newsletter
august 27, 2023

Weekly Newsletter - August 27, 2023

First and foremost - thanks to EVERYONE that made this weekend great.  The Flea Market and March-A-Thon are great events for our band program and our community, and everyone came together to make this weekend's events successful once again.  I want to extend a huge thank you to:

• the kids for their hard work marching through the neighborhoods

• Lora Baca, our flea market chair, for spearheading that event

• every parent volunteer - whether working the market, walking with the kids, providing water and snacks - we can't do these events with out each and every one of you

What's in this newsletter?

Here's what I have for you all this week:

• Yearbooks - our band yearbook is designed and built throughout the year by our yearbook chair - she needs your help with pictures

• Spring Trip Commitment - deadline is 9/15 - make sure to pay the fee and complete the commitment form by that date to secure your spot

• Band Fees - if you haven't logged into the Band Store and linked your student to your account, please do so asap

• Volunteer Opportunities - weekly list of open volunteer opportunities - new signup for spiritwear assistant is available

• Corporate Sponsorships/Golden Boosters - last few days for sponsorships - on Aug 30th I'm going to lock in our performance fees for the year.  Also, please consider helping our program through becoming a Golden Booster - this is an important revenue stream for the program and we are lagging behind budgeted expectations

• And a word from Mr. Sayre

This week in band...

Monday 8/21

• 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM - Woodwind/Brass Sectionals 

Tuesday 8/22

• 4:10 PM - 6:00 PM - Afternoon Rehearsal

Wednesday 8/23

• 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM - Color Guard Sectional

Thursday 8/24

• Football Game - Atrisco Heritage (Away) - Community Stadium - Call Time: Immediately After school.  Dinner will again be served

Friday 8/25

• Labor Day Weekend - NO SCHOOL!

Now on to the details...

Yearbooks

Last chance to submit band yearbook pictures for Band Camp, Football Games, Car Wash, March-A-Thon or any other fun band pictures.  I have not received any pictures from STUDENTS or families. Some of these yearbook pages will be designed soon, so don't miss out on sharing a great photo!

Email them to yearbooks@eldorado.band

Spring Trip Commitment

The commitment deadline is 9/15/2023.  Please make sure you do both commitment requirements (pay fee and submit commitment form) by that date.

The details:

• When: April 17-21, 2023

• Where: San Diego, CA

• Cost: $950, with $150 commitment fee due by 9/15/2023 (commitment fee is part of the total balance) - this cost is worst case, and as you heard at the parent meeting, our spring trip coordinator, JP, is working diligently to bring down the total cost of the trip.  Once things get firmed up over the next few months, this number may go down.  No promises, but we are trying very hard.  If the costs do go down, and you have already paid the balance, we will refund the difference.

In order for your commitment to be complete, I need 2 things for each student going:

1. Pay the commitment fee in the Band Store fee management - after paying this fee, I will add your student to a list of committed students, after which the remaining trip balance will become available in the band store.

2. Fill out the Spring Trip 2024 Commitment Form - this is a way for us to reinforce the requirements around spring trip commitment and ensure parental understanding

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Band Fees

The band fees are available in the Band Store.  If you have not yet created and account and linked your student to your account, please do so ASAP.  

All the instructions for paying fees in the Band Store are available on the Fee Management page, so please be sure to read them carefully.  Most notably, remember that your student's Charms ID is to be entered for BOTH the Student ID and the PIN.

If you have any issues getting setup, please let me know.

Additionally, you should have received a statement from me this past week regarding fees that are unpaid.  These will be sent out periodically to let you know if you have unpaid fees on your account(s).

Volunteer Opportunities

Here is a list of all active volunteer opportunities.  These are also always available on the Volunteering page.

• Football Game Chaperone Signup Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0d48adaa2da1fb6-football#/

• Football Game Spiritwear Assistant Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0D48ADAA2DA1FB6-football2

Corporate Sponsorships/Golden Boosters

There are only a few more days to get those sponsorships in!  On August 30th, I will finalize the performance fees for this year and assign them to the student accounts

On the link below is a letter you can print or send to any businesses you own, relative's businesses, businesses you frequent, etc.

Students - you can get involved as well.  The section that raises the most ($ / student) will win a prize.  The standings have gotten REALLY close - the Trumpet section has closed the gap and are right on the tails of the Baritones.

1st - Baritones
2nd - Trumpets
3rd - Saxophones

• Corporate Sponsorships: https://www.eldorado.band/fundraising/sponsorships

Additionally, as we talked about during the parent meeting, becoming a Golden Booster is a way for you to directly support your band program.  Thanks so much to those of you who have donated so far, but we are behind in our budgeted goal for Golden Boosters.  Please consider supporting the program through this campaign.  See the Golden Boosters page for all the details.

Have a great week!

Go Eagles!

JD

AND a word from Mr. Sayre...

Hello Eagle Band Community!

What a great weekend for our band!  Thank you, Eagle Band, for your energy on Saturday and representing our school to our community for our neighbors.  Big shout out to our Band Parents (organized by Lora Bonano!) for running the Flea Market. I am continually amazed by the EHS band community and what they are able to organize and accomplish.  

Looking forward to next week:

Game on Thursday:

Game will be at Community Stadium.  Call time is after school and food will be provided.  We will wear the band shirt, jeans, and marching shoes.  We will play pre-game and we will perform the 1st and 2nd movements with drill.  As far as playing goes in the stands please remember that we will not play as a band when the EHS football is on offense (has the ball) and only play when we are on defense. Drumline will play during offense.  Also make sure we are always playing with our best sound.  

Morning Pep Band on Thursday:

A small group has been invited to play for the APS Golf Tournament on Thursday morning.  This will be section leaders, battery, officers, and upperclassmen. We will fill the band out with upperclassmen based on instrumental needs and order of receipt of the permission form.  We only have one bus for this event and it will leave at 6AM on Thursday morning and back before 1st period.  All the other band members will work on second movement and pep tunes during zero hour.  

Rehearsals and performance including evening rehearsal on Tuesday:

We'd like to remind you that all of our rehearsals and performances are vitally important to the success of the group.  It is the expectation that every member of the band be at all rehearsals. Most of the band is doing great with this. We have made arrangements with coaches and teachers of EHS sports and activities to work scheduling so that those students can participate in and unfortunately can not extend the same excusal for students that are employed as students or participate in club sports. We hope that any conflict will be communicated well in advance along with arrangements to make up for lost learning with section leaders or staff outside of normal rehearsal time.  Normal rehearsal time cannot be used to catch up students that missed rehearsal the day before so that we can best respect the time of the students that attended rehearsal previously.  You are an amazing band and I hope that we continue to have  positive and effective use of our time!  

Here is the plan for the week (which may be updated throughout the week). Let me know if you have any questions.  4 Day weekend next weekend so lets make sure we get the most out of our 4 day work week!  Congrats to these folks: 

Here are our director recognitions: 

Most Improved

Hana Lu: Freshman Flute Player

• For playing your tests in Concert Band early and exceptionally well.  For also improving on your marching both in step and in time! Congratulations!

Thinking Ahead

Paige Bryson, Alex Mamaluy and Levi Vugrin!

• For thinking about the future and making plans for what will happen in the show.  Paige and Levi developed ideas for masks to wear in the show that change in the 3rd movement.  Alex’s mind perpetually knows what is going to happen next in the learning process. 

Most Improved Section

Sousaphones!

• For being present and pushing through to make the most out of your section.  Way to support the band from the bass!

Outstanding Section

Color Guard!

• For knowing your sets, choreography, and changes all throughout.  You hustle to every set and add so much to the performance.  

Outstanding Attendance Award

Drum Majors!

• Way to be there! You haven’t missed a day!

Exemplary Member

Oliver Guerrero: Senior Tuba Player

• Oliver is always doing their best! Congrats Oliver and THANK YOU for doing your best every day.  

Go Eagles!!!

Mr. Sayre