newsletter
August 11, 2024

Weekly Newsletter - AUGUST 11, 2024

Sent 8/11/2024, 2:15 PM.
Edited 8/11/2024, 8:50 PM - Added note about uniform fitting for students who have not yet been fitted.

I hope everyone is getting settled in to their new schedule.  The start of school is a busy time, and band is not exempt from that.  As the beginning of the season has a ton going on, I of course have a lot of items for you to review this week, so please make sure you read through it all.

Here we go...

What's in this newsletter?

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

• Tuesday Rehearsals - this week starts our regular Tuesday afternoon rehearsals - some things to know before you go

• Parental Reminders - gentle reminder to sign your handbook acknowledgement, pay activity fees, and other small notes for parents

• Spring Trip Commitment - Spring trip commitment is open.  You need to register and pay the $250 non-refundable commitment fee by 9/15

• Uniform Notes - a few things for you regarding uniforms

• Fundraising Updates - a number of upcoming fundraisers to get ready for, and update on our fundraising campaigns

• Student Accounts - performance fees and direct charges will be added to all student accounts this week

• Volunteer Opportunities - nothing this week

• And a word from Mr. Sayre - always make time to read through this section

This week in band...

Monday 8/12

• Woodwind/Brass Sectionals - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Tuesday 8/13

• Tuesday Rehearsal - 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Wednesday 8/14

• Color Guard Sectional - 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Thursday 8/15

• Percussion Sectionals - 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

• Golden Booster/Corporate Sponsorship Deadline - Last day for Golden Booster/Corporate Sponsorship donations to count toward reduction of student performance fees

Now on to the details...

Tuesday Rehearsals

This week begins our Tuesday afternoon rehearsals.  We are still in the throws of summer, so here are some things you need to know regarding these rehearsals.

• Until about early/mid October, it is still very warm in the afternoons, and these rehearsals are generally outdoors on the practice field, so wear appropriate attire (same as band camp)

• Bring your water bottle to school.  There are bottle filling stations in the band building that can be used to fill them before practice.  Also, please put your name on your bottle somewhere - these are frequently left behind by students, and it would be nice to return them to their rightful homes.

• Sun protection is very important.  Bring your sunscreen and your sun hats.  But also, sunglasses are VERY helpful and encouraged.  In these afternoon rehearsals, the sun is behind the directors, and sunglasses will make things much easier and more comfortable.

• Water and popsicles will be provided at the practice field.

Parental Reminders

I have a few small reminders and notes for all the band parents:

• If you have not yet done so, please sign the parent handbook acknowledgement form.  This form is available in your students Cut Time page (using the magic link sent from Cut Time) - scroll down to about the middle of the page to find the link.

• Speaking of Cut Time, I know some students' phones may have controls on them that do not allow messages from unknown numbers.  As it is important for them to receive Cut Time alerts as well, it is advised to allow our Cut Time phone number on their devices.  The phone number you can use is (844) 385-8463.

• If you have completed your Unsupervised Clearance process with APS, please do not forget to scan and email the clearance form they provide you to our VP, Robby Claspell at vicepresident@eldorado.band.  We want to keep track of all of our volunteers cleared for unsupervised access.

• Also, if you have not yet done so, please pay your $80 activity fee as soon as possible so we can fully fund the activity fund for our directors.  This fund is required by APS and pays for buses and other critical class elements, so it needs to be fully funded.  You can pay this here: https://eldorado-band-course-fee.cheddarup.com

Spring Trip Commitment

Spring trip commitment season is officially open.  If you plan to attend spring trip, please pay the $250 non-refundable commitment fee at the link below by 9/15.

Some things to remember regarding spring trip...

• The trip is optional

• We are going to Washington, D.C. on April 15-19.  The total cost is $1200.

• ALL fees, including direct charges, performance fees, and spring trip costs must be paid by 3/6/2025.

• The $250 commitment fee goes toward the $1200.  Once you have committed to going on the trip, the remaining balance will be added to your student's account in Cut Time.

Spring Trip Commitment Link: https://ehsband-spring-trip-registration.cheddarup.com 

All the details are on the Spring Trip 2025 page.  If you have any specific spring trip questions, you can contact our trip coordinator JP at springtrip@eldorado.band.

Uniform Notes

I have a couple of things from our uniforms chair for everyone:

• If you ordered and have not yet picked up your marching shoes, they are in the band room in boxes labeled with the students' names

• If you needed uniform alterations, those uniforms are done and in the band room ready for pickup

• I want to make everyone aware of uniform replacement costs that come up during the year.  If your student loses any of these items during the season, the following replacement costs will be added to their student accounts.

  • Gloves - $14

  • Marching Shoes - $50

  • Pep Band Flip Folder - $25

• If your student has not yet been fitted for a marching uniform, our uniform chair will be at school this coming Tuesday during zero hour and 1st period to fit those students.

Fundraising Updates

Here are a few fundraising updates for you.

• We have hit our $30,000 goal for Golden Boosters (although more is always better), so a HUGE THANK YOU to all that have donated.  While Golden Booster donations can be made throughout the school year, the deadline for them to count toward the student performance fees is this Thursday, 8/15.  If anyone was still looking to make any donations, now is the time to get them in for them to have the most impact.  Here is the link: https://golden-booster-campaign.cheddarup.com/

• Corporate sponsorships are almost at their goal!  Another HUGE THANKS to our community partners for supporting our band program.  We are sitting at $14,000 of our $15,000 goal.  If you have any businesses you think may still be interested in sponsoring us, please get those in THIS WEEK!  The deadline is the same as Golden Boosters, this Thursday, 8/15.  Here is the link: https://golden-eagle-sponsorships.cheddarup.com/

• We have the following fundraising events upcoming:

  • March-A-Thon - coming on 8/24 (see the March-A-Thon page for details) - volunteer opportunities are available, see below

  • Slice Parlor Restaurant Night - coming right after the March-A-Thon on 8/24 (see the Restaurant Nights page for details)

  • Fall Car Wash - coming on 8/31 (see the Car Wash page for details) - volunteer opportunities are available, see below

  • Mattress Sale - coming on 9/8 (see the Mattress Sale page for all the details - GET THE WORD OUT TODAY!)

Student Accounts

With the upcoming deadline for fundraising to count toward the student performance fee schedule coming this Thursday, expect to see fees begin to show up in your student accounts in Cut Time starting on Friday.  You will find a number of fees assigned, including uniform/direct fees (shirt, shoes, gloves, color guard, etc. as needed), performance fees (standard fee for all students), and spring trip balances (once you have completed the commitment registration).  

If you have any questions regarding fees assigned, or if you believe the fees are incorrect, please let us know.

Volunteer Opportunities

Here are the current active signups available.  You can also always see any open volunteering opportunities on the Volunteering page.

• March-A-Thon Volunteers: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0D48ADAA2DA1FB6-marchathon1#/

• Fall Car Wash Volunteers: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0D48ADAA2DA1FB6-carwash1#/ 

Have a great week!

Go Eagles!

JD

Now, a word from Mr. Sayre...

Greetings Eagle Band Community,

The first few days of school are always an exciting time for staff and students.  We have to set expectations and routines for the school year.  The band has a special place in that we provide the musical and ceremonial traditions for our school gatherings.  Being able to play as many pep tunes and ceremonial music as we do is no small task and you all did a great job on SOAR day and the assembly setting a tone for how the school year will go.  Our goal is for what the band does to be seamless so it looks easy even though you know that a lot of work went into it.  We hope that your other classes are going great too!  

Here are some items that you need to look forward to for this week:

Monday Sectionals:

Students will meet with their student leaders and go over musical, visual, or organizational priorities set by the section leaders.  Sectionals generally go for an hour.  This week Section Leaders will also be checking on memorization of the Warm-Ups AND the First Movement of the show as well. Percussion groups are encouraged to meet to get ahead on what is needed for their instruments in the show or for pep tunes.  Percussionists taking advantage of this will also make your percussion sectionals go better because you are better prepared.  

Tuesday Full Band Rehearsal:

All members of the marching band will rehearse at the marching field.  We will go from 4:00 to 6:00 PM.  BRING A LARGE WATER BOTTLE.  If you need to snack before to keep you energy up, make sure to do that as well.  And please don't forget the sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses.

Wednesday Color Guard Rehearsal:

Color Guard will meet with the staff, generally in M4, to go over what they need.  This will meet ALL YEAR. 

Thursday Percussion Rehearsal:

From 4:00 - 6:00 PM, percussion will meet to work on educational priorities. This will meet ALL YEAR.

Here is the agenda/plan for the week. Just know that the plan may change as our routines become more solid and if we need to meet alternative educational needs that we could not foresee.  Jazz, Concert, and Marching are included in this.

Mr. Torres, our Principal,  sends out weekly school reminders about schedules and school events.  If you are not receiving those messages from them make sure to reach out to the front office.  

Please continue to report absences using the ABSENCE REQUEST and DOCUMENTATION form. 

Go Eagles!

Mr. Sayre