Shawnee Mission South High School offers our kids a good basic band 
program.  The Boosters and our school club account are the sources 
for all enhancements beyond that basic program.  Many of these 
enhancements we all now consider just part of the bands standard 
offering but, in truth, we must fund them.  Such things as Drum 
Major Camp for our student leaders, percussion instruction for 
marching and concert band, busses for our third contest, the marching 
bands drill design, our guest soloist in May, a part of staff and 
logistical costs for trips to Florida and Europe, hosting the German 
students to Overland Park, many of our school owned marching 
instruments, projection and sound systems for the band room, etc, 
etc.  As you can see, the band program would not be the same without 
these items.   The band will survive without these things, but they 
make for a much better experience for our kids.

Please consider continued support to the band programs funding 
by participating in one or more of the projects the Band Boosters 
sponsor.  We try to avoid the required fundraisers that force 
kids to sell over-priced items that end up making third parties more 
money than the students or program.  The organization makes every 
effort to offer programs that give full value to those that help us.  
Please explore the website to learn about all of the different 
opportunities.  Of course, another option is to simply support the 
program through a tax-deductible donation to the SMS Band Boosters or 
SMS Band (school account).
 
We all saw the resources on display by many of the bands at our 
contests last year.  Lots of effort by many people goes into 
supplying programs with that kind of equipment.  I dont think we 
need an 18-wheeler, but I do want our kids to have the best 
equipment and instruction that can be reasonably be made available.

Listed below is my current wish list for the band. Thank you 
for your continued support.

Steve Adams