newsletter
September 28, 2025

Weekly Newsletter - september 28, 2025

Sent 9/28/2025, 2:15 PM.

Well, it's here.  Bandtober.  Our busiest time of the school year.

A quick thanks to all that went out to Il Vicino last week.  We were able to raise almost $350 from that event.  Great job showing up to support the band and a local business!

Over the next month, we have a lot going on, so please make sure you keep yourself informed on everything coming up.

Pay special attention to Mr. Sayre's section below, especially with regards to transportation for the Los Lunas Invitational next Saturday.

Let's dig into the upcoming week.

What's in this newsletter?

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

• All-State Auditions - Audition registration is open for concert and jazz all-state

• Los Lunas Invitational - Our first marching band event is this coming Saturday

• Volunteer Opportunities - all our current volunteer opportunities will be listed here throughout the season - take a look and see where you might be able to help out.  We are ramping up Spiritwear sales for the rest of our games, so please consider helping there if you can.  No clearance required!

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

This week in band...

Monday 9/29

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

Tuesday 9/30

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

Wednesday 10/1

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

Thursday 10/2

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

Friday 10/3

• Football Game vs. La Cueva (Home) @ Wilson Stadium - Report Time: 4:45 PM in the band room. It's also 8th-grade night, so bring the energy!

Saturday 10/4

• Los Lunas Invitational - Report Time: 11:45 AM in the band room, full uniform.  Band photo at 12:00.  Here is the itinerary.

Now on to the details...

All-State Auditions

Registration for All-State auditions, both concert and jazz, is open.  Register at the link below.  Cost is $22 for concert all-state, and $24 for jazz all-state.  You must register by October 13.  Mr. Sayre will have more details regarding the audition process soon.

Registration Link: https://2025-all-state-registrations.cheddarup.com 

Los Lunas Invitational

Our first marching event of the season is this Saturday, the Los Lunas Invitational.  Transportation will be a challenge, given the shortage of buses due to the balloon fiesta, so make sure you read Mr. Sayre's section below on transportation requirements.

Report time is 11:45 AM, in the band room in full uniform because we are taking our season photo at noon.

Here is a link to the itinerary: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QyoNi9AUDscuUAdlG7h0hlyMLmcl3jFFwECUz_0a_UM/edit?usp=sharing 

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#/

• Football Game Uniform Helper: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0D48ADAA2DA1FB6-58669471-uniform#/ 

Go Eagles!

JD

a word from Mr. Sayre...

Hello Eagles!

I hope you enjoyed a restful weekend before we head into our first marching band event of the season next weekend. I’m excited for this month—Bandtober, as some call it—because the band is doing such a great job, and I know we’ll keep building momentum each week. Thank you as always for your patience as we work through transportation logistics and make sure we are following APS policy.

Friday Night Game – vs La Cueva (8th Grade Night!)

This week’s game is also our 8th Grade Game—let’s hype it up and make sure these future Eagles have an experience they will never forget!

• Call Time: 4:45 PM, Full Uniform

• Uniforms: Bring your garment bag with you on the bus. This week, do not hang your bags on racks before the game. Instead, keep them with you on the bus; we’ll have a place to hang them once we arrive.

Playing Tests

Students: your memorization test for the 3rd movement must be submitted in order to perform at Los Lunas. This ensures accountability and helps us achieve the strongest performance possible. It is due Sunday September 28th.  

Los Lunas Marching Invitational – Saturday

• Transportation details will be posted in Google Classroom. Please let me know by Wednesday if anything changes.

• Some students will ride with parents, some in carpools, and some on the bus.

• Thank you for getting all transportation forms and information in before Friday!

Important APS Reminders:

• Any adult driving students (including their own child) must submit a copy of insurance and driver’s license with the APS transportation form to Mr. Sayre or Anne Claspell. 

• Adults driving in a carpool must have a completed unsupervised background check on file with APS as well as submit the insurance and driver's license.  

At the Event

• Buses will park in the bus lot.

• Parent and carpool drivers should park in spectator parking. Students riding with parents/carpools will meet the group in the bus/equipment lot (west of the stadium).

• All students must stay with the band until the event is complete.

• Itinerary: Click here to view.

• Reminder: we will take full group pictures at noon in full uniform. After pictures, we’ll rehearse in the afternoon before the show.

All-State Auditions

Students: please register for All-State auditions (both Concert All-State and Jazz All-State) by October 13th at this link: All-State Registration. More details about the audition process (which has changed from previous years) will be shared soon.

This Week’s Rehearsals

• Monday – Sectionals (Woodwinds & Brass) 4:00–5:00 PM

• Tuesday – Full Band Rehearsal, 4:00–6:00 PM, marching field

• Wednesday – Color Guard Class, 4:00–6:00 PM, M4

• Thursday – Percussion Class, 4:00–6:00 PM

Let’s make this first big weekend of Bandtober one to remember—keep up the great work!

Go Eagles!

Mr. Sayre