Winter Park Band Notes
October 1, 2017
From Mr. Blackmer
Dear Band Families,
Greetings! I hope that everyone has had a restful and relaxing weekend!
Away Football Game
Thank you to all of our volunteer chaperones and operations parents who helped out with Friday's away game at Timber Creek, and congratulations to the Marching Band on a terrific performance! I'm looking forward to finishing the "West Side Story" show tomorrow! Make sure that everyone has their music prepared and laminated coordinate sheets ready to go.
Scaffold Building
Many thanks to Willson McBurney, Lou Fattore, Robert Kuczajda, and Chris Valentin for helping to complete the building of our new scaffolding out at D-Lot on Saturday! We now tower around 25 feet over the Band! I'm very glad that heights do not bother me or Mr. Clemente!
Student Pick-Up/Performance Day Parking
Just a few reminders about performance day procedures. First, please refer back to the Newsletter on 10/17 for a description of where to park (or not to park) on any marching band performance day (games and competitions). Most are remembering to not park in the "red areas" before the Band leaves, but we're having some cars forget and park in those areas as the Band returns - blocking the unloading area of our trailer.
Also, I always put the "tentative return time" on the various itineraries, and we generally send out an e-mail as we leave an event, notifying parents of a more specific return time. In addition to this, we ask that students call/text their rides as they leave an event. Please make note of these and be sure that a student's ride is there ready to retrieve them as we arrive back to the school. Remember that the school's policy is that all students are to be removed from campus no later than 30 minutes after returning to campus.
Band Fees
This coming Wednesday marks our next fee due date. For wind and percussion, this is the last Fair Share payment until March. Guard still have payments each month as we move into Winter Guard season beginning in December.
Please stay current with your Band fees. As of the middle of last week, we had nearly $10,000 in outstanding band fees. Keep in mind that nearly 90% of our Band's operating costs throughout the school year come from fees and fundraising. When we have that much money outstanding, it really begins to slow down our ability to function: the purchasing of new equipment/instruments, uniforms, music, guest clinicians to work with our students, etc.
I do realize that it sometimes just gets forgotten, especially with the craziness of this past September, and I also understand that there can be financial situations preventing payments from occurring on time. However, it would be very helpful if parents would communicate issues to me so that I at least "know that you know" that there is a payment due. And along those lines, I am always willing to work out a payment plan to ease the financial burden, especially for those families who have been active in our various fundraisers.
And, as always, remember that our fundraisers are there to help with those payments! Very little of our fundraising profits go back into the Band's general fund - they go to the students' individual accounts to help pay for fees!
Friday's Marching Band Rehearsal
Finally, just a reminder that the Marching Band will be holding an hour and half touch-up rehearsal this Friday from 2:45 PM until 4:30 PM out at D-Lot.
All the Best,
Mr. Blackmer
Band Fees
- Band/Guard Fair Share
- School Instrument Maintenance Fee
Please stay on top of fees! All fees and due dates can be found on the Band Calendar. Fees may be paid through SchoolPay.com.
All-County Registration
Information regarding the All-County Bands and Jazz Band is now up on the Band's website. The All-County auditions take place in November, and All-County Band is hosted here at Winter Park High School in January. All Winter Park Band students are encouraged to prepare an audition for All-County, however it is an expectation for all Wind Symphony students.
Winter Park had over 50 students in the All-County Bands last school year. That's a great number, but we want to make it an even larger representation this year!
Sav-a-Round Coupon Book Fundraiser ENDS FRIDAY!
Students were given Sav-a-Round "show books" back on September 22. The books have over $5000 worth of coupons for local and national companies and can easily pay for themselves. They are $25 and money should be collected up front from customers.
$12.50 will be credited to the student’s Band account for each book sold. All "show books" must be sold, returned in mint condition, or purchased by the student’s family. Hold on to your "show book" until you are finished selling. Sales may be turned in on Friday, Oct 6 for books.
Below are some rewards the students can earn from the sales in addition to account credit:
- One Free book for every 5 books sold.
- Students in 9-11 grade can earn college tuition from sales. Go to https://secure.tuitionrewards.com/?p=gao for more information
- Each student selling at least one book will enter a drawing for headphones.
Homecoming Parade & "Pep Rally"
The Marching Band will be performing at the homecoming parade and "pep rally" at Central Park next Wednesday, October 11. As part of the homecoming "pep rally" there is a BBQ dinner available, and while they are welcome to get to-go orders, they will not have time to actually eat at the BBQ. Please keep this in mind as you see ticket sale information coming to you from the school. If your family will be eating at the BBQ, please pack your Band student’s meal in a to-go box to be eaten at home after the performance.
Senior Night
On "Senior Night," we honor our Band seniors’ years of dedication to the Winter Park Band. This year's "Senior Night" is Friday, October 20. Special traditions and activities are planned throughout the football game at Showalter, including a family photo with the Band directors and principal during the first quarter, recognition on field just prior to pre-game, and our name banners held by each senior parent during the final Alma Mater at Showalter sung by our seniors. Parents will want to be on the track area of the south end zone around 6:45 PM.
Senior parents—please mark the date on your calendar and plan to attend and support your senior!
Chaperones and Volunteers
All parents who wish to chaperone or volunteer with the Band Program, or any WPHS activities this year, must update their existing ADDitions account (or create one) now. We cannot choose you to chaperone for any Band event unless this has been done. Please take a few minutes to log in and complete this now. You may use the following link to do so https://ocps.samaritan.com/custom/503/index.php.
The Band's first chaperone opportunity is less than 2 weeks away, and we need you! More information is coming at Thursday's parent meeting on how to sign up for specific Band opportunities.