newsletter
DECEMBER 10, 2023

Weekly Newsletter - December 10, 2023

What a great and eventful week we just had!  A couple of great concerts from our kids and a great time of community with the cookie reception, luminaria build, and booster party.

A big thanks to all that helped out with our luminaria sale this year - folding bags, getting sand, putting luminarias together...  Your efforts were very much appreciated.

And a thanks to all that supported our program at the Panera restaurant night on Friday!

As is usually the case with band, there is always something next - and this time, that is Jazz Festival.  Be sure to read through my Jazz Festival information below.

I know finals are coming - good luck to everyone as you wrap up this semester!

 

What's in this newsletter?

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

 

This week in band...

Wednesday 12/13

Thursday 12/14


Now on to the details...

 

Jazz Festival Information

So, even though it is only December, Jazz Festival preparation is already beginning.  Jazz Festival is an annual event hosted by Eldorado High School and UNM, and involves dozens of jazz bands from all over the city and state.  As such, it takes a ton of planning, volunteers, and financial resources to pull it off.

The initial planning from the boosters and our amazing Jazz Festival chairs, Beth Whiston and Liz Strot, has already begun.  But it is the financial aspect where we need your help starting today...  One of the main ways we raise money for this event is through sponsorships.  Note that this is different than our full-seasons sponsors that we get over the summer - this is sponsorship of this specific event.

All the details, including a sponsorship letter that can be provided to potential businesses and a form they can use to be a sponsor, are available below (and always on the Jazz Festival site):

2024 Jazz Festival Sponsorship Letter 

2024 Jazz Festival Sponsorship Form 

What do we need from you all?  We need you to go to your dentists, orthodontists, auto shops, favorite restaurants, family and friend owned businesses, etc. and ask them if they would be willing to sponsor this event.  With students and family members from 40+ schools attending over 3 days, its a ton of great exposure.  Provide them the letter and form, which gives them all the information they need to support this great community event.  

The deadline to sponsor this event is Jan 26, 2024.

Don't have a business, but still want to donate?  You can provide a general donation via the same form.

If you have any questions, you can ask Beth and Liz at jazzfestival@eldorado.band.  THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!


Charms Retirement

Charms, which is our system that we use to manage students, send communications, and track finances was purchased by another company earlier this year.  That company is retiring Charms in August, just before next years band season.

Given that one of our primary use cases of Charms is communication, we want to start using the replacement software starting in January to send important communications from the band program so we can work out the details in the Spring semester, not during the hustle and bustle of marching season.

This new system has more robust student/guardian management and is primarily mobile phone-based, using email as a backup, not a primary means of communicating.  As I have been migrating and testing this new system, I've found some major gaps in our student/guardian contact information.  I will be sending out a Google form very soon that will be asking everyone to provide complete and unique contact information for all guardians and students so I can cleanup our data before we move to the new system.  I apologize in advance for having to do this, but I want to make sure moving to this new system is as smooth as possible.  

Be on the lookout for communication providing more specific details and that Google form link.


Volunteer Opportunities

No current volunteer opportunities available.

 

Have a great week!

Go Eagles!

JD

 

AND a word from Mr. Sayre...

Hello Eagle Band Community!

Congratulations on a fantastic week of performances! This week we are going to be prepping for our finals.  Thank you for all your work this semester.  Let's end it strongly.  


Here is the plan for the week. 


GO EAGLES!

Mr. Sayre