Winter Park High School Band Notes
August 5, 2018
FROM MR. BLACKMER
Congratulations to everyone on a very successful first week of Marching Band Camp! Mr. Clemente and I have been extremely impressed by everyone's work ethic and determination to improve this first week, and we are especially impressed with our new Freshman Band students - they are doing terrific! A great deal of credit has to also go to our outstanding student Leadership!
A huge thanks to all of our parent volunteers who assisted with camp this past week - helping Lee McBurney to serve lunches in the cafeteria, helping Mary Bernard fit students with uniforms - you were all a tremendous help! THANK YOU!
Thank you to Maddie Skena and the Band Leadership for putting together our annual "Family Fun Night" this past Friday after rehearsal. The students seemed to have a great time, despite having spent the long day in the sun and sweat!
This coming week is "Sprit Week" at Band Camp! Monday is "Super Hero Day," Tuesday is "Tacky Tourist Day," Wednesday is "Twin Day," and Thursday is "WP Spirit Day." Be creative, but just make sure that you can still function during rehearsals (and the heat)!
Lastly, don't panic about the student schedules! The Guidance Department ran into some technical issues last week that impacted the entire master schedule, and they spent the better part of the week putting everything back together. I sent them nearly 70 schedule adjustments just this past Friday, and I know the counselors were going to be spending much of this weekend making everything right. Also, be careful to not confuse a "course code" with a "course name." For example, a student who is in their second year in a high school jazz band would have the course code of "Jazz Ens 2," and this reflects which "end-of-course-exam" they would take at the end of the school year. However, it does not mean that they are necessarily in the course titled "Jazz Ensemble II" - they are two different things. It gets terribly confusing, but rest assured that everyone is working on getting everyone into the correct spot!
I'm looking forward to Marching Band Camp Week 2 as we begin to put our halftime show together for our "Preview Show" this coming Thursday at 7:00 PM! Parents: make sure you make it to the Band Parent meeting at 5:45 PM in the Band Room!
Please make sure that everyone is rested and hydrated for the week to come!
All the Best!
Mr. Blackmer
MARCHING BAND PREVIEW SHOW / "SUMMER UNIFORM" INFORMATION
For Thursday, August 9, there is a slightly extended camp schedule for the day, and a dinner will also be served around 4:30 PM.
Students will be receiving their 2018 show shirt sometime this week, and that, along with tan shorts and athletics shoes, is their uniform for the "Preview Show." We will use this "Summer Uniform" several times over the next few weeks, so if you haven't purchased a pair of tan khaki shorts, you'll need to do so this week!
NINTH GRADE CAMPUS INFORMATION
First, with regards to bus transportation for our Freshman Band students. Students/parents will want to refer to 2 different pieces of route information - the morning route (from home to the Ninth Grade Center) and the afternoon route (from the WPHS Main Campus back to home). Depending on your location in relation to these two buildings, you may or may not have a route available in the morning and/or afternoon, it just depends on how far away you live. As related to transportation, they really do function like two separate schools. Click HERE to "find your bus." You will see that there are two school options for Winter Park.
Second, to avoid several scheduling conflicts, the Freshman Jazz Band has been moved back to the Ninth Grade Center, and will meet during 4th Period on that campus each day. Band students will now be transported over to the Main Campus just prior to either 6th Period (Wind Symphony) and/or 7th Period (Concert Band).
Third, Freshman Band students will be able to store their instruments/music in the Music Room at the Ninth Grade Center during the school day, and retrieve prior to boarding the shuttle bus to the Main Campus. There are no individual lockers like at the Main Campus Band Room, however, there is plenty of shelf space to store everything - including water jugs! Just make sure that everything is clearly identified with the student's name!
Lastly, it isn't too late to sign-up for Freshman Jazz Band! We would definitely use a few more trombones and trumpets. Remember that the Study Skills class is waived for students who take Freshman Jazz Band - freeing up space in your schedule! Please contact Mr. Blackmer (or see him first thing Monday morning) if you'd like to join.
MARCHING BAND UNIFORM PRESSING
Mary Bernard is looking for some parent volunteers who would help with uniform pressing this Tuesday at 9:00 AM. If you can assist, please bring your ironing boards and irons on Tuesday, and come to the Uniform Storage Room - just down the hall from the Band Room. We can take as many volunteers as who can spare some time, even if it is for just an hour!
AMAZON FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITY!
Even though the holiday season is past us, this is still an excellent tool to raise money for the Band every time you shop at Amazon. The Winter Park High School Alumni Band Association is a registered charity on Smile.Amazon.com, so please remember to use this unique link to shop at Amazon every time, and a small percentage of the sale (at no cost to you) will automatically be sent quarterly to the WPHSABAA account and then donated to the Winter Park Band Program. If we all use this link every time, we can raise funds on an ongoing basis to help the band! https://smile.amazon.com/ch/27-0964817
If you have any questions, contact Jane Claus at janeclaus@live.com.
Marching Band Camp Week 2 Begins
Monday, Aug 6, 2018, 09:00 AM
2100 Summerfield Road, Winter Park, FL, USA
Band Booster Parent Meeting
Thursday, Aug 9, 2018, 05:45 PM
Winter Park High School, Summerfield Road, Winter Park, FL, USA
Marching Band "Preview Show"
Thursday, Aug 9, 2018, 07:00 PM
Winter Park High School, Summerfield Road, Winter Park, FL, USA
Winter Park High School Bands
Email: Christopher.Blackmer@ocps.net
Website: www.winterparkhsband.com
Location: 2100 Summerfield Road, Winter Park, FL, United States
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/121733824572614/
Twitter: @wphs_bands