newsletter
march 1, 2026

Weekly Newsletter - march 1, 2026

Sent 3/1/2026 4:50 PM

Feels like just yesterday, we were communicating about band camp - and here we are, it's MARCH!

First of all, congratulations to our Everlasting Winter Guard for finishing first at the Winter Guard Invitational this weekend!  Thanks to all the parents and students who helped make that a successful event for all participants.

Also, we are in our last week before student accounts are due.  All band fees and spring trip fees are due this FRIDAY, 3/6.

I want to extend a special thanks from the boosters to Jesse Abernathy, Aurora Owens, Kara Webb, Darey Guzman, and CJ Amaral for helping us assemble 8th grade gift bags this past week.  They gave up their afternoon to help - thanks so much for your hard work and dedication!

I have a few other things for you this week, and Mr. Sayre has a bunch of logistics for you, so make sure to read through his section.

Here is what I have for you this week.

What's in this newsletter?

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

• Student Accounts - It's the LAST WEEK to pay off student accounts.  Please make sure you get those accounts to $0 by THIS FRIDAY.

• Yearbooks - SENIORS!  Your yearbook pages are coming due 3/23.  And there is still time to order your yearbook to have it by band banquet.

• Band Photos - If you have not yet received your band photo from Mrs. Black, here are the details.

• A word from Mr. Sayre - As always, make sure to read this - ALOT GOING ON!

This week in band...

Wednesday 3/4

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

• MPA - Details below in Mr. Sayre's section.  Here is the Itinerary.

Thursday 3/5

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

Sunday 3/8

• Daylight Savings Time STARTS

Now on to the details...

Student Accounts

This is the last week to pay down student accounts.  All student accounts should be brought to $0 by this Friday, March 6th, and for spring trip participants, this is mandatory to remain eligible to go on the spring trip.  You can view an itemized list of charges on student accounts in Cut Time.

Yearbooks

Seniors, your senior pages are due NO LATER THAN MARCH 23. Submissions after March 23rd will not make it to print. If you did not receive the necessary information in an email, PLEASE reach out to Mrs. Whiston very soon!  

Don't forget to order your 2025-2026 Band Yearbook! Yearbooks are $24.54 with 90 full color pages. In order to receive your yearbook at the May 9th band banquet, please order NO LATER than April 12th. 

To order a yearbook visit www.TreeRing.com and enter passcode: 1016667234694117

If creating an account, make sure to click the "not applicable" option for Teacher/Grade.

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

Band Photos

We try and provide each student with a photo from the marching season each year, at no charge - something to remember the season.  Normally we hand these out when we turn in uniforms, but we were not able to have them ready by that time this year.  

One of our treasurers have been attempting to hand them out after basketball games, but we still have many to hand out.

If you have NOT yet recieved your photo, we will be handing them out after MPA this Wednesday, after the performances.  We will have a table setup in the hallway near the exit to the PAC, so come on by and pick up your photo on your way out.

Go Eagles!

JD

a word from Mr. Sayre...

Hello Eagle Band Community!

Congratulations to our Everlasting Winter Guard for taking home 1st place at the Eldorado Winter Guard Invitational. That is a great accomplishment on our home floor. Thank you to the parents and students who volunteered their time to set up, run, and clean up the event on Saturday.

Congratulations as well on a smooth Pre-Festival Concert last Wednesday. Our guest schools felt welcomed, transitions ran efficiently, and the routing of ensembles was seamless. Thank you to our student leaders and officers for the preparation and leadership.

We have several major events left this school year for the band program - Music Performance Assessment, Spring Trip, and Graduation, to name a few - so let’s finish strong. We want to end this school year the way we hope to start next year. Start thinking now about how you want to wrap things up and how you want to show up in July.

This week at a glance:

• Monday – Spring Sports Assembly

  • Long assembly schedule. Wear band shirts and meet in the band room at 10:30 AM.

• Wednesday – Music Performance Assessment (MPA)

  • Meet in the band room at 1:55 PM. Color Guard class after school.

• Thursday – No zero hour. Percussion class after school.

• Friday – Yes, zero hour.

Music Performance Assessment Wednesday, March 4, 2026 – Manzano High School

Please review this ITINERARY for full details. We will meet at 1:55 PM in the band room and depart by 2:30 PM.

Concert attire is concert black — all black dress clothing. Clothes should be clean, pressed (ironed), and in good condition. Treat this like an event you would dress up for. Please do not wear tattered and ripped/holed clothing. No athletic shoes, wear your marching shoes if you do not have dress shoes.  We want you to look and be as good as you want to sound.  

Solo and Ensemble

Every member of the band is required to prepare at least one solo or small ensemble for our in class recital. We will begin working on this after MPA. Music must be a published, professionally written solo or ensemble and not something you found on the internet. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in the Solo and Ensemble Festival as well since they are working up a solo.

Spring Trip

We will be performing at the Northern Colorado Jazz Festival with three jazz bands during the spring trip. More details will be shared soon. Thank you to JP for organizing another great trip opportunity for our students.

We are in the final stretch of the semester. Stay focused, take care of your responsibilities, and support one another.

Go Eagles!

Mr. Sayre