WREN — The 95-degree weather wasn’t enough to sway the Wren High School band from starting practices this week, as students and parents alike have set their eyes on the reaching the state 4-AAAA finals.

“It’s been pretty hot, but the kids have done fine,” said Band Director Bruce Caldwell Monday during their lunch break on Monday, as the temperature stood at about 95 degrees.

“Well, we want to make the state finals in 4-AAAA, and I certainly think we have the group to do it this year,” Caldwell. “That’s our main goal at this point.”

Wren Band Booster Club President Don Pace said he’s already been impressed with the students’ work.

“What I’ve seen this morning looked really good,” he said. “They’re catching on real fast. There are a lot of new kids, too.”

The theme this year is “Conquest of Gold,” which was written for Northwestern High School in Rock Hill about three years ago.

“They were ready to get out there this morning,” Pace said. “They’ll be tired and ready to go to bed when they get back in the afternoon.”

Practices went from 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday this week, but next week they’ll last from 8 a.m.-9 p.m. most days.

“They’re outside in the morning, and inside in the afternoon,” Pace said. They also get water breaks about every 30-45 minutes throughout the morning.

The Wren High School Band will have a cookout for the families of the band members at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 5 at Wren High. The cost to attend and purchase a plate is $5 for the adults and $3.50 for the students. The students will perform after dinner.

The band is planning to go to Carowinds in North Carolina in the spring. Last year, they marched in Disney World, so the band planned a closer trip this year.

“It’s hard to come back and do another Disney trip, because there was a lot of money involved,” Pace said. “So we’re trying to give them a little shorter trip this year, but (still) give them a trip.”