The Weeks Ahead - Weeks beginning 10/24 and 10/31

Parents and Students,
I wanted to send out a reminder email about our rehearsal and football game schedule for the next two weeks. Next week we have Homecoming and the following week the football game has been moved to Thursday Night. So, here is the exact schedule.

This Week
Monday, October 24th: Full Band 3:00 to 5:00 PM (Normal)

Tuesday, October 25th: Horns 3:00 to 5:00 PM and Pit/Battery/Guard 5:30 to 8:30 PM (Normal)

Thursday, October 27th: Full Band 3:00 to 5:00 PM (Different)

Friday, October 28th: Full Band 1:00 to 3:30 PM than travel to stadium at 4:30 PM for rehearsal with Alumni. We will perform our show after the game due to Homecoming taking over halftime.

Remember, students may purchase a chicken dinner that will be delivered to the stadium at 6:00 PM for $8.00. Seee Mr. Pirzer to buy a ticket.

Saturday, October 29th: Southern Showcase of Champions @ Santa Fe HS. Students are to report at 9:00 AM for rehearsal.

Next Week
Monday, October 31st: Full Band 3:00 to 5:00 PM (Normal)

Tuesday, November 1st: Full Band 3:00 to 5:00 PM (Different)

Thursday, November 3rd: Football Game vs Lecanto, 6:30 PM, Senior Night. Senior Parents are asked to report at 5:45 PM for pre-game Senior Recognition Ceremony.

This is a date change for the football game. We no longer have a game on Friday, November 4th

Band Updates

Parents and Students,

Here are some updates from the GHS Band for the upcoming two weeks.

Football Games:

This Friday is the game vs. Vanguard in Ocala that we have been asked to take a pep band. The band consists of juniors and seniors and the full drum line. Everyone else will be released from rehearsal at 5:00 PM on Friday to go home for the evening.

Next Friday (October 28) is our GHS Homecoming and the GHs Band and Guard Alumni night. Please remember that we are offering to deliver a chicken dinner to your child at Citizen's Field, but they need to purchase their ticket from me for $8.00. The band will perform their competition show after the football game has concluded.

Competitions:

This Saturday (October 22nd) is our FBA District marching Festival at Williston HS. The students have been given the itinerary and it is also available on the website. Students need to be on the pactice field at 1:00 PM and we will be back to GHS at 10:00 PM. Tickets for FBA will be $7.00.

Next Saturday (October 29th) is the Southern Showcase of Champions at Santa Fe HS. I will have a detailed itinerary available next week, but it is an All Day event like the Middleburg Competition.

Fund Raisers:

Wreath Orders and Money are due no later than this Friday.

Chicken BBQ money is Due Monday, October 24th. Remember to have your students buy their tickets from me if they want the dinner delivered to Citizen's Field.

Have a great week,

Bill

Band Booster Minutes - 10/10/11

Meeting began at 7PM.

Approved minutes from prior meeting.

Band Director Update

Coming up over the next 6 Saturdays, 5 competitions, 1^st one being this Saturday (Middleburg). Itineraries and directions were given to students today.

• At the Middleburg competition, there are 3 bands in 3A (which is the division in which GHS competes). In the finals, the competition is against everyone. Sixteen bands in total are competing.

• For the finals, the champion from each class, plus the next 5 highest scoring bands, are able to participate.

• Goals and expectations – goal is to achieve a score of 81 in preliminaries or finals to get block scoring. This allows the band to perform later in state preliminaries. This is important. Higher scores are typically saved for the bands who perform later.

• Classification (1A to 5A) depend on the number of brass and woodwinds on the field:
• 3A - 46 to 64 (GHS has 64)
• 2A – 31-45 (Santa Fe is 2A)

• Bands can compete in a higher class (but not a lower class) in the competitions leading up to state. At state, you must go in your designated class.

• How it is judged: 10 different judges focusing on different areas: ensemble music – intonation, are the kids playing together? Music judge walking around on field listening to each student and what he/she is playing. General effect music – are the students performing, are they communicating to the audience, phrasing, colors? General effect coordination – how the visual presentation fits with the music. In this category, judges can comment on anything.

• Admission is $12 for parents, students are $8, children under 6 are free.

• Students need to bring their own food for both lunch and dinner!! Send healthy foods (PBJ sandwiches. Pasta salad, no mayo). Be sure to send sun-block. Water jugs. Blanket/pillow for bus ride. Will get chilly for the ride home. Stay away from caffeine NOW. It dehydrates badly. Need to mix water and Gatorade. Need donations of bottled water and powdered Gatorade. We go through approximately 400 bottles of water at each competition. Need the smaller (8 oz) bottles of water. Donations should be brought to the band room. Donations of apples, bananas, crackers would be most appreciated. Parents/fans – wear purple!

• Friday, October 14^th - This Friday night – Buchholz. Will rehearse 3-5pm, just playing in stands, no half time performance. Students are to wear travel uniform top, jeans, and sneakers.

• Friday, October 21^st – Dr. Dixon is paying for us to bring a pep band to Vanguard in Ocala. 40 kids. Offered it up to the juniors and seniors.

• Saturday, October 22^nd – FBA District Marching Festival at Williston. Perform at 8pm, one performance and that is it. While agenda hasn’t been sent yet, kids will need to be there at 1pm.

• Friday, October 28^th, GHS homecoming and alumni band night.

• Saturday, the 29^th - Showcase – tentative performance time 3:30.

• Middle school event last Friday – big success. They felt like they were part of it. Have received lots of positive feedback from middle school band directors.

Treasurer report – Susie Hummel

• Gator Concessions – total 3.3K on the 2 games since last booster meeting. Only 2 more home games – Vanderbilt and FSU (on Thanksgiving) – if you are thinking about signing up, please let Ruth know ASAP.
• Gator Dockside – Fundraiser yielded approximately $600,
• Yankee candles – $4K
• Fair share – 4K collected since last meeting
• Bank Balance – 14K
• Need to get regular Fair Share payments in. They are lagging. $75 was due on 9/30/11.

State Band Trip – Please submit your form for the room/ bus if you are interested in attending.

Fundraising – Laura Netardus

• October 28 – Chicken dinner fundraiser. Dinners are from Hills Barbecue. This is a non school day and students will be practicing for Showcase. We have lots of tickets available to be picked up. Tickets are $8 each. Envelopes have 10 tickets each at $8 each. Don’t need to take 10, however. This is also the same day as the alumni event. Money needs to be back by 10/24.

• Wreath fundraiser – money and orders are due in Monday, 10/17. Have the traditional program ($25 per item) as well as the holiday gift program ($35 per item) this year. For the holiday gift program, you are able to order and have the order delivered directly to the recipients. (Please write your message on the order form). This is different than last year. This makes the deadline earlier. At least $5 per item goes to the students’ fair share accounts. Delivery will take place week of December 2.

• Baskets for holiday concert. Asking now for donations to make the baskets. Contact Laura Netardus for details.
  

• Scrip is due this Wednesday, 10/12. Order forms are available in the band room.

Volunteer Coordinator Report – Mike Grantham

• As indicated previously, donations of snacks/water would be most appreciated. Less perishable snacks, like PB crackers, will be accepted anytime. If you bring apples/bananas/grapes – bring them Friday or Saturday so they don’t spoil.

• The Pit crew needs to be in the trailer area by 12:30pm to move Pit for preliminary round of competition.

• Parents, park in designated area, and come visit us while students are practicing.

Uniforms – Susie Hummel

We are in good shape as far as alterations go. Thanks to all who have helped after games. Bibbers need to go home after this competition – volunteers needed to take 10 each home to wash.

Miscellaneous

Applebees’ will provide dinner for Friday night (pregame).

Note: Please recognize / patronize vendors who have provided dinner for the band on the nights we have had football games:

· Texas Roadhouse

· Little Caesars

· Olive Garden

· Applebees

Next meeting, Monday, November 14^th.

Meeting adjourned approximately 7:55pm.

The Week Ahead - Week beginning 10/10/11

Parents and Students,

This week is going to be a very busy and exciting week for all of us. Please take a look at the following information and be prepared for everything!

First, students, rain is predicted for most of this week. We will be going outside so long as there is not lightning or heavy rain. Please be prepared to bring a poncho and an old pair of shoes for practice, especially for Monday and Tuesday. We must finish the closer drill before the show this Saturday. We will go outside without instruments if we need to.

There will be a lot of distractions this week with the Buchholz game and all, but we need to stay focused on the competition this weekend. Keep practicing at home and don't forget to practice as much visual as you can as well.

Parents, we have a booster meeting Monday Night at 7:00 PM. I will have all of the information you need for the Middleburg Competition. For right now, I can tell you that we will be meeting at the school at 7:45 AM on Saturday morning and returning around Midnight or a little later on Saturday Night.

I will give out all of the other little details at the meeting Monday Night.

I hope everyone will join us in Middleburg this Saturday. Admission is $10.00 and that is good for prelims and finals. We are currently scheduled to perform at 1:30 for prelims. Finals time will not be available until after prelims.

Band Updates

Parents and Students,

I just wanted to pass along several bits of information that will be helpful over the next few weeks.

Come join us at our Football Game versus Citrus HS this Friday night at Citizen's Field (where we play all of our home games). We will be hosting a whole bunch of students from six different middle schools. The middle school students will play the National Anthem with us and then join us in the stands during the first half. I hope you will come sit in our parent section as we will be seating the MS parents in the same area and I am sure they will have plenty of questions to ask about high school band.

We will be performing at halftime for the Citrus Game.

NOTE: THIS IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT FOR NEW BAND PARENTS:

Competition season is upon us. I will give the students the itinerary and special instructions for the Middleburg Competition on Monday. Ask your child for this information! Right now, we are scheduled to play at 1:30 for prelims and finals start at 7:15 PM so we will play sometime between 7:15 and 10:00 PM for Finals. We will not know what time we play for Finals until prelims are over. We hope you can be there and join the sea of purple as we take the field in competition. Admission is usually $10.00 for the whole day.

With competition season being so close, it is time to stock up on your GHS Band and Guard Swag. I have Band Parent Polo Shirts available in mens and ladies sizes ranging from small to 3XL. They are $25.00 each.

We also have the band hoodie sweat shirts available for $35.00.

Hats are $12.00

The student shirts and shorts are available for $10.00 each.

You can never have enough purple stuff, so come on in and stock up.

Be sure to join us at our next Booster meeting on Monday, October 10th at 7:00 PM. I will have plenty of information about the Middleburg Competition.

Albertsons Community Partner Challenge Grant

Dear GHS Band Families and Friends:

Because we support Albertsons through their Community Partners program, we have an exclusive chance to earn a $10,000 grant for our Band to purchase new instruments. We can only earn this grant with your help! Please follow the steps below to vote for our project:

BEGINNING OCTOBER 1 --

1. Go to albertsonscpchallenge.com and log in, by entering your email address.

2. If this is your first time to the site, you will be taken to the email verification page.

3. Once your email is verified, you can log in and vote using just your email.

4. Enter Charity Code # 0498 in the upper left hand corner, and click "go".

5. When you see the GHS Band & Guard Boosters entry, click on "VOTE."

You can vote up to five times per day from October 1st through October 15th.

Please spread the word to your family, friends, and co-workers by forwarding this email or printing it for them. Please also announce our grant challenge on your Facebook and Twitter. If you tweet about it, include our Community Partners Challenge Charity Code ( 0498 ) in your tweet and the Twitterverse will follow you and retweet it to Albertsons followers. If you post the challenge on Facebook, please click over to www.facebook.com/AlbertsonsMarket, click "Like" and tag Albertsons in your post so all of your FB friends can see our grant challenge. Include our Charity Code in your post so your friends can find our project and vote for it.

We will send reminders during the voting period -- the success of this grant challenge depends on getting as many people as possible to vote the maximum number of times each day. Thanks for your support!

GHS BAND & GUARD BOOSTERS FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE

Band Booster Minutes

Band Booster Meeting 9/12/11

Meeting Minutes

Meeting began at 7PM.

Approved minutes from prior meeting.

Band Director Update

• Please make sure students are bringing water/Gatorade/snacks on practice days. Practice was tough today, students were not prepared nutritionally.
• Thursday’s football game … Olive Garden is going to donate Thursday’s dinner – pasta and marinara sauce and breadsticks. Kids need to provide drinks … water/Gatorade. No carbonated beverages, please.
• Pep rally Thursday AM – game-day … students need to be here early.
• Thursday is going to be a long day. Please be prepared.
• Students are not allowed to have food or any non-watered beverages in the stands.
• The students get 3^rd quarter off to have food.
• Will get back to school sometime between 10:30pm and 10:45pm.
• Friday – off completely.
• This Wednesday (9/14) – practice is from 3pm to 6pm – not as stated in schedule. This is the only Wednesday practice we have this year.
• Tomorrow (Tuesday, 9/13) is open house. No need to come if you are at the band booster meeting. Will be in TA building if you want to come.
• After this Thursday’s game, next football game is Sept 30 – Eastside.
• October 7 – an additional football game. Added to calendar.
• Good job of having kids at practice thus far, however some students are getting sick. Please do what you need to do to keep them healthy.
• Parent Bus and Hotel for state (November 18/19). Not same hotel as last year. Staying at a Days Inn in Clearwater. Will go down on Friday, rehearse for a couple of hours at a high school. Form is for the bus for both days (40 seats available), and for hotel. Right now, just taking reservations for people who are taking the bus and staying over. $80 per person. Have about 20 rooms (double occupancy). If you want to room with someone specific, let Mr. Pirzer know.

Treasurer report – Suzanne Clark and Susie Hummel

Fair share -

· 18K+ has come in for Fair Share, but it is getting depleted quickly. Have not gotten all the money in from fundraisers yet. Cup fundraiser generated over $3K in cash. Another $75 in fair share due the end of this month … but if you want to pay early, that would be great.

· 2^nd trailer was paid for this summer.

Fundraising – Laura Netardus

Lots of fundraisers going on right now.

October 28 – Chicken dinner fundraiser. Looking for a volunteer (s) to head this up. Non school day. Kids will be practicing for Showcase. This is also the same day as the alumni event.

Wreath fundraiser – money and orders are due in Monday, 10/17. Have the traditional program ($25 per item) as well as the holiday gift program ($35 per item) this year. For the holiday gift program, you are able to order and have the order delivered directly to the recipients. This is different than last year. This makes the deadline earlier. At least $5 per item goes to the students’ fair share accounts. Delivery will take place week of December 2.

Pancake breakfast – this Saturday, 8am-10am. Volunteers need to be there at 7:15am. If your student is working, must wear band shirt and closed toe shoes. Can still use a few more student volunteers. Any checked-out, unreturned tickets will be charged to individual fair share account, so please be sure your student returns any unsold tickets to Mr. Pirzer. People can buy tickets at the door, as well, and there will be a tip jar. Tip jar is distributed amongst the students who work. Laura Netardus suggested buying a bunch of tickets and giving them to friends. They tend to leave good tips!

Gator Concessions – now MUST be 16 or older to be able to work it. 1^st game $832 sales, $54 in tips. $55 per person for each person who worked. Next game – total $797.50. $56 per person who worked. Will actually not divide up the money until the very end so it is fair for everyone. Should work out to no less than $50 per person per game. Games have gone great. Still have openings for this week’s game (and others, as well). If interested, contact Ruth. For this weekend’s game, all volunteers must be “in the system” by Thursday (9/15) – need full name and driver license (or SSN and GHS picture ID).

New possible fundraiser: popcorn bucket - $15 - $5 goes to student’s fair share. More to come on this one.

Volunteer Coordinator Report – Mike Grantham

24 people have volunteered for pit crew. Mike will send an email tomorrow (Tuesday) with specific instructions.

Needs

· A large van/suburban to take the uniforms back to GHS (after game half-time performance) with the uniforms.

· Servers for dinner on Thursday – parent/booster volunteers need to be there at 4:15pm.

Uniforms – Susie Hummel

Thanks to all who helped with uniform alterations. Still waiting for a few (that are being tailored) to come back … please return as soon as possible.

Other – Mr. Pirzer

• Oct 7^th game – hosting a middle school night. Middle school students will play national anthem on the field at pregame, and play in the stands, as well.
• Put together goodie bags for this game. (Ruthie Dean to lead this effort.)

• October 28^th game – GHS band and guard alumni – night before Showcase, and GHS homecoming. Check out Facebook Gainesville Marching Band Alum. Putting out a registration form to come out and play with the students at pregame. $20 – tshirt, chicken dinner, and admission to the game. If alumni need instruments, need to get to Mr. Pirzer to make a reservation.

• End of year trip – once you have paid off fair share, you can apply $ to this 3 day trip to Daytona Beach. This past year, cost was $120 per student. Will likely be similar this year.

Next meeting, Monday, October 10^th.

Meeting adjourned approximately 8:30pm.