraged to bring a cell phone on the trip so that they can call home when we are close to the school.

Special Competition Information:
Chaperones get free admission passes.

General spectator tickets are $10 and purchased at the main entrance.

Each performing group only gets 1 video pass. If you are available to video tape our performance, please let us know. We would like to watch our performance at the following Tuesday’s rehearsal.

Flash photography is not allowed during performances, but most competitions have professional action photographers.

Proper etiquette while watching a winter guard performance is to clap and cheer during the parts of the performance you find interesting (like after a toss).

Directions to Powhatan HS:

Take US 460 to Appomattox. Take Rt 24 North to Buckingham. Take US 60 East for about 40 miles to Powhatan. You will travel about seven miles, passing several traffic lighted intersections. Once you pass the intersection that contains the McDonalds, prepare to turn left at the next traffic light. This is the intersection of Judes Ferry Rd. and US 60 (Bank of Powhatan at the corner). Turn left onto Judes Ferry Rd. Powhatan High School is just ahead on your right.

For a complete list of participating schools, visit www.atlanticindoor.org.

"Finish The Show Day"

2009-01-18T15:53:00.000-05:00

"Finish the show day" is an important day. We will finish learning the rest of the drill and fill in as much choreography as possible. Please remember to wear dance blacks and bring a water bottle. We will be in the aux gym for the first half of the day and in the main gym the second half of the day. We will perform for parents at 4:30pm to finish off a day of hard work. We voted to have pizza for lunch. Please bring money and we will order from Papa John's Pizza.

First Competition Coming Soon!

2009-01-18T08:12:00.000-05:00

Here are some important reminders for the coming weeks:

Thu, Jan 15 Rehearsal 6-8:30pm
We HAVE to finish learning all of the drill. Please makeevery effort to attend all of rehearsal.

Mon, Jan 19 Camp @ LMS from 9am-5pm
Please answer the poll about what you would like to do for lunch. Bring any homework or exam review with you. We will be filling in ALL of the choreography, so you can study when we are working on a section you are not in.

Parent Help Needed!
Sewers, chaperones, prop painters, and help folding the floor every Thursday at 8:15pm

Carolina Connections sells unitards. http://www.bandshoppe.com/ sells gloves (for rifles only)

Frequently Asked Questions

2009-01-14T14:29:00.000-05:00

1. Who Do I Write the Check To?

LMS Band- Linkhorne Middle School handles all the money for Winter Guard and drumline. We thank them so much for their support!

2. Why aren't we wearing school colors?

Sometimes we are able to wear school colors in our uniforms and other times we choose to go with a more "thematic" uniform to interpret the music or the theme of the show. The trend in recent years, in both indoor and outdoor competition, is to choose a costume that relates to your music or theme rather than simply going with a traditional school uniform. It is another way that we can visually interpret the music and another way that our activity uses theatrical elements to create entertainment for the audience. You will find as you watch other winter guards that this activity is not simply about performing our equipment skills to the music but also about interpreting the music visually through color, costume and set design.

3. Why don't we just buy flags instead of make them?

Flags ordered from catalogs typically cost between $30.00 and $60.00 each. With an average of 16 members and 4 flag changes per show the cost quickly rises beyond our means. However, fabric costs only $3.50 per yard and each flag uses only about 2 - 3 yards of fabric. This is a much more reasonable solution which allows us to get new flags each year that are specific to the colors and visuals called for by the style of music. Even to hire a seamstress to help make the flags does not cost as much as to buy them from a catalog!

4. Are there other Winter Guards in Central Virginia?

Yes! Actually, there are winter guards at Jefferson Forest High School(2 teams), Brookevill High School, Bassett High School, Salem High School (2 teams) and Lord Botetourt High School. It's an activity that is definitely growing in our area! We have hosted a parent preview show of EC Glass winter guards and percussion units since Spring 2007. This year that showcase will include Jefferson Forest High school.

5. What is the purpose of the floor cover?

It serves two purposes, both practical and aesthetic. First, by covering the gym floor with a vinyl tarp we help to reduce the amount of damage to the floor caused by dropped equipment. Second, by covering the distracting basketball and volleyball court markings with a tarp (and even by painting the tarp to match the theme of the show) we draw the focus away from the floor markings and to the performers and equipment work.

6. Can winter guard performers participate in another sport?

In many cases it is very difficult for a student to participate in another school-affiliated winter or spring sport AND winter guard simply because of timing conflicts. Our season extends from early November to early April overlapping both the winter and spring sports seasons. In a few instances there have been students who have been able to work out their participation in both by discussing their individual situation with both coaches, however, in every situation the time of overlap was extremely stressful for the student in keeping up with the sport, schoolwork and guard.7. What if I have to miss a competition?In most cases it is not allowable to miss a competition. Exceptions are made on a case by case basis (and are granted for things like other school events). Please see Coach Lipford to discuss your particular situation.