DMS Bands Newsletter
February 24, 2019
Calendar
Monday - 3:30pm-5:00pm - Percussion Ensemble Practice
Wednesday - 3:30pm-5:00pm - Percussion Ensemble Practice
Friday - Panther Prowl (Concert, Symphonic and Jazz Bands will perform)
Saturday - Spring Hill TN SCGC Competition (Percussion Ensemble)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
-Please share the following information with parents of 5th graders:
DMS will have Parent University for rising 6th grade on Thursday, February 28th only. The February 26th option has been removed from the calendar due to the State of the Schools address We apologize for any inconvenience.
Band Interest Meetings will still be held on Thursday, February 28th.
You can sign up for the sessions on the 28th at the following link.
-PANTHER PROWL on Friday
Volunteers and Donations are needed:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D44A5AF23A7F49-donations
- SPRING BAND FEES
-Spring Band Fees are past due!
-We will email the latest account statements next weekend. Please get your accounts up to date with payment plans and get those remaining fees paid.
-If you send in a check, remember we need two phone numbers and a drivers license number EVERY TIME. It’s a Madison City Schools policy.
Treasurer - Karyl Sellers - treasurer@dmsbands.org
-INSTRUMENT RENTAL AGREEMENT: Students renting DMS Band Instruments - Please sign and return the Spring Instrument Rental Agreement.
-Percussionists- Stick Bags are in! If you ordered a stick bag and have not payed yet, please bring in your payment of $125.
-BAND BOOSTER Volunteer Opportunities
-DMS Band Families of 6th and 7th graders - We have an URGENT need for some parents to step forward and learn what all is involved in moving and transporting the Bands to their performances around campus and off site.
Training will begin ASAP.
If you are interested in being part of this team for next year please contact us - info@dmsbands.org
8th Grade Parents - interested in Chair Committees for BJHS Bands next year, please contact-
Symphonic/Concert Bands
- Panther Prowl on Friday - Concert and Symphonic Bands will perform.
Uniform - Band Polo and blue jeans
-Snap Raise is in full swing and although everyone isn't required to participate, we REALLY would love as many people to participate as possible. We only have 17% participation so far. Your students can enter their 20 email addresses when you have them. We have already passed the $2,500 mark after just 3 days! Way to go, Panther Band family!
-MPA Performances will be:
Symphonic Band- 3/13 2:30pm at JCHS
Concert Band- 3/14 9:30am at JCHS
More details for these field trips (and permission slips) will come soon. If you'd like to chaperone, contact Mrs. Merritt or Mrs. Purser.
- Concert Attire is required for MPA - The Uniform order has been placed for new students.
-Solo and Ensemble is coming up. This is an optional event for students to participate in if they want to work on a solo or a small ensemble (duet, trio, etc). They prepare a solo or an ensemble and perform it for a judge (at a Saturday competition) and if they earn a superior rating they will receive a medal. The date for Solo and Ensemble for the CON and SYM bands is: Saturday April 13th at Hartselle High School.
-Please talk to your student about keeping up to date with his/her google classroom assignments. If you have questions about these, please email Mrs. Merritt and/or talk to your student. These are quiz grades. There is partial credit for late work sometimes, so please keep up to date when possible. Go check and see which assignments your students are missing if you have a minute this weekend!
-ALL students should be practicing their instruments at least 3 times a week for a few minutes. Competition season is tough and we still have a lot of work to do.
- Please see the Announcements Paragraph.
Cadet/Beginner Band
Upcoming Events
1/31- Spring fees were Due
2/27- Solo and Ensemble Form Due (Google Classroom)
3/14- SnapRaise Fundraiser ends
3/18-3/22- Spring Break
3/30- Solo and Ensemble at Meridianville Middle School
Chair Test
Students have their first chair test of the semester this coming Friday. The chair test assignment will be given to students on Monday. Please encourage your child to practice at home (15 minutes a day.)
Springs Fees and Paperwork
Please get any fees or Spring Instrument Rental Agreements in as soon as possible. If needed, email info@dmsbands.org to set up a payment plan.
Reeds (Clarinet and Saxophone Players)
Just a reminder that the band sells reeds for "emergencies." We are not meant to be the supplier of students reeds. Buying individual reeds from the band room is actually more expensive in the long run than purchasing a box on Amazon. See the Charms email sent out on 2/8/19 for links to suggest brands and sizes.
Snap! Raise Fundraiser
Our Snap! Raise Fundraiser is in full swing right now. If you do not want to participate by giving out people's email addresses, but still want to help, please remember that you can share the link to donate on social media as well. Donations to the band program are always accepted if someone wants to donate but does not want to use the Snap! Raise Link. Thank you for your help fundraising for your program.
Solo and Ensemble
As part of their grade this semester, every student is required to work up a solo and perform it. Students can complete this assignment in two ways:
1) By performing a solo at Solo and Ensemble, where they can receive a medal if they do well (recommended). OR
2) By performing a solo for the class
The cost to perform at Solo and Ensemble is $5 per event. Please check Google Classroom for a Sign up Form. This form needs to be submitted by February 27.
As always, if you have any questions please email us at
Mrs. Merritt- jmmerritt@madisoncity.k12.al.us
Mrs. Sims- ksims@madisoncity.k12.al.us
Jazz Band
Jazz Band - Great Job on the DMS Showcase Performance!
Jazz Band will perform Jazz Lunch on Friday for the Panther Prowl.
Uniform - Band Polo and jeans
Indoor Drumline/ Percussion Ensemble
CONGRATULATIONS - 1st Place Percussion Scholastic A at the SCGC Mad Town Throwdown at BJHS!
We are so proud of you all!
- Practice this week - Monday and Wednesday - 3:30pm-5:00pm
- This Saturday, March 2 - Spring Hill High School. The group will perform at 10:05.
Complete details were sent in a separate email.
-6:00am - ARRIVE AT BJHS Band Room
-Bring a sack lunch or money for the concession stand.
-Uniform - same as Mad Town (Bring in a garment bag to change into)
-Please make sure that we have received your out-of-county field trip form. Without this, your child will not be allowed to travel with us. It can be found under the parent info. / forms section on bjhsband.com. Please remember this form does need to be notarized.
- If you haven't already, please submit your first payment of $150. As always, payment plans can be arranged. Reminder that the remaining $125 is due Mar. 4th. All checks should be made to Bob Jones High School Drumline and include a driver's license and 2 phone numbers.
Kevin Smart
Asst. Director of Bands
Bob Jones High School
Snack donations would be greatly appreciated for Saturday.
Thank you!
BJHS JV Winter Guard
CONGRATULATIONS - to our JV winterguard girls. They finished 6th in their class at SCGC Mad Town, competing against several high school only guards.
We are so proud of your hard work and dedication!
Mark your calendars
Upcoming Events:
MARCH
3/7 - Competition Band/Choir Trip Meeting (Parents and Students)(NEW DATE)(Mandatory)
3/13 - MPA Symphonic Band - JCHS - 2:30pm
3/14 - MPA Concert Band - JCHS - 9:30am
3/18 - 3/22 - Spring Break
3/21 - 3/23 - UNA Middle School Honor Band
3/26 - Dinner with the Drumline at BJHS
3/28 - Orlando Trip Meeting (Students and Parents)(Turn in forms)(Mandatory)
3/30 - Solo/Ensembles (Cadet) - Meridianville Middle School
3/31 - SCGC Percussion Ensemble Competition
APRIL
4/3 - 4/8 - Competition Band/Choir Trip
4/13 - Solos and Ensembles (Concert and Symphonic) - Hartselle HS (Updated Location)
Spring Dance TBA
4/18 - Spring Fling Dance
4/25 - 4/27 - All State Band - Von Braun Center
4/29 and 4/30 - DMS Bands Concerts with BJHS Bands
MAY
5/11 - Jazz Brunch
5/14 - End of Year Party/Awards TBD
Fundraising
Spring Fundraisers:
-Papa John's Dollars for Dough - ONLINE ONLY!! (Delivery or Carry Out) Place this code in the promor bar 'DMSBAND'
https://1drv.ms/u/s!Ak9kM_qOKrI2jFEeX36FFycIuE_k
-Coffee Fundraiser - The Coffee Order has been placed. We will let you know when the orders will be ready for pick up.
-Snap Raise - Snap is an online donation campaign that allows our program to receive donations from our networks and supporters. Snap uses the power of email, text, and social media with a safe, fun and interactive approach. All we ask is that each parent/guardian help their student gather 20 or more email addresses of their biggest fans! Snap is an online donation campaign that allows our program to receive donations from our networks and supporters. Snap uses the power of email, text, and social media with a safe, fun and interactive approach. All we ask is that each parent/guardian help their student gather 20 or more email addresses of their biggest fans! Your contacts are strictly private and protected, and never sold or shared!
-Spring Dance (April 18) - Stay tuned for details and how you can help!
-Silent Auction (May) - We need a volunteer to coordinate the spring auction. Please email info@dmsbands.org if you are interested.
Year-long fundraisers:
-Kroger and Publix:
-Publix Fundraiser
To sign-up, you’ll need to go to www.publix.com or the Publix app on your phone. You will need to setup or sign-in to your existing account. Choose “My Publix Partner” and enter Discovery Middle School Bands.
-Kroger Fundraiser
Signing up for Kroger rewards is one of the easiest ways you can fundraise for the band. You can link your existing card to DMS Bands by following the information below:
Registration Instructions:
The Kroger Community Rewards program is an ideal way to support your favorite non-profit or charity organization. The program allocates funds to participating organizations based on the purchases that registered members, family and friends of the organization have made at Kroger using their Kroger Plus card. Each individual should enroll their Kroger Plus Cards online at the Kroger secure website, www.krogercommunityrewards.com and then choose the organization they wish to support.
To use the Kroger Community Rewards Program:
1. Register your Kroger Plus card online at krogercommunityrewards.com
• Be sure to have your Kroger Plus card handy (you will need the number)
• If you do not yet have a Kroger Plus card, they are available at the customer service desk at any Kroger.
• Click on Sign In/Register
• Click on SIGN UP TODAY in the ‘New Customer?’ box (unless you have previously registered online).
• Sign up for a Kroger Rewards Account by entering zip code, clicking on favorite store, entering your email address and creating a password, agreeing to the terms and conditions
• You will then get a message to check your email inbox and click on the link within the body of the email to finalize card registration.
• Click on My Account and use your email address and password to proceed to the next step.
2. Link your card with DMS Bands
• Log into your account at krogercommunityrewards.com
• Click on Edit Kroger Community Rewards information and input your Kroger Plus card Number.
• Update or confirm your information.
• Enter the code NX095 and click on confirm.
• To verify you are enrolled correctly, you will see your organization’s name on the right side of your information page.
-Planet Fundraiser:
Download the Planet Fundraiser app and choose Discovery Middle School Band.
Every time you shop at a local merchant (such as Target or Shaggy’s), simply open the app and snap a pic of your receipt. You can also choose to shop at various online retailers through the app. Planet Fundraiser will give back to DMS Bands!
Band Room Supply Wish List
White Copy Paper
Color Copy Paper (bright colors- yellow, orange, green and pink)
Volunteers/Chaperones
Volunteers are needed!!
If you would like to volunteer, please apply for your Volunteer Card soon!
All chaperones must pass the Secure Volunteer background screen and have a Secure Volunteer ID card. https://bib.com/secureVolunteer/Madison-City-Schools/
Please contact us after you have started the BIB process, we have to give the DMS Office your name to complete the process.info@dmsbands.org
Please send a copy of your BIB Volunteer Card to be kept on file.
Have Questions?
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If you have any questions please contact us.