Weekly Update, Weeks of 1028 and 110413

Parents and Students,

 

Congratulations on a fantastic three weeks of competitions and assessments.  So far, we have met and exceeded all of the goals we have set.  Now all we have to do is reach one more.  I want everyone to realize that this band is on a very special run and I hope you will continue to encourage your students to keep pushing hard over these final three weeks.  We do have a good amount of adjustments and additions to the program that we will be installing over the next few weeks, so rehearsal attendance is just as important as ever.

I want to thank everyone who contributed to our extremely successful middle school band night.  We had somewhere in the area of 130 students join us and it looked like most had a great time.  The most satisfying comments I heard again and again was that the MS parents and students felt so welcomed to the GHS Band family and a few band directors told me that some of their students are reevaluating their high school decision based on this one night.  Our students did an awesome job being ambassadors of our proud tradition.

 

Don't forget that fair share is due this week.  Sadly, many of us are falling behind on fair share and we are not sure how we are going to pay some very important bills, mainly our buses for State.  Please help us out by sending in your payment or by selling a bunch of wreaths!!  

The State bus is quickly filling up.  I have about 15 seats left, so please do not wait to send in your reservations.  I will not order another bus when this one is full.

 

We have found out that State Prelims will be at Gaither High School in Tampa.  I will have much more info as it becomes available to me. Admission to Prelims is $14.00.   Finals will be at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, admission will be $20.00.

 

Here's a look at the next two weeks......

• Mon 10/28:  Full Band 3-5, Guard 3-6
• Tues 10/29:  Horns/Guard 3-5, Percussion 5-8
• Thurs 10/31:  Band 5-8

 

• Mon 11/4:  Full Band 3-5, Guard 3-6, Band Booster Meeting @ 7:00 PM.
• Tues 11/5:  Horns/Guard 3-5, Percussion 5-8
• Wed 11/6:  Band Picture Day (Taken during Band/guard class)  Full Band 3-5
• Thurs 11/7:  Football Games vs Wakulla, SENIOR NIGHT!!
• Fri 11/8:  UF Homecoming Parade, students report to GHS at 9:00 AM.  Parade begins at Noon.

Thanks,

 

Mr. Pirzer

From Mr. Pirzer...

 

Week of 102113 

 

Parents and Students,

 

Saturday at West Port is a day none of us will soon forget, and that was before they announced the scores.  Congratulations to the students for an outstanding performance that was so good it even made the heavens weep.  Thank you to all of you who sat through and cheered on and through the "Hurricane."  A super huge thank you to the parents that came back early with the trailers and got everything unloaded so the drying process could begin.  Susie Hummel is requesting help to re-hang the uniforms at 4:30 on Monday.  Please take a moment to come into the auditorium while you wait to pick up your student from practice to help us out.

 

We have one more very busy week ahead of us before we get a chance to relax a little next week.  The students do not have school this Friday, but we do have a mandatory rehearsal at 1:00 PM followed by our football game that evening.

 

Friday is our Middle School celebration night.  We are expecting upwards of 175 MS band students from 6 different schools, and they are all converging on GHS at 3:00 PM on Friday.  Please email me at pirzerb@gm.sbac.edu if you would be willing to come to GHS at 2:30 on Friday to help us check in and guide all of these students.  The band will be doing a rehearsal with the MS students at 3:30 to prepare for our pre-game presentation and then we will be feeding all of them plus our kids at 4:30 in the GHS cafeteria. (Desserts are needed!)

 

This Saturday is our District Marching Festival at Williston HS. Students will need to report at 1:00 PM for rehearsal.  GHS performs at 8:30 PM and we will arive back at GHS by 10:00 PM. The itinerary is attached to this email and directions are available in the band room.  Tickets are $10.00.

Fundraising updates!!!

 

If you or your student still have Krispy Kreme Donut coupons out, please return the money or coupons by this Friday.  We would like to wrap this fund raiser up by early next week and give students their credit towards fair share.

 

Wreath Fund Raiser:  Order forms went out to all students last week for the Holiday Wreath Fundraiser.  If you have not seen one, your little darling failed to bring it home.  This a fantastic way to raise a lot of fair share quickly.

Our next $75.00 Fair Share payment is due October 30th.  We have a lot of costs coming up including a very large bus bill for State.  

 

Speaking of State, the seats for the State Parent Fan bus are going quick.  Seats are $40.00 per person and it is first come first served.  Trust me, you really don't want to be driving back to Gainesville at 2:00 AM following State Championships.  The form for this is attached.

 

Here's what's on tap for this week:

 

Monday:  Full Band 3-5, Guard 3-6

Tuesday:  Horns/Guard 3-5, Percussion 5-8

Thursday:  Full Band 5-8

Friday:  Full Band 1-4, Football game vs. Citrus at Citizen's Field.

Saturday:  FBA District Marching MPA at Williston HS (Directions available in the band room.)

It's great to be a Hurricane!!

 

 

Weekly Update:  Week of 10/14/13

Parents and Students,

The first competition is behind and we were able to meet all of our goals for the week!!  Now we can turn our attention to taking a good show and cleaning it up to make it great.  Please remember that every rehearsal is important as we will me making wholesale changes to the show this week and adding a lot of things as well.

Attached is the itinerary for the West Port Competition this weekend.  Tickets to the show is $10.  Directions are available in the band room.

Here's a look at the week ahead...

Monday:  Full band 3-5, Guard 3-6

Tuesday:  Horns/Guard 3-5, percussion 5-8

Thursday:  Full Band 5-8

Friday:  Full Band 3-6

Saturday:  West Port Show, students report @ 7:45 AM.

See you at West Port,

Mr. Pirzer

Band Booster Meeting 10/7/13

Band Director Report

This week:

Thursday practice has been changed to 3-5:30. We have a Full Uniform Run beginning at 5:00. If you are picking up your child, please help get uniforms back to band room and hung. We are NOT playing for Storm Warning.

Friday’s game has been moved to 7:00 so we will be leaving for Citizen’s field at 5:15. Plan to pick up after the game, at GHS, at 11:15-11:30.

Saturday – Showcase! Kids need to arrive by 7:45 for 8:00 run-through. No instruments. Leave for Santa Fe at 10:30:

·         Spectator tickets are $10 - $12 each.

·         Perform prelims at 2:20.

·         Pit Crew should arrive by 12:30.

·         Will return to GHS at midnight.

We are in need of water and bananas for Saturday. PLEASE 8oz waters only, NO large water bottles, NO Crackers.

FUTURE

·         10/19 Westport = perform at 3:30, one and done performance

·         10/26 FBA@ Williston = perform at 8:30, one and done performance

·         10/25 Middle School Night = No school, Practice for our kids 1:00-3:30. At 3:30, the Middle   School kids report, they will be practicing, eating, and riding buses to football game with band; full experience for them.

·         11/23: State Competition - Forms are now available to ride the Parent Bus. Cost is $ 40.00 person. There are a limited number of spots.

Treasurer Report: Susie Hummel

·         Bank Balance: $6609.15 less outstanding bills of $1484.69 = ending balance of $5125.46

·         Upcoming Expenses – Payroll for Staff; payment to Neff for uniforms

Fundraising Updates: Cindy Mason

·         Yankee Candles: Can still be ordered on line until 12/31/13 from Fall Catalog.

·         Krispy Kreme: Tickets are still available for check out from Mr. Pirzer, or pre-order forms are
        available.
·         Wreaths: Starts Monday October 14, through November 8th. Wreaths will be delivered the week
        of December 3, 2013. Cindy’s email is wrong on the website. Her email is Suncyn@cox.net.
·         Lea Sofia fundraiser: Lea Musselwhite is hosting a Lea Sofia fundraiser. Catalogs can be picked
         up from band room. It’s very easy to order on line; any questions or problems, please email Lea
         at: lea.musselwhite@casjax.com. All proceeds will be used for State.
·         Gator Concessions: On Saturday 2 parents did not show up; causing quite a hardship. If you are
        signed up to work, and cannot make it, please let Lea know ahead of time.
·         Scrip: Form will be available by this Friday in the band room.
 

Volunteer Coordinator Report: Frank Mason

·       Pit Crew please be at Showcase by 12:30 on Saturday. Frank will email Pit Crew with more details regarding Friday night and Saturday.

·        Trailer washing planned for Tuesday or Wednesday. Details coming.

 Uniforms: Susie Hummel

·         Thursday - Any help getting uniforms back to band room and hung up would be appreciated.

·         Friday = While you wait on your child after the game, we could use your help laying out
        uniforms.
·         Saturday = When you drop you child please come in and help put uniforms together to load
        for Showcase.
·         Sunday = Clarinets on deck to put uniforms back together at 2:00 p.m. BUT anyone is welcome.

Opportunities to see our kids in action! 

Thursday: Come down to the field and watch practice. The bigger the crowd the better the kids do! 

SHOWCASE: PLEASE COME TO SHOWCASE ON SATURDAY AND MAKE A WALL OF PURPLE TO SUPPORT THE BAND!

Next Meeting: 11/4/13 7:00