Ladies & gents, the Oblong Spooktacular Parade is right around the corner! This is your chance to dress up in your favorite Halloween garb. The parade is hosted in Oblong, IL on Saturday, October 27th, 2018.

The schedule for the Spooktacular Parade is as follows:

4:30 PM.........................................Call-time at RCHS
4:35 PM.........................................Load equipment
5:05 PM.........................................Buses arrive at exit 21
5:15 PM.........................................Depart for Oblong, IL
6:00 PM.........................................Parade line-up
7:00 PM.........................................Parade step-off
11:00 PM.......................................Estimated return time to RCHS


Weather Update
"With the forecast predicting cold temperatures for Saturday evening, we have been working on a plan to help keep your students (a little) more comfortable.  The fair board has approved for us to open up the large pole barn at the park, and St. Thomas Catholic Church in Newton is allowing us to use their large patio heaters so that students can get in out of the cold and get warm.  Please understand, I'm sure it will be very crowded, and your students may have to come in and warm up, then go back outside to allow others to go in.  Also, any students who go in the barn to warm up must be supervised.  We appreciate your cooperation in this, and hope that this will help at least a little bit, to make the best of a cold situation!", Oblong Band Boosters.

Parade Route
The Oblong Spooktacular Parade will follow the same parade route as previous years.  The parade will begin at the Oblong City Park, travel west on Main Street (IL Rt. 33) through town, and end at the west end of town by the Oblong Elementary School.  The bands will turn south (left) on Jefferson Street , go 2 blocks, turn east (left) , travel 2 blocks to Adams – turn south (right) on Adams and continue to the Oblong High School. 
 
Concessions at Park
There will be concessions available at the Oblong City Park since there can be a long wait to march.  Debbie’s concession trailer will be there, as well as the local 4-H club, with a variety of foods available.
 
Parade Line-up
Parade bands will need to be at the Oblong City Park no later than 6:00pm for line-up, Also there is no entrance to the park from Main Street.  When arriving in Oblong, either from the east or west, turn north on Taylor Street and go all the way to the end of Taylor.  This brings you to Wisconsin Street, where you will turn east (right) and follow the road around the Oblong Lake. 
 
The buses and equipment trailers will be directed to the high school after unloading. The band will meet up with the buses at the high school following the parade.
            
Post-Parade / Awards
When arriving back at the Oblong High School, the pavilion and concession area will be serving hot food, popcorn, candy and drinks.  A DJ will be there to play music, and students are welcome to dance on the football field.  Please ask your bands to use the trash and recycle containers located around the school grounds.  There will be portable toilets available in the school parking area, and limited indoor restrooms are available at the southeast corner of the school.

It is almost that time of the year again! The Marching Tigers (a combination of the Symphonic Band, Honors Wind Ensemble, & any other RCHS Bands student that cares to join) is marching in the Olney Halloween Parade on Friday, October 26th.

Students are to dress up in the Halloween spirit for this parade.

While it may not necessarily be warm the day of the parade, I still ask that students drink plenty of fluids to prevent heat related injuries.

The times for 10/26 are as follows:

3:00-4:29 PM................................Change into customs & dinner (on your own)
4:30 PM.........................................Call-time at RCHS
5:00 PM.........................................Load equipment & depart for rally location
5:30 PM.........................................Meet at Trust Bank on Main St.
6:00 PM.........................................Parade step-off
7:00 PM.........................................Estimated return time to RCHS
7:00-9:00 PM................................Movie & snacks at RCHS. Tonight's movie is a Halloween themed movie of the students' choice.

We are trying something different this year! Instead of posing for pictures at Eastern Illinois University for the Panther Marching Band Festival, we will instead have pictures of the Marching Tigers (in full uniform and with instruments) taken at RCHS on Tuesday, October 4th in the stadium at 8:15 am.

Sara Finney Photography shall take the pictures. Marching Tigers friends, family, and students have the option of purchasing the full ensemble pictures, group pictures (such as sections or a group of friends), and/or individual pictures. You may find the prices and available pages below.

Please print the form and send the form and a check with your student on picture day. Envelopes are available in the rehearsal hall.

The Final Performance is held in the RCHS stadium at 7 pm on 10/16/18. This performance is the capstone performance for the 2018 season. The performance is open to the public at no cost. The call-time for Marching Tigers winds & percussion is 6:15 pm. The call-time for color guard is 5:30 pm.

The 2018 Effingham Marching Invitational is scheduled for Saturday, October 13th in Effingham, IL. This is our last field show competition for the season.

Please make sure to bring the following items:

• Department shirt
• Department shorts
• Black crew socks
• Drillmasters
• 1 quart water cooler filled with water
• Roughly $10-20 in cash for dinner & snacks (lunch is provided)
• Sweatshirt or light jacket, pants, & comfortable shoes. It gets cold!

The schedule for the day is as follows:
8:00 am.................Call-time for color guard (makeup) -updated 10/12-
8:30 am.................Call-time at RCHS for winds, & percussion -updated-
8:40 am.................Rehearsal in stadium -updated-
11:00 am...............Load equipment on trailer
11:45 am...............Lunch provided by the Olney Music Boosters
12:20 pm...............Buses arrive at RCHS, exit 21
12:30 pm...............Depart for Effingham, IL
2:00 pm.................Arrive at Effingham High School (1301 W. Grove Ave)
2:10 pm.................Unload instruments, & equipment
3:00 pm..................Mental warm-up at trailer in full uniform
3:25 pm..................Meet event guides
3:40 pm..................Leave for physical warm-up
3:50 pm..................Physical warm-up
4:05 pm..................Move to musical warm-up
4:15 pm..................Musical warm-up
4:30 pm..................Move to staging area
4:40 pm..................Arrive at NW Gate
4:45 pm..................Perform at the Effingham Marching Invitational  (Class 4A)
5:00 pm..................Return to buses to load equipment & instruments
5:15 pm..................Free-time (concessions available for dinner)
6:00 pm..................Meet in the visitor stands stadium stands (dept. shirts)
6:15 pm..................Awards ceremony
7:00 pm..................Depart for Olney, IL
8:30 pm..................Estimated arrival in Olney, IL

Click hereThe Newton Marching Eagles Classic & the Marching Maroons Band Festival is scheduled for Saturday, October 6th, 2018. The Newton Marching Eagles Classic takes place in the morning, followed by the Marching Maroons Band Festival, which is an evening competition. Here are the details for the two events...

Please make sure to bring the following items:

• Department shirt
• Department shorts
• Black crew socks
• Drillmasters
• 1 quart water cooler filled with water
• Roughly $10-20 in cash for dinner & snacks (lunch is provided)
• Sweatshirt or light jacket, pants, & comfortable shoes (optional)

The schedule for the day is as follows:
7:00 am..................Call-time for Guard
8:00 am..................Call-time for all winds & percussion
8:05 am..................Winds, drumline, & color guard load equipment
8:45 am..................Rehearsal in stadium (no instruments or front ensemble)
8:45 am..................Front ensemble loads equipment on trailer
10:05 am....................Buses arrive at RCHS, exit 21
10:15 am................Depart for Newton, IL
10:55 am................Arrive at Newton High School
11:00 am................Unload instruments, & equipment
11:30 am................Lunch provided by the Olney Music Boosters & change
12:10 pm................Mental warm-up at trailer in full uniform
12:35 pm................Move to musical warm-up
12:45 pm................Musical warm-up
1:00 pm..................Leave for physical warm-up
1:05 pm..................Physical warm-up
1:20 pm..................Move to staging area
1:30 pm..................Perform at the Newton Marching Eagles Classic  (Class 4A)
1:45 pm..................Return to buses to load equipment & instruments
1:45-2:15 pm.........Load equipment and uniforms & free-time
2:15 pm..................Meet in the visitor stands (look for department shirts)
2:20 pm..................Awards ceremony
3:00 pm..................Depart for Robinson, IL

3:45 pm..................Arrive at Robinson High School
3:50 pm..................Unload instruments, & equipment
4:30 pm..................Dinner & change into uniforms
5:00 pm..................Mental warm-up in full uniform
5:25 pm..................Physical warm-up
5:40 pm..................Move to musical warm-up
5:50 pm..................Musical warm-up
6:05 pm..................Move to staging area
6:15 pm..................Perform at the Marching Maroons Band Festival (Class AA)
6:30 pm..................Return to buses to load equipment & instruments
7:15 pm..................Return to stadium to watch Newton & Robinson perform
8:15 pm..................Awards ceremony
8:30 pm..................Meet at buses
8:40 pm..................Buses depart for Olney, IL
9:45 pm......................Estimated arrival time for buses to RCHS.

The Marching Tigers are competing  in the Sage City Invitational in Monticello High School on Saturday, September 22nd, 2017. The packing list includes...

• Department shirts
• Department shorts
• Drillmaster shoes
• Black crew socks (tall black socks)
• Dinner money (concessions) or sack dinner
• Pants, comfortable shoes, and sweatshirt/jacket (optional)
• 1 quarter water cooler filled with water

The schedule for 9/16:
8:00 am................Call-time for all Marching Tigers
8:10 am................Pack all equipment
8:50 am................Buses arrive at RCHS, exit 21
9:00 am................Depart for Monticello High School (1 Sage St., Monticello, IL)
11:45 pm..............Unpack equipment
12:30 pm..............Lunch provided by the Olney Music Boosters & change
1:15 pm................Sing through music & meet the  Sage City guides
1:50 pm................Move to Miller Gym for warmups
2:00 pm................Warmup in Miller Gym
2:30 pm................Depart for stadium gate
2:45 pm................Perform in the stadium
3:00 pm................Travel back to the buses
3:15 pm................Free time (watch competition and visit concessions)
4:00 pm................Meet at the buses before departing as a band to stadium
4:45 pm................Awards ceremony in the stadium
5:15 pm................Estimated return time to the buses
5:30 pm................Departure for Olney
8:00 pm................Return time to RCHS

Class A = Jacksonville, Rantoul, Carbondate, & Richland County

5:30 pm.……….…………Call-time for all RCHS Marching Tigers members in department shirt, department shorts, black crew socks, and Drillmasters. Change into uniform after attendance and announcements.

6:00 pm………………..…Warmup & rehearse in the band room

6:20 pm........................Drumline joins the football team for warmup at the stadium

6:30 pm…………………..Set parade block and march to the stadium.

6:50 pm……..……………Pregame (Star-Spangled Banner, School Song, followed by the tunnel)

7:00 pm……………………Game begins (stand-tunes & half-time show. 3rd quarter off for concessions)

Half-time Performance (between 2nd and 3rd quarter)

9:30 pm……………………Estimated end to the football game

Please feel free to bring money for concessions. The band takes a break over the 3rd quarter. Be back in the stands with two minutes left on the 3rd quarter.

Parent Pick-Up: Parents may meet their students outside the band room after the game.

Please feel free to contact me for any further questions. I may be reached at (618) 393-2191 ext. 3137, or at cjones@rccu1.net.

Our first competition of the 2018 season is nearly upon us! On Saturday, September 15th, the Marching Tigers perform at the Tiger Ambush Classic in Edwardsville High School's Sports Complex at 6161 Center Grove Rd, Edwardsville, IL. You may find a packing list, schedule, and the published material for the event listed below. Please don't hesitate to contact us should you have any questions.

General Admission:

• $8 for adults
  
• $5 for seniors and students
• Free for children 5 and under

Students, please make sure to bring the following items:

• Department shirt
• Department shorts
• Black crew socks
• Drillmasters
• Canteen/cooler (although, boosters is also providing bottled water)
• Dinner & snack money
  
• Sweatshirt or light jacket, pants, & comfortable shoes (optional)

8:00 am................Call-time for all Marching Tigers
8:10 am................Practice without instruments/flags in stadium (no front ens.)
8:10 am................Front Ensemble packs equipment into trailer
9:15 am................Winds, drumline, & guard pack equipment
9:50 am................Buses arrive at RCHS, exit 21
10:00 am..............Depart for Edwardsville High School w/ stop at I-70 rest stop
1:00 pm................Arrive at Edwardsville High School Sports Complex
1:01 pm................Unpack equipment
1:40 pm................Lunch provided by the Olney Music Boosters & change
2:10 pm................Sing through music & meet the guides
2:30 pm................Move to field A
2:40 pm................Warmup on field A
3:10 pm................Move to ready gate
3:23 pm................Report to stadium gate
3:30 pm................Perform in the stadium
3:50 pm................Travel back to the buses
4:15 pm................Free time (watch competition and visit concessions)
5:15 pm................Meet at the buses before departing for the awards ceremony
5:45 pm................A/AA Awards ceremony in the stadium
6:30 pm................Estimated return time to the buses
6:45 pm................Departure for Olney, IL
9:30 pm................Estimated return time to RCHS