Winter Park Band Notes
September 24, 2017
From Mr. Blackmer
Dear Band Families,
Greetings! I hope that everyone has had a restful and relaxing weekend!
Congratulations to The Sound of the Wildcats on their halftime performance this past Friday night! They're making great progress, despite losing so much rehearsal time with the hurricane. Also, a huge thanks to all of our parent chaperones who volunteered on Friday night!
Also, congratulations to everyone who performed an All-State audition this past Saturday at Ocoee High School! Many of these students have been working on their music etudes, scales and sightreading for many months, working hard toward these auditions, and I am very proud of their effort and dedication!
Please make note that the itinerary for this Friday's away game is a little different from typical weeks. We will be doing our annual Marching Band group picture prior to leaving for Timber Creek HS, so the report time has been moved up a bit.
Finally, I'd like to recognize Adam DeLoach, Matthew Kuczajda, and Mitchell Thomas on being three of the eight Winter Park High School National Merit Scholars Semi-Finalists! They are some truly outstanding individuals, both in and out of the Band Program!
All the Best to everyone on a terrific week!
Mr. Blackmer
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 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!
Football Games October 5 & October 9 / Added Friday Rehearsal
Both of the rescheduled football games (Thursday, October 5 and Monday, October 9) will be "pep band" performances. Pep Band A will perform on Thursday, October 5 for the away game at Olympia HS, and Pep Band B will perform at the game on Monday, October 9 at Colonial HS. For these games, if a student wishes to swap pep bands with another person from their section (on their same part), they may do so by e-mailing Mr. Blackmer by Friday, September 29. Like with our other pep band performances, there will be limited seating for those students who wish to perform in both groups.
Due to the fact that the Marching Band will be losing a performance at the Olympia game, as well as a rehearsal due to the rescheduled game on Monday, October 9, there will be a brief rehearsal on Friday, October 6 from 2:45 PM - 4:30 PM as we prepare for our competition at Merritt Island the next day.
Sav-a-Round Coupon Book Fundraiser
Students were given Sav-a-Round "show books" this past week. 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.
Marching Band Competition Meals
All students will need to eat a lunch for our upcoming competitions on Saturday, October 7 and Saturday, October 21, and for Marching Band MPA on Saturday, November 4. You may order a Chick-fil-a meal through the Band or pack your own meal. The order form can be found on the Band website under Marching Band. To make a payment, look for “Band Competition Meals” in the list of options on SchoolPay.com.
The deadline for order forms/payment is this Friday, September 29. If you miss the deadline, you will need to pack your own meal. We will only purchase what was ordered by the students. Once chaperones have been selected they will have the opportunity to order as well.
Marching Band Pictures
Marching Band photos will be taken this Friday, September 29, prior to the Timber Creek away game at 5:15 PM. Check Friday's itinerary for a complete run-down of that day's schedule.
Homecoming Parade & Roar
The Marching Band will be performing at the homecoming parade and "pep rally" at Central Park on 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 after the half time show, and our name banners held by each senior parent during the final Alma Mater at Showalter sung by our seniors. Senior parents—please mark the date on your calendar and plan to attend and support your senior!
Please note that we are attempting to get the "roll call" of Band seniors to take place during pre game. More information to come shortly!
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.