Person Letter
From Mr. Gibson

Dear Parents,

WOW! What a weekend! It was certainly action packed and full of excitement! Thank you for your support and enthusiasm at the competition in Carrollton. Our kiddos did SUPER! It is always interesting to see the contrasts in bands at a contest like that. Obviously, we share a different philosophy and approach than most, but still enable our students to stay current and participatory. Our staff is so pleased with how our kids did and the progress they have made over the season. The most rewarding for me is to see Freshmen mature and grow in our program both physically and musically. They are the future of our program and we could not be prouder. Our upperclassmen exhibited leadership and examples of drive and desire for excellence throughout the process. Thank you band!

We can never say thank you enough to you parents for your untiring (wait, we were all pretty tired Saturday night... ) efforts in ALL you do! You are a very important part of this "machine!" Every aspect from loading crew, bus sponsors, booster board, to enthusiasts in the stands, to those who just keep getting your kid up here every day, ....Thank you! Everyone does what they can. Many of you have expressed kind words and notes to the staff and to the group. Thank you parents!

As for the event with the accident this weekend, we always "hope for the best and prepare for the worse" in all our events and travel. (O.K., I even PRAY for the best... ) This was a very unfortunate situation that was handled in "textbook" fashion by everyone involved. First, thank you kids for your maturity and cooperativeness. You were SUPER! The parent sponsors on the buses were MOST helpful and very calming. All parents that I spoke with on the phone that afternoon (... some 30 + in a 20 minute time span) were most understanding of the urgency of the situation. Thank you. Then the UIL contest officials accommodating us with moving our time slot back. It was quiet a day! EMS examined 20+ kiddos at the scene and released them immediately. 5 students were transported to the ER and examined further and they were released. (I have never gotten out of an ER in less than 2 hours and our kiddos were discharged and on the field for the performance!) WOW! Sore and shook up, but all are going to be A-O.K.! We are blessed! Again, thank you all that were involved in that experience. Your cooperation and initiative were most appreciated!

When looking at the definition of "success" when assessing our program, using descriptors such as: participation, effort, cooperation, educational value, FUN!, life skills (in whatever situation we might encounter) team work, musicality, and more fun, we are off to a GREAT start! This is just one phase of the journey. We anticipate play-off games, parade, all-region...... before Christmas. Hang in there and let's stay after it!

So many refer to our band as a "family." I certainly like to think of it that way. With that in mind, we did have a great loss this weekend as well. One of our Sophomore trumpet players unexpectedly lost his father this past Sunday afternoon. Steve Herkert passed away on an airplane on his way home from North Carolina. His wife is Sharon is the nurse at Boyd Elementary. We visited about this as a band today. We need to lift that family up at this time with your encouragement and prayers. Services will be held Thursday afternoon at 4:00 in the sanctuary of First Methodist Church in Allen. It is times like these that we see just how precious life is. I am certainly going to hug my kids a little tighter tonight and say a prayer of thanks for the many blessings in my life. The Allen Band "family" is certainly a big part of that blessing. Thank you and God bless you!

Sincerely,

Anthony Gibson

Anthony Gibson
Director of Bands/Performing Arts
Allen ISD
972-727-0400 x7744
FAX: 972-727-0443