Save Our Director!

Messages to SDW administration on behalf of Mrs. VanDyke are getting noticed, but we have to keep the momentum going. It's not too late to send emails. If you've already emailed, it's OK to send another one!

STUDENTS and ALUMNI! 

Your messages to SDW administration on behalf of Mrs. VanDyke are especially important! It's not too late to send emails. If you've already emailed, it's OK to send another one! Ask a trusted adult to review before sending.

• Email SDW Administration and cc: School Board and South Administration. For email addresses, visit blackshirtbands.com/SaveOurDirector

• Send a Letter to the Waukesha Freeman Editor: letters@conleynet.com

Waukesha Freeman LETTERS POLICY: Letters should be signed and include phone number and address so that [they] may verify authenticity. Neither phone number nor address will be printed when letters appear. [They] reserve the right to edit letters. Please keep letters to no more than 300 words.

Email: letters@conleynet.com

And if you missed it...the April School Board meeting where several of us spoke.

Dear Band Families,

Important information - please read to the end!

As you may have heard, our new Band Director, Melissa Van Dyke, has been told by the School District of Waukesha that her contract will not be renewed for next year due to financial reasons related to the school closings. We have asked Mrs. Van Dyke about this, and she cannot discuss it. Please do not communicate with her through school email regarding this. We will be the point people for communications and will share more information as needed.  Please contact us at any time with questions and concerns. We want to also emphasize that this is a decision from main district office - not a South administration decision.  

 The Band Boosters strongly disagree with this decision for the following reasons:

• Mrs. Van Dyke has the education, experience and passion to best lead our students. We can all hear the improvements in our kids playing at football games and concerts in the short six months she has been here! She challenges them to play more difficult pieces and embrace leadership roles. They are rising to the challenge!

• Our band has been through enough already: 4 directors in 6 years, temporary non-musical substitutes, the disruption of the pandemic, and the trauma surrounding the Christmas parade tragedy. Our students deserve stability and leadership from Mrs. Van Dyke who understands all of these things.  

• We have seen band enrollment increase by 20 students so far for the upcoming fall. Mrs. Van Dyke is serious about recruiting and building relationships. Her enthusiasm for band and South is getting students to return to band and is making incoming students excited.

• Mrs. Van Dyke is planning to have the Marching Band back in competitions this fall (first time since 2019) and brings the specialty expertise for marching band (color guard, drill writing, choreography, etc) that will be needed. The kids have been working hard to get to this level and are excited to compete with Mrs. Van Dyke leading and encouraging them.  Our band was a strong competitive force in the past and plans to return to that level under her leadership.

• Schools may be closing but the number of students in the band program across the district are increasing. Middle school band classes, especially 6th grade, need to be double taught to properly teach students. Increasing education of students in band at a young age to encourage them to stay in the program is important. The same number of teachers need to be retained to cover the number of students. We want to grow band programs, so is it truly necessary to eliminate a music teacher?

We are asking you to please email (or call) our district administration and school board members to express your support of Mrs. Van Dyke! We, as Band Boosters, will also be reaching out. Please encourage your student, non-band families and alumni to send an email as well (we ask that student messages be proofread by an adult and/or band boosters to check for appropriateness). We plan to attend and speak at the School Board meeting on April 8th, so please join us for that too!  

Here is an example - personalize your message with how this decision will impact your student and/or family:

Dear Members of the District Administration, Staff and School Board Members,

I am writing as a current band parent of a Waukesha South student(s). I am very concerned to learn that our current band director at Waukesha South, Melissa VanDyke, has been told she will not have a position in the district next school year.

Mrs. Van Dyke has brought enthusiasm, leadership, and a clear plan for growing the band program. My student has greatly enjoyed being part of her class and always looks forward to band events with her.

Consistency is essential for a successful music program, particularly one that includes marching band. The students at South deserve stability and leadership from someone who is invested in building the program long-term. The students have already made huge strides in the quality of music alone within the last 6 months.

While I understand that staffing decisions are complex, I respectfully ask the district to reconsider this decision. Our students and the future of the Waukesha South Band program depend on having the right leader in place. That leader should be Melissa VanDyke.

Thank you for your time and for considering the perspective of families and volunteers who care deeply about the success of this program.

Sincerely,

Your Name

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Always feel free to contact us at blackshirtbands@gmail.com. We appreciate you doing what you can to express your support!

Sincerely,

Waukesha South Band Boosters

Ali Eve & Laura Wagner
Co-Presidents