Get Your Physical, Be Ready for Marching Band

A valid physical form turned in to the school is required for participation in extra curricular activities including marching band. The Union Athletic Department hosts a “Physical Night” to help Union students take care of this requirement. UBPC Board Members will be on site to assist you in the process. This is a shared event for all Union sports, so get there early if possible.

PERCUSSION SHOWCASE CONCERT

THURSDAY, MAY 6, 2021
7:00 PM 9:00 PM
UPAC (MAP)

WHAT: 14th-Annual Union Percussion Spring Showcase Concert
WHERE: UPAC @ Union High School
ADMISSION: Free to the Public

Union Public Schools percussion students from band classes in grades 6-12 will present the 13th-Annual Union Percussion Spring Showcase Concert. This enriching program will include musical performances using snare drums, timpani, marimbas, bells, xylophones, ethnic drums, cymbals, bass drums, shakers and a multiplicity of other percussion instruments, as well as some items the audience might not have previously considered to be instruments! A highlight of the program will be the closing piece, combining nearly 90 Union percussionists at all levels for an exciting finale!

The new competitive marching uniform debuted at the 8th grade concert last week. The Renegade Regiment will be fitted to wear this uniform in the fall of this year, and the entire world can see it in the Macy*s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, November 25, 2021!

Thank you to the voters who passed the bond used to pay for these stylish new uniforms; the old ones were beginning to show their age (10 years old!). And thank you to Lead Drum Major, Emma Plunkett for being our model!

SENIOR GUARD STUDENTS RECEIVE SCHOLARSHIP

Union Guard Seniors Eliana Hall and Melinda O’Brien were recently recognized as 2021 scholarship recipients by the WGPO (Winter Guard & Percussion of Oklahoma) pageantry arts competitive circuit. The scholarship includes a cash award, and recognizes recipients for their leadership skills, dedication, and academic accomplishments. Eliana and Melinda were among 8 total recipients state-wide, and we wish them warm congratulations!

"Its Time to get started"

If you weren’t able to attend the intro meeting that’s ok. We’re meeting this Saturday, May 1 under the visitors bleachers of Tuttle Stadium (East Side) to clean up the white chairs from last year’s show. And we will start building props for the Fall 2021 marching show on May 11. We get great sneak peeks into the show, front row, field access to the action, and lots of interaction with the students during some awesome moments like coming out of the tunnel at a big contest. There is no experience necessary, and if you can hold a paint brush, we can definitely use your talents. If you have any questions please send an email to propertymanager@unionbands.com

Jason Myers, Property Manager, UBPC

Funding and Bonds and Money, OH MY!

Public school funding has been in the news a lot lately here in Oklahoma. As parents of public-school students, this issue is near and dear to our hearts, right? We are also in the process of finishing up a beautiful new stadium with a new band building being built next year, both of which will greatly benefit our band students!

But these big projects raise big questions. How can we afford to build a stadium when the salaries of Oklahoma teachers are among the lowest in the region/nation or classrooms go without important supplies? If state funding is at risk, shouldn’t this money be used to hire teachers or purchase classroom supplies?

To help answer these questions, it is important to note that our district has two types of funding:

1. State School Funding: At Union Public Schools, we are so lucky that much of our state funding goes to teacher salaries. Union does a great job maximizing that state funding to pay more people to work hard and care for our students. This money comes from local and state revenue as well as federal funds for some student populations. For many school districts, this money is used to pay teachers, aids, and administration, as well as supplies such as paper, books and chairs, property items such as new buildings, any and all repairs, new roofs and air conditioners. As you can imagine this money does not go too far. If you get excited about policy discussions, there is some great information on the Oklahoma state funding formula here: https://okpolicy.org/resources/online-budget-guide/expenditures/state-government-expenditures/state-spending-and-services/assessing-our-educational-accomplishments/education-agencies-and-services/

2. Bond Issues: Union Public Schools regularly asks voters to pass bond issues to fund improvements and projects and large purchases. Without these bond issues, all repairs, updates, upgrades, and new construction would have to come out of the state funding, thus eliminating funds for Union’s most important assets: the teaching staff. It is important to note that Bond money cannot pay for staff, teachers, or many other things, so using that money to pay for improvements and projects allows the district to maximize the state funding for those purposes. Bond purchases are items that are meant to last for a minimum of 5 years. Union Public Schools passed its latest bond issue in February of 2018. The stadium construction and new band building are part of that bond, but other things paid for by that bond include band instruments, equipment, and uniforms (marching, concert, and pre-season guard), a greenhouse, new PAC audio, the Union Innovation lab, devices for every student K-12, a new secure entrance for the Collegiate Academy at the High School, and a myriad of projects at other school sites! More information on current Union Bond Project Progress can be found here: https://www.unionps.org/BondProgress2020

You may be left wondering, where does UBPC fit into all of this? Union Band Parents Club is a sanctioned organization through Union Public Schools. We are a booster club, but we are also a 501c3, incorporated and we have a Board of Directors at the helm of all our financial decisions. We do not receive any of Union’s state funding, nor do we receive any bond money to spend. Our role is to fill the gaps between those things. For instance, it would be impossible for our district to fully pay for a competitive marching band that travels and competes at the national level. UBPC fills that gap. We establish a responsible budget in cooperation with the teaching staff, work with families to fundraise, and help in any other way we can! This allows the district to focus on providing a world-class teaching staff, while the bond issues provide us with new uniforms every 10 years or so, as well as state of the art facilities!

If you fell asleep reading this, no worries: it is a lot to digest and understand! If you managed to read all of this and are left with questions, please email president@unionbands.com and I will do my best to answer them!

Current Individual Fundraisers

More info about these Fundraisers can be found HERE

World’s Finest Chocolate - Now Available for In School Pickup
Beef Jerky - Now Available for In School Pickup
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OneOK Field Concessions

Come work the concession stand at OneOK field for the Tulsa FC Soccer Game Saturday, May 1 or a Drillers or Bedlam Baseball Event in the first half of May and earn money for your student’s band/guard account! Find more details HERE.

Darryl Starbird Car Show

Come work concessions at the Darryl Starbird Car Show on Friday, April 30, Saturday, May 1, or Sunday, May 2 and earn money for your student’s band/guard account. Find more information HERE.