Nation Ford Marching Band News
Weekly Update November 29 - December 5
Nation Ford Band Booster Club
Email: nafobandpres22@gmail.com
Website: www.nationfordband.com
Location: 1400 A O Jones Blvd, Fort Mill, SC, USA
Phone: (803)835-0000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/65289988312/
"Set higher standards for your own performance than anyone else around you, and your only competition will be with yourself."
- Rick Pitino
Photo Cred: Chris Coffee
Photo Cred: Chris Coffee
Photo Cred: Chris Coffee
DIRECTOR'S CORNER
FROM MR. LINKOUS
We hope all of our families have had a great Thanksgiving Holiday! As we return from the holiday, the Nation Ford Band will be ramping up for our final week of rehearsals before recording our semester project called LEGACY.
As a friendly reminder, we WILL NOT be having after school practice tomorrow (Monday, November 30th). Final rehearsals will resume beginning Tuesday, December 1st.
All future rehearsals held after school and on Saturdays are considered FULL BAND REHEARSALS. All students will rehearse after school at 4:00pm regardless of the day they attend in-person classes (A or B Day).
REMAINING REHEARSAL SCHEDULE
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1 (B Day) FULL BAND REHEARSAL 4:00PM (A Day students report by 4:00pm)
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3 (B Day) FULL BAND REHEARSAL 4:00PM (A Day students report by 4:00pm)
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5 BAND PRACTICE (FULL GROUP) RECORDING 9:00AM - 5:00PM
(any students taking the SAT should report to practice immediately after completing their test)
MONDAY, DECEMBER 7 (B Day) FULL BAND REHEARSAL/RECORDING 4:00PM (A Day students report by 4:00pm)
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8 (A Day) FULL BAND REHEARSAL/RECORDING 4:00PM (B Day students report by 4:00pm)
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10 (A Day) FULL BAND REHEARSAL/RECORDING 4:00PM (B Day students report by 4:00pm)
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12 FULL BAND REHEARSAL & RECORDING 9:00AM-5:00PM - FINAL SESSION
FOR REHEARSALS
*ALL STUDENTS must wear athletic attire that allows you to move freely such as shorts, t-shirts, workout pants, etc. at rehearsals (no jeans). Please bring your clean NF Band issued neck gaiter buff. (The replaceable filters are very reasonably priced on Amazon.)
*ALL STUDENTS must wear athletic shoes and a brimmed hat - No Exceptions! (Please do not bring a red hat.)
*1-Gallon Water Jug filled with ONLY WATER (and ice, if needed)
*Students may bring snacks to keep in their bags (Please note snacks are to be consumed only at designated times and only with permission from a director or staff member)
PER DISTRICT POLICY
If your student has forgotten something at home, nothing may be dropped off at the school this year. Please make sure your have your instrument and mouthpiece when you leave your house!
Booster Club Meeting
Please sign up to come to the meeting. We are finished within one hour. If we fill all our spots for in-person meeting, we will open an online option to ensure safety. Remember, as a band parent you are automatically part of the Booster Club!
SIGN UP TO ATTEND THE BOOSTER CLUB MEETING
Our Team Members during the Detroit Lions game on 11/22
Panthers v. Denver Broncos
Fun in the Stand!
PANTHERS STAND FUNDRAISER
Our next game is SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13. We need THREE (3) more parents to sign up.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d49ada82aabfbc43-sunday4
***GET EXCITED!!!*** For the month of December, we will pay a 10 point INCENTIVE to every person who works for every game you work! That's almost double what you would normally earn. Sign up early so we can maximize our income to the Band! There are only 4 more opportunities left this years!
All of the SignUpGenius links for the remainder of the year are linked below. If you can work, please sign up now. When we submit our Roster before the deadline, we earn an Early Bird BONUS for our band! We have been offered a Hydration Station to work with 2 extra volunteers. This will be a premium for our band and we will receive a higher payout at the end of the season! Students may work this position!
NOTE: The Panthers are VERY strict about social distancing in the stadium, and we have space in the stand as well. We have no physical contact with the fans, we do not handle any money, nor are we within close distance for any length of time. All fans and workers are screened and temperatures are taken before admittance to the Stadium.
The best part of this fundraiser is WIFM! What is that, you ask? What's In It For Me!! YOU will earn POINTS! Points can be cashed in toward band fees and hopefully in the future, trips! As a reminder:
Per Student (includes multiple family members per student)
Work 1-5 games = 15 points per game ($30)
Work 6-10 games = 17.5 points per games ($35)
Work 11+ games = 20 points ($40)
If you are not sure what is entailed by working the Panthers Stand please reach out to Carl & Shawna Lee Irish at nafobandpanthers@gmail.com or Staci Hawkins at Hawkinssl@zhi.com.
Please remember, the fundraising we do this year will benefit your student next year and the following year. Our Concession Stand at Panthers Stadium has been one of our largest fundraisers in the past! We need Freshman and Sophomore parents to step up because the upper classmen parents have worked especially hard in previous years to ensure that your students have the superior band program that they have moved into. Next year, when band fees are double what they are this year, it will also be nice to have points banked to cash in. It only works though if everyone helps out.
GOOD NEWS!! All training will be ONLINE. Only 4 pages need to be signed and scanned to me this year.
** UPDATE ** ALL WHO WORK ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR CLOSED TOED TENNIS SHOES WITH A GOOD GRIP! THIS IS A CHANGE FROM THE PREVIOUS REQUIREMENT!!
We will need to carpool as the whole stand needs to enter at the same time. This will be organized after sign-up.
Please reach out to Carl and Shawna Lee Irish at nafobandpanthers@gmail.com with any questions.
Sunday, Dec 13 Denver Broncos 1:00 pm
Saturday, Dec19 ACC Championship Game 4:00pm
Wednesday, Dec 30 Duke’s Mayo Bowl 12:00pm
Sunday, Jan 3 New Orleans Saints 1:00 pm
BUTTER BRAIDS AND FRESH FRUIT
Thank you Jodi Lamb for all your hard work organizing the Butter Braid and Fresh Fruit sale.
We need YOUR help now! Please sign up to help sort the fruit and Butter Braids when they arrive, and help deliver to parents when they pick up. This is a GREAT way to get to know other parents in the band program!
SIGN UP TO HELP
All items will be available for pick-up on December 4th after school. Please make a plan to pick up that night as we do not have freezer space to store the Butter Braids and they need to be kept frozen.
Choices
Pick up Orders December 15
Don't Forget!
SPIRIT NIGHTS
PLEASE SHARE OUR SPIRIT NIGHTS WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS!
SPIRIT NIGHT WITH NAILED IT!
Order your Take & Make Design or your Hand Finished Retail item with Nailed It at this website until Sunday, December 6th. Follow the instructions. Closer to pick-up on December 15 we will send out a SignUpGenius for DIY Night in the Large Band Room for any parents who would like to socially distance at tables to work on our projects together. Masks will be required per FMSD. Don't forget! Order one for you and one as a gift for a friend!
If you know of a restaurant who would like to host a Spirit Night, please contact Stephanie Whitcher at sdwhitcher@comporium.net or Shawna Lee Irish at irish1011@hotmail.com.
PIT CREW
VOLUNTEERS
If you are planning on chaperoning or volunteering to work with the students, you must have a Secure Volunteer card. This is a card issued through the Fort Mill School District that performs as a background check to clear you to work directly with the students. It takes 5 minutes to fill out online and submit. The district will then be in touch with you regarding passing the verification process. In turn, they will send us a list of cleared parents to help with the students. If you have one from the middle school, it is still valid -- be sure to check the expiration date on the card so it doesn't expire. The application is on the band website under Participate! Be a Secure Volunteer!
Once you have filled out the form, please email Mr. Linkous to let him know to look for it.
** THIS IS NOT REQUIRED TO WORK AT THE PANTHERS STADIUM **
Masks
Click on ONLINE STORE in Charms to see our entire online inventory
Store
BAND STORE
Students should have brought Show Shirts home last week. If they did not, please have your student see Mr. Woody during class this week.
Coming Soon: Order form for Christmas Ornaments. These are collectables and most families have one for each show that their child participated in. Many families purchase 2, one for the parents and one for the student.
Our Band Store carries fun items to allow you to show your support for your Nation Ford Band student. We have hats, car magnets, PopSockets, puravida Spirit Bracelets and other items that will allow you to show that you are part of the band! We will have the Silipint cups in soon as well!
SILIPINTS
AMAZON SMILES
Please use smile.amazon.com when you shop on Amazon. This site uses your same user name and password as the Amazon site, however it gives a percentage of all purchases back to the band. You will need to choose Fort Mill District Band Booster Club Inc in order to support the band. We are doing very well with this since many are shopping online!
HARRIS TEETER e-VIC
Nation Ford High School Band has teamed up with Harris Teeter E-Vic program as an easy way to help raise funds for our band program. Please go to the Harris Teeter website and under “Together in Education” click the green tab to "link your school". Link your card to Nation Ford HS Marching Band and you are set. Note: If you did this last year, you need to do this again this year. E-Vic linking is only good for 1 year at a time. Please, everyone link your E-Vic card as this is an easy and effortless way to help raise funds for the band.
Our official name for linking purposes is “Nation Ford HS Marching Band"
School Code is 3956
PUBLIX PARTNERS
To support Nation Ford Band, sign up for Publix Partners through your Publix.com account (if you don't already have one) and select your desired school. Then, enter your phone number at checkout each time you make an eligible purchase.
To enroll: Log in or sign up through www.Publix.com. Once signed in, drop down under "Welcome, (your name)" to access “Go To My Account.” Go to “My Publix Partner” and select a school. Type Nation Ford, and you will be able to select Nationford High School Band, Fort Mill, SC. Every time you shop, enter your phone number (linked to your account) to give credit to the band. Family and friends who shop at Publix in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia can sign up for Publix Partners.
Please note, you need to re-enroll every year!
CROSSWINDS INSURANCE REFERRAL
Renado Robinson at Crosswinds Insurance has a great referral program to benefit the band program. For each referral sent to Crosswinds Insurance that sets up a new insurance policy, Crosswinds Insurance will donate $10 to the band on a monthly basis and will also send a $10 gift card to the referring person. This insurance company can beat the price of most other companies as they are an independent insurance representative. Please take advantage of this if you are looking for insurance!
Click on UPDATE INFO in Charms to make sure all info is correct
Click on FINANCES in Charms to see your Balance
Click on POINT SYSTEM in Charms to see if you have Points to redeem
BAND FEES
ALL PAYMENTS SHOULD BE PAID AT THIS TIME.
BAND FEE: $425 (reduced to $400 if paid in full by Oct. 16)
Payment 1: Sept 18 $250 (PAST DUE)
Payment 2: Oct 16 $100 (Total Dues $400 if paid in full by this date) (PAST DUE)
Payment 3: Nov 20 $75 (PAST DUE)
Please visit our website for more information on Band Fees. https://www.nationfordband.com/fees-payments
** We appreciate everyone who has communicated with us regarding challenges with band fee payments. Please reach out to Mr. Linkous at any time with questions. We will always work very hard to help families in need. Band fees are very crucial this season, considering this year’s limited fundraising opportunities, while still trying to provide a great experience for our students with quality instructors in front of them. **
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Dorothy Shiakallis at nafobandpres22@gmail.com, Nicky Ludolph our Charms Secretary at nafocharms@gmail.com, or our Executive Secretary, Bob Hessler, at nafoband@gmail.com.
It is important that everyone pay the $100 Activity Fee which is assessed by the FMSD. This fee insures that the district will continue to supplement our staff expenses AND provide transportation once field trips resume (Region Band, All-state Band, Concert Performance Assessment, Winter Guard, Percussion Ensemble, etc).
WAYS TO GET INFORMATION AND STAY IN TOUCH
WORKING CALENDAR
All information that is listed on this schedule is EXTREMELY SUBJECT TO CHANGE. We appreciate your patience and understanding with this process. ALL PAYMENT DATES ARE FIRM.
Regardless of the fact that a student may be either an A day or B day student, please keep in mind that rehearsals marked as either A day or B day may need to be altered on a future date.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30 NO PRACTICE OFF
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30 Booster Club Meeting 7:00pm Large Band Room
Sign Up Here
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1 (B Day) FULL BAND REHEARSAL 4:00PM - 6:30PM (A Day students report by 4:00pm)
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3 (B Day) FULL BAND REHEARSAL 4:00PM - 6:30PM (A Day students report by 4:00pm)
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5 BAND PRACTICE (FULL GROUP) RECORDING 9:00AM - 5:00PM
(any students taking the SAT should report to practice immediately after completing their test)
MONDAY, DECEMBER 7 (B Day) FULL BAND REHEARSAL/RECORDING 4:00PM - 6:30PM
(A Day students report by 4:00pm)
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8 (A Day) FULL BAND REHEARSAL/RECORDING 4:00PM - 6:30PM (B Day students report by 4:00pm)
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10 (A Day) FULL BAND REHEARSAL/RECORDING 4:00PM - 6:30PM (B Day students report by 4:00pm)
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12 FULL BAND REHEARSAL & RECORDING 9:00AM-5:00PM - FINAL SESSION