newsletter
July 12, 2024

Weekly Newsletter - July 12, 2024

Sent 7/12/2024, 8:00 PM.

Welcome everyone!  This is the first of MANY newsletters the boosters will be sending out this year, typically on a weekly basis.  We post these to our website so they can be searched and reviewed at any time.  All the newsletters for the year can be found in our News Archive section of the site.  It is very important that you take the time to read through these newsletters, as this is our primary means of getting information to you.  This particular newsletter is going to have a ton of things to cover, given we are about to start a brand new season of band. 

This is the standard format.  I start with a high-level overview of what is in the newsletter, followed by a run-down of what is happening over the next week with regards to band.  After that is all the details you need.  Last, but certainly not least, will be a word from Mr. Sayre - especially important for the students, as he frequently puts information in there on how the week will be going in class.  As he just sent out an extensive letter to you all, this newsletter wont have that section, but expect it in the future - surely once school starts.

What's in this newsletter?

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

• Field Cleanup - this Saturday, we'll be getting the practice field ready for band camp.  Many hands make light work!

• Calendar - our calendar is the best way to make sure you have all the information on what is coming - make sure you subscribe today!

• Band Camp - two weeks of intensive rehearsing, all you need to know

• Fundraising Update - still have a long way to go...  get those sponsorships in, and we'll be doing a call-a-thon over band camp to help boost our numbers

This week in band...

Saturday, 7/13

• 7:00 AM - Field Cleanup

Monday 7/15

• 7:30 AM - 3:00 PM - Color Guard

• 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM - Band Camp for Drum Majors, Officers, and Section Leaders

Tuesday 7/16

• 7:30 AM - 3:00 PM - Color Guard

• 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM - Band Camp for Drum Majors, Officers, and Section Leaders

Wednesday 7/17

• 7:30 AM - 3:00 PM - Color Guard

• 9:30 AM - 3:00 PM - Band Camp for Drum Majors, Officers, Section Leaders, Percussion, and NEW MARCHERS

Thursday 7/18

• 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM - Band Camp for ALL MEMBERS

• 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Band Family Picnic - El Oso Grande Park

Friday 7/19

• 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM - Band Camp for ALL MEMBERS

• 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM - Marching Shoe Sizing (for those needing marching shoes)

Saturday 7/20

• 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM - Band Camp for ALL MEMBERS (including our fundraising Call-A-Thon!)

Now on to the details...

Field Cleanup

In order for the students to be able to have a successful band camp, the practice fields needs to be cleaned up to get rid of all the dirt, debris, and weeds that gather over the winter, spring, and summer months.

We'll be meeting at the practice field (behind the baseball fields from the east parking lot) at 7 AM.  We're starting early to beat the heat of the day...  Many hands will make this go very quickly, plus you'll get the opportunity to meet other band parents.  Bring gloves and yard tools (like shovels, hoes, weed eaters) and make sure they have your name on them so they don't go home with the wrong person.  Don't forget the sunscreen and water, and if you have a truck and can help haul away everything, that would be great as well.  Any parent, guardian, family member, friend, or student is welcome to come help out.

I hope to see you there!

Calendar

The band Google calendar is the best way to keep track of everything upcoming regarding band and color guard.  We work very hard to keep it as up-to-date as possible.  All the important dates for the year have already been added, and if anything new comes up or anything changes, that will be reflected on that calendar.

If you haven't yet, I highly recommend you subscribe to the calendar.  You can subscribe by doing the following:

1. Go to the Calendar page of the website (https://www.eldorado.band/Calendar)
2. In the lower-right corner of the embedded calendar is a little blue plus sign - click on the plus sign
3. The Eldorado Band calendar will now be joined to your own Google calendar

Band Camp

Band camp begins this coming week!  Two weeks of intensive rehearsal gets new marchers up to speed, returning members back into the swing of things, and a sizable portion of our marching show on the field for the upcoming season.  There are some important things I want to make sure you know beforehand:

1. The calendar has all the band camp dates/times on it - make sure you subscribe.  Also, if you received a postcard with the band camp schedule, it contains an error for Thursday the 18th.  Always refer to the calendar if there is any confusion.
2. There is a Band Camp page on the website that also has the schedule and other band camp related information, such as what you should bring
3. Speaking of what to bring - make sure the students are wearing cool, light-colored clothing and athletic/tennis shoes (no sandals, boots, crocs, flip-flops).  Bring LOTS of water (i.e., the largest water bottle you have) and sunscreen/hats.  And of course, all the supplies they need to play and maintain their instrument.
4. As I sent out earlier, make sure the students are getting outside this weekend to help acclimate themselves to the heat a bit before getting out there during band camp.  It will make the week much easier on them.
5. Bring a sack lunch, or money to buy lunch at surrounding restaurants near campus.
6. Pay attention to special days, such as marching shoe fitting day, or uniform fitting day for classes.  Those happen during lunch, so plan accordingly.

Also, don't forget the band family picnic on Thursday evening at El Oso Grande park.  Bring yourself some dinner, and come hang out with the band community.  The boosters will be there as well to answer any questions and provide opportunities to volunteer this year.  You don't want to miss this - its such a great opportunity to get to know the rest of this amazing community.  I really hope you can make it!

DON'T FORGET! There will be a very important parent meeting at the end of band camp.  While the students are rehearsing that morning, the boosters and parents will be meeting in the Eldorado PAC at 9 AM and will be going over EVERYTHING you need to know as a parent (not just new parents, but returning parents as well), including finances/fees, schedules, rules, chaperoning/volunteering, uniform care - literally everything.  After we get done, we will go up to the practice field and watch the students perform what they learned over those weeks.  Mark your calendars!!

Fundraising Update

We are still well behind our goal for fundraising this summer, for both the Golden Booster and the Corporate Sponsorship campaigns.  The students will be participating in a call-a-thon next Saturday during band camp to help make some progress.  They will be getting more details on that this week from the directors, but they should plan to bring about 20 contacts that morning to call and ask for support.

In the mean time, please continue to contact local businesses about sponsorship partnering opportunities, and friends and family about supporting our amazing band program.  All the details can be found on the Fundraising page, or shoot me an email if you have a specific question at president@eldorado.band.

REMEMBER!  The more we raise during this campaign, the less the boosters need to charge in student account fees to ensure the band program is funded for the year.  

Go Eagles!

JD