newsletter
OCTOBER 19, 2025

Weekly Newsletter - OCTOBER 19, 2025

Sent 10/19/2025, 6:00 PM.

Gonna be the busiest band week of the year this week.  Looking forward to everything coming, but it's going to be a lot of work.  Please make sure you read through everything below, especially Mr. Sayre's section, so we can get through the last 2 weeks of marching season smoothly and on the same page.

It will take a lot of parent help this week to get through everything, but we especially need help with MPA volunteers.  Take a look at the signup below and see if there is an area you might be able to help with Wednesday evening - we still need some monitors and band guides for that evening.

Saturday is our side-by-side game with UNM Spirit Marching Band.  There was a flash sale email that went out from Lobo Athletics this morning - here is a link to that if you are interested in buying tickets for that game. Flash Sale Link.

Here's what else I have for you.

What's in this newsletter?

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

• Spring Trip Commitment - Registration is now open!  The deadline to register is 10/31 - Register Today!

• Volunteer Opportunities - Take a look at all the volunteer opportunities, and consider helping where you can.

• And a word from Mr. Sayre - Important upcoming schedule information

This week in band...

Monday 10/20

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

Tuesday 10/21

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

Wednesday 10/22

• Marching Performance Assessment - Milne Stadium.  Report Time is after school - we will be feeding the students dinner before we leave.  Here is the itinerary.

Thursday 10/23

• Football Game vs. West Mesa (Home) @ Wilson Stadium - Report Time: 4:45 PM in the band room.

Saturday 10/25

• UNM Side-by-side Game - Report Time: 9:00 AM in the band room.  See the details below in Mr. Sayre's section.  Here is the itinerary.

Now on to the details...

Spring Trip Commitment

Spring Trip registration is now open.  See all the details (that we know right now...) on the trip, including the link to register, on the Spring Trip page.

Deadline to register is 10/31, so get those registrations in today!

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.

• MPA Volunteers: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090D4AA9AF2FA6FE3-59324959-2025#/ 

• MPA Chaperones: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0D48ADAA2DA1FB6-59559178-marching#/ 

• UNM Side-by-side Chaperones: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0D48ADAA2DA1FB6-59560443-unmside#/ 

• Zia Chaperones: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0D48ADAA2DA1FB6-ziamarching#/ 

• 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 Eagle Band Community!

These next several weeks are some of the busiest of the school year for the band. It will take careful time management and thoughtful planning to finish strong and smoothly transition to the next part of the year.

Mr. Snowden and I are incredibly grateful for the level of support and dedication our community has for the band program. Our countless volunteers and supporters allow us to maximize what we can do for our students — thank you for all your help!

We have a lot coming up, including:

• The completion of the 2025 marching season

• All-State audition submissions

• The start of Zero Hour concert bands

Check Google Classroom for information about Zero Hour Band placements.

This Week’s Schedule

Monday, October 20

• Woodwinds & Brass Sectionals — 4:00–5:00 PM

Tuesday, October 21

• After-School Rehearsal — 4:00–6:00 PM

Wednesday, October 22

• APS Marching Performance Assessment (details below). Dinner provided after school in the band room. We still need volunteers so please sign up.  

Thursday, October 23

• Homecoming Game vs West Mesa.  

Friday, October 24

• Normal rehearsal schedule

Saturday, October 25

• UNM Side-by-Side Game — Call time: 9:00 AM (EHS Band Room)

APS Marching Performance Assessment — Wednesday, October 22

All equipment must be loaded on the trucks and trailers before 3:00 PM. Mr. Sayre will be going to Milne Stadium early to help set up for the event. Mr. Snowden will get the band on the buses.

Call time is after school, and our amazing Food and Fun parent volunteers will provide dinner before departure.

• Here is the itinerary for APS Marching Performance Assessment

Homecoming Game — Thursday, October 23

Normal game-day call time: 4:45 PM

We will perform our Pre-Game show and the traditional “El Cumbanchero” halftime performance.

This will be a long day — stay healthy and hydrated!

UNM Side-by-Side Game — Saturday, October 25

Thank you to those who turned in transportation forms if you’re participating in EHS Homecoming activities after lunch on Saturday.

We’ll start bright and early at 9:00 AM in the band room. We’ll probably leave around 4:00 PM from the UNM Stadium to head back to EHS.

Please note:

• We are guests of UNM Athletics and the Spirit Marching Band, so we will not have the same privileges we enjoy at APS games. 

• A limited number of parent volunteers will enter with the band. Dr. Harmon is finalizing details for access for these volunteers. 

• UNM will provide water, and we may bring snacks as needed. Plan on bringing your own water bottle if you would prefer to drink from your own bottle. 

• We will not take the traditional third-quarter snack break that we have at our games.  

• UNM enforces a clear bag policy. 

Here is the itinerary for the UNM Side-By-Side Game.

All-State Audition Recording

Recording is underway! We have 106 auditions to complete.

• Check Google Classroom for recording time availability.  Because we have games and Zia the first week of the submission window you will need to record early if possible. 

Record your etudes early and multiple times to get your best performance.

Do not wait until the last minute — late submissions cannot be submitted to NMMEA under any circumstance.  Additionally, last-minute recording sessions create unnecessary stress for everyone.

Help yourself (and us) by taking care of this early.

Looking Ahead

Week after this includes:

• Thursday Football Game (Halloween Costume Game) - October 30, 2025

• Zia Marching Band Fiesta - November 1, 2025

  • Here is the Zia itinerary.

Let’s end the marching season with a bang! After Zia, woodwind, brass, and percussion students will submit Zero Hour Band placement recordings on Google Classroom. Don’t wait to get those finished!  We’re in the home stretch for marching band so let's finish strong and sprint across the finish line at Zia Marching Band Fiesta!

Thank you for all your hard work, and Go Eagles!

Mr. Sayre