newsletter
August 17, 2025

Weekly Newsletter - august 17, 2025

Sent 8/17/2025, 4:30 PM.

I hope everyone is settling in to the new school year.  Buckle up - because there is a LOT going on this week.

TODAY is the last day to have funds received during our summer fundraiser to count toward shared costs.  Get those donations in today!

I want to also note we have a bunch of new volunteer opportunities coming up, so make sure to check out the signups below.

March-A-Thon is this Saturday, and we also have a Gyro Shack Restaurant night that day too!  

I told you we have a lot going on this week...  so let's dig into to everything.

What's in this newsletter?

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

• Chaperoning - Are you planning to, or thinking you might want to, chaperone this year?  Read this section.

• Fundraising - Our summer fundraiser is ending TODAY, after which, student shared costs will be calculated

• Yearbooks - Yearbooks are discounted until Oct 31 - make sure to order yours soon to take advantage of the discount

• Mattress Sale - Our annual mattress sale is coming.  Here are the details (see the Mattress Sale page)

• Spiritwear Need - We are still looking for someone to be in charge of spiritwear

• Volunteer Opportunities - all our current volunteer opportunities will be listed here throughout the season - new signups for spiritwear, hydration, and upcoming fundraisers

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

This week in band...

Monday 8/18

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

Tuesday 8/19

• 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM - Tuesday Rehearsal - Make sure you have a large water bottle - filled with water!

Wednesday 8/20

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

Thursday 8/21

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

• 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM - Parent Chaperone Meeting (details below)

Friday 8/22

• Football Game - Home vs. Organ Mountain - Report Time: 4:45 PM in band room

Saturday 8/23

• Annual March-A-Thon - Report Time: 8:00 AM in the parking lot ready to go

• Gyro Shack Restaurant Night - See the Restaurant Nights page for details and flyer

Now on to the details...

Chaperoning

One of the most important volunteering opportunities in this band program is chaperoning.  These are the parent volunteers that are responsible for ensuring our band gets on and off buses, get to where they need to go, ensuring their needs are met, and everything happens safely.  It is truly one of the most rewarding ways for you to give of your time to this program, and the best part is, there are plenty of opportunities to participate!

If you are already planning to chaperone this season, or just thinking you might possibly want to chaperone this season, we are having a chaperone meeting on August 21st, from 6:00 - 7:30 PM at Mrs. Whiston's house.  This meeting will be both informational, as well as setting the expectations for all who are already planning to chaperone this season so we are all on the same page before our first football games.  While chaperoning requires an APS unsupervised clearance, please still feel free to attend even if you do not have yours yet - we will even help you initiate that process should you decide to do so.

The address is 4710 Cedarbrook Ct. NE, 87111.  I hope you are able to make it.

Fundraising

We have settled in at just over $33K - not quite the $45K we were hoping for, but still a good showing.  Donations made until midnight tonight will still count toward the shared cost schedule (coming soon.

There are 2 ways to support us in this campaign - as individual donors (Golden Boosters) and as businesses (Sponsorships).  

Sponsorship Letter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RmGsfQzd1pQrI98ocrdNnCKG67yJY5kT/view?usp=sharing

Yearbooks

It's not too early to order your 2025-2026 Band Yearbook!  Tree Ring is currently offering an early bird sale with 10% off book orders until October 31st.  This is the ONLY time that Tree Ring places the books on sale. Yearbooks are $24.54 with 90 full color pages. Books will be handed out at the May Band Banquet. To order a yearbook visit www.TreeRing.com and enter passcode: 1016667234694117

Reach out to yearbooks@eldorado.band with any questions. 

Mattress Sale

Our annual mattress sale is officially launched.  This is a fundraiser we do every year, and does very well for us.  The best part is, it requires very little work from students and parents - our job is simply to get the word out.  Talk to coworkers, family, and friends, and just let them know the sale is happening - that's it!

The sale will be in the Eldorado Cafeteria on September 7th, from 10AM - 4PM.  All the details are on our Mattress Sale page.

So, talk to your community, share the Facebook event (here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1839451783268477/), and help the band program raise funds!

Spiritwear Need

We are still very much in need of someone to step up to be our Spiritwear chair.  This can be one of the harder positions to fill because it comes with some unique requirements:

• Can NOT be an APS employee (same for helpers)

• Needs to be able to lift large bins full of swag (shirts, sweatshirts, etc)

• Needs to have a large vehicle capable of hauling 8+ large bins

• Willingness to be at most football games, but not necessarily able to see the game or the band

• Willingness to work with our supplier to order/resupply various spiritwear items

If this sounds like something you might have a passion for, please reach out to us at president@eldorado.band and secretary@eldorado.band and let us know.

We also need helpers!  You can volunteer to help the Spiritwear chair sell items at football games using the signup link below.  Note that the same limitations apply regarding APS employees.

Volunteer Opportunities

Here is a list of all our current volunteer opportunities.  You can also see these anytime on the Volunteering page of the website.  Remember, you need to have your unsupervised clearance to volunteer.

• Football Chaperones: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0D48ADAA2DA1FB6-football#/

• Football Spiritwear Helper: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0D48ADAA2DA1FB6-football2#/

• Hydration Volunteer: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080F4BA4AD23A4FE3-57908908-hydration#/

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

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

Go Eagles!

JD

a word from Mr. Sayre...

Eagles,

Welcome to the second full week of band! The year is off to a wonderful start. Thank you to our students for your focus and hard work. We’ve also received many kind words from community members about how much the students are enjoying being in the band program. If you have kind words to share, we encourage you to let others know about your positive experiences. Your support makes a big difference—please let us know if there’s anything we can do for you!

This week, we expect to receive some or all of the second movement drill and will begin learning it at Tuesday’s rehearsal. We also kick off several major activities, including our first football game on Friday and our March-a-Thon on Saturday.

This Week’s Schedule

• Monday, August 18 – Sectionals for woodwinds and brass. We’ll begin shortly after school so we can clear the PAC by 5:00 PM for a Fine Arts meeting.

• Tuesday, August 19 – Full Band rehearsal, 4:00–6:00 PM, marching field.

• Wednesday, August 20 – Guard Class, 4:00–6:00 PM in M4.

• Thursday, August 21 – Percussion Class, 4:00–6:00 PM.

• Friday, August 22 – Home Football Game vs. Organ Mountain

Call time: 4:45 PM in the band room (attendance will be taken).

Uniform: Band shirt and blue jeans (not marching uniforms).

APS Clear Bag Policy is in effect for all events. This applies to both students and chaperones.

Transportation: We will have five buses for the band. (If you did not sign up by last Friday a bus will be assigned for you)

• Saturday, August 23 – March-a-Thon

Wear: Band shirt, light/breathable clothing, and comfortable athletic shoes.

This event helps us raise funds for the year—door hangers with address assignments will be distributed this week.

Call time: 8:00 AM in the parking lot, ready to go.

Band Class Fees

We are working with the EHS office staff to finalize the easiest way for families to pay the $25 class fee. These funds support transportation and other curricular needs of the band program.

Let’s keep the positive momentum going as we kick off the marching season!

Go Eagles!

Mr. Sayre