Band News

Parents and Students,

We are finally getting close to our first performance of the year. Our first football game will be next Thursday, September 15th at Citizen's Field. Since we have a Thursday Football Game, our weekly schedule will be a little different.

• Monday, Sept 12: Full Band 3:00 to 5:00 PM
• Tuesday, Sept 13: Horns 3:00 to 5:00 PM and Pit/Battery/Guard 5:30 to 8:30 PM
• Wednesday, Sept 14: Full Band 3:00 to 6:00 PM. This is a slight adjustment from the calendar. We were scheduled 5:30 to 8:30, but have decided to rehearse earlier to avoid two late nights in a row.
• Thursday, Sept 15: Football Game, Itinerary will be posted on the website
• Friday, Sept 16: No rehearsal.

We are in need of volunteers to be on pit crew for the games and competitions. It is helpful if we have the same basic crew for each event. If you are interested, please email Mike Grantham at mgrantham@clayelectric.com.

Our first band booster meeting will happen this Monday, September 12th at 7:00 PM in the band room. I hope that you can make it for the meeting.

GHS Open House will be Tuesday, September 13th at 6:00 PM. All of my classes will meet in the TA Auditorium for Open House. The band room will be occupied by the pit that night, so come see me in the TA.

Pancake Ticket money and extra tickets are due on Tuesday. Please turn in everything to me here in the office.

Thanks and have a great weekend.

Bill

Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser

Students, Parents, and Boosters,

Reminder! The Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser at Gators Dockside will be held on September 17th.

• Breakfast is from 8-10am at Gator's Dockside-Plaza Royale Newberry Road.
• Volunteers need to be there from 7:15 - 10:30am.
• We need a total of 6 parent volunteers and about 8-10 kids, depending on the number of tickets sold. 3 of those parents need to commit to working in the kitchen (cooking).

Tickets for the pancake breakfast are now available for checkout. Tickets are $6 each and each student will check out groups of 10. Money for tickets sold/unsold tickets will need to be returned on September 13th so we can get an idea of how many were sold to let the restaurant know. PLEASE CHECK OUT SOME TICKETS IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO!!! Also, we really, really, really need volunteers, so please consider doing so.

If anyone has any questions about the Pancake breakfast, please contact Sandra Reichert at 258-0365 (cell).

Band Updates - 1st Week of September 2011

Parents and Students,

I hope everyone has had a smooth and successful start to the new school year. Things are really starting to come together on the field as we prepare for our first performance.

A few quick reminders....

1. Please make sure your student is bringing water and sun block to our afternoon rehearsals. It looks like it is going to stay hot for the next few weeks.

2. Make sure they are eating lunch during the day. Some students have indicated to us that they have not eaten lunch for one reason or another and then they wilt on the field.

3. We have several fundraisers going on right now. Check below for details. Gators Dockside Pancake Breakfast Tickets are now available.

4. I just found out on Friday that we have another football game to go to. They switched the Citrus Game on October 7th to a Home Game.

Upcoming Dates of Interest

• · Friday, Sept 2: Cup Fundraiser Orders and Money Due
• · Tuesday, Sept 6: Yankee Candle Orders and Money Due
• · Monday, Sept 12: Band Booster Meeting @ 7:00 PM in the band room
• · Tuesday, Sept 13: GHS Open House
• · Tuesday, Sept 13: Gators Dockside Pancake Breakfast Money and Leftover Tickets Due
• · Wednesday, Sept 14: Scrip Gift Card Orders and Money Due
• · Thursday, Sept 15: Our First Football Game vs. Trinity (many details to come)
• · Saturday, Sept 17: All State Auditions at BHS
• · Saturday, Sept 17: Gators Dockside Pancake Breakfast
• · Friday, Sept 30: Football Game vs. Eastside

I look forward to seeing everyone at the Booster Meeting on the 12th.

Bill

Band Camp II - Beginning 8/6/11

Parents and Students,

Band Camp #2 starts this Saturday at 9:00 AM. Please plan to arrive by 8:45 AM so that we can get started at 9:00. I know that there is a Tropical Storm out there, but it looks like we will be good for Saturday. If the need arises to alter our plans, I will send out an email and we will place as many phone calls as we can. Remember, Camp happens rain or shine. If it rains, we move the fun inside.

For Saturday, students will need to provide their own lunch, dinner, snacks (From Carolyn: good snacks include pretzels, bananas, peanut butter crackers, Clif bars) and hydration. We will have water and snacks at the field, but make sure you have everything else. Also, bring plenty of sunblock, a hat, sun glasses and anything else you may need for the outdoors. Bring an entire change of clothes so you can get out of your sweaty clothes at lunch time.

Lunch will be held from 12:30 to 1:30 each day and dinner from 5:00 to 6:00.

On Friday, August 12th, we will be having a chicken bbq at our dinner break. You may pre-purchase a chicken dinner by using the flier attached to this email. Please return your order by Tuesday to Mrs. Hummel or Mrs. Clarke our band treasurers.

Band Camp fees can be paid in the morning or during dinner time. Our treasurers will be available to assist you.

The treasurers have asked if you are writing a check for fees, shoes, chicken dinners, bbq, etc. that you write separate checks for each item. All checks are to be made payable to the GHS Band Boosters.

Students, make sure that you eat a healthy breakfast and hydrate before you come to camp. (Note from Carolyn: Examples of good breakfast - bagel or 1/2 bagel with a thin layer of peanut butter, not cream cheese. Granola bar/Clif bars are very good. Something with Carbs and protein. Suggest you stay away from bacon (or anything high fat/greasy. No leftover pizza for breakfast!!), dairy (dry cereal is fine, lots of milk - not so good.)). You will get sick very quickly if you do not take care of yourself properly. Avoid any type of energy drinks!!! They will make you sick in a heart beat when you get out into the heat. (More from Carolyn: For those who like gatorade, suggest diluting half and half - water/gatorade - and having it cool but not ice cold. Also, no chugging. Small sips are best, even when you are really thirsty. No drinks with any kind of carbonation.)

I look forward to seeing everyone on Saturday,

Bill

Band Camp II Volunteer Request

Yes, it is I, the GHS Band volunteer coordinator, the one you were afraid you would hear from, the one who imminent email signifies something that you know all too well is coming at you like a train through the tunnel,BAND CAMP II.

And yes, I need volunteers to work with the kids, especially the new ones, to make them feel welcome, to keep them cooled off, to make sure they get to where they need to be, to make sure they have something to eat, to keep Pirzer straight (wait a minute, I think that is Ms. Sickon’s job this year). The veterans know what to do, and I need some of you new parents to come along side of us to learn the ins and outs of how to help at Band Camp, what to do, what not to do, etc….

Volunteering at Band Camp is fun; it helps you understand how the band operates, what is involved with putting on a marching season that constantly ranks in the top three in the state, you get to know the kids, you get to know other parents, you network, you sweat, you learn to appreciate air conditioning, you get to know the staff, you figure out the shortest path from the GHS cafeteria/band room to the baseball field, and above all else, you get to witch your own kid grow up a little.

Band Camp II (referred to as BCII) will run from 9am to 9pm everyday starting August 6^th (Saturday) through August 12^th (Friday) with the exception of Sunday the 7^th. The end of BCII on Friday will culminate in a very informative band booster/parent meeting (more info to come on that) and a performance on the baseball field (remember, you found out how to get there). A typical day at band camp starts on the field, coming into the cafeteria for the hottest part of the day for sectionals and then back out to the field in the late afternoon/evening. Accordingly, volunteering at BCII gives you the option of helping out in one of seven areas, or more, depending on your time constraints. The areas are: set-up (starts at 8 am) , 1^st shift from 9 – 1, lunch help, 2^nd shift from 1 – 5, dinner help, 3^rd shift from 5 – 9 and then laundry help every night (wash/dry towels).

Set-up – Get here between 8 and 9 am and set out chairs, pop-up tents and mister tent. Prep ice, water, Gator-Aid, towels in ice water and snacks. Help kids get equipment down to field.

1^st shift – Monitor kids as they practice, build new friendships with other band supporters. Perform typical parental supervision and problem solving. Make sure kids get plenty of ice/water, cold towels, and sun protection.

Lunch – One or two parents to monitor lunch and wipe down tables afterwards.

2^nd shift – Sectionals do not require as much parent involvement as field work so this is a lighter shift, 1 or 2 volunteers required.

Dinner – One or two parents to monitor dinner and wipe down tables afterwards.

3^rd shift – Similar to 1^st shift except night shift will also help with tear down and storage of equipment in band room for next day. Empty coolers, bag used towels, help get equipment back to band room.

Laundry – Volunteer to take a bag of wet towels home, wash (no Clorox), dry and bring back the next day. Do not fold, just put them back in a bag and send ‘em back, clean.

Contact me at the number or email listed below to let me know where to plug you in at. CALL NOW, the lines are open. You can also talk to me about the infamous PIT CREW and how you can get plugged into this elite team. We have a few openings so do not hesitate, remember, I have awesome bling for PIT CREW members.

More information about dinner every night of Band Camp 2 will be posted on the band blog - http://ghsbandnews.blogspot.com/ – your connection to long and short range plans for the band. Log on day and night to keep up with this ever changing, moving, active group of band students and parents.

Contact: Mike Grantham, Volunteer Coordinator – mgrantham@clayelectric.com or 352 373 2866

So you want to know what’s going on; you want to know who is who, VOLUNTEER and get connected. That’s how you find out how other parents have survived this thing we all love call band season.

Band Camp 1 Paperwork

Band Camp 1 - Initial Announcement

Parents and Students,

It's hard to believe that another year has passed and it is already time to start Band Camp #1. Band Camp #1 will run from June 7th - 10th, 4:00 to 9:00 PM each day. We will have a parent meeting on Friday night at 7:00 PM in the GHS Auditorium and will follow that with a brief presentation of what the students have been working on throughout the week. I have attached a Band Camp Reminders list, an invitation to our meeting and performance , and a Medical form that will need to be turned in next week.

At Camp #1, we ask for the first $100.00 towards your students' fair share, checks can be made payable to GHS Band Boosters. Color Guard members are asked to also bring their first $100.00 for their accessories (rifle, sabre, bag, etc.)

It is going to be very hot next week. Please make sure you send your student with plenty of sun block, water, gatorade, healthy snacks, a hat and everyone needs to have a bath or beach towel. Horn line members need to have a towel to place their instrument on when we put them on the ground. We will also need some donations of snacks for the week.

Mike Grantham is looking for parent volunteers to help out throughout the week. You can contact him at mgrantham@clayelectric.com if you would like to help.

Please send any other questions to me at pirzerb@gm.sbac.edu.

See you all on Tuesday,

Bill