Nation Ford Marching Band News
Weekly Update September 6 - September 12
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/
“I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of humanity. It’s something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music.”
- Billy Joel
Our Show gets it's inspiration from the Broadway Musical "Blast!"
PRACTICE AND REHEARSAL UPDATES
Good news: Classes and training are off to a good start. Show music will start to be distributed this week.
After school rehearsals will start off this Thursday. Virtual students who are participating with rehearsals will be given a designation as either an A day or B day student by tomorrow evening (Sept 8). They will rehearse with those groups as outlined by the schedule. Information regarding what to bring to rehearsal will be discussed in class and posted to Google Classroom. The next 2 weeks are as follows:
AFTER SCHOOL PRACTICE
Tuesday, Sept 8: NO REHEARSAL
Thursday, Sept 10: B Day Students
Monday, Sept 14: B Day Students
Tuesday, Sept 15: A Day Students
Thursday, Sept 17: A Day Students
Parents, please remember that rehearsal schedules are fluid and the word for the year is FLEXIBILITY! This information will be communicated to your students in class, and via Google Classroom. They are responsible for letting you know what their schedule is. Please be sure to ask your student what their personal schedule is.
When after school rehearsals begin, students MUST be picked up in the car rider line. The bus lanes outside the band room are off limits for picking up students. We have had some close calls in the past with people coming around the round-about, backing out of the spots in front of the band room, and others trying to use that lane as a pick up spot. Please keep our parents and students safe and do not try to park there.
In the morning, students may drop their instrument off in the band room on the designated area of the shelf with their name. No bags or personal items may be left behind (unlike previous years). Students may not stay in band room and socialize as administration has instructed that they must go directly to 1st block. No items may be left behind at the end of the day.
Be sure to always have an appropriate water bottle as water fountains will be turned off.
Per district policy, if you 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!
BAND FEES
UPDATE!!!
The fees for the season have been adjusted to $425. The payment schedule is as follows:
BAND FEE: $425 (reduced to $400 if paid in full by Oct. 16)
Payment 1: Sept 18 $250
Payment 2: Oct 16 $100 (Total Dues $400 if paid in full by this date)
Payment 3: Nov 20 $75
If you have two students in the band program simultaneously, each student’s fees will be reduced to $375. If you have three or more students in the program at the same time, each student’s fees will be $350. If each student’s fees are paid in full by Oct. 16, the early bird discount will be applied to each student’s fees (reduced another $25 to $325 using the previous example).
A $75 Instrument Rental Fee is applied to the account of any student who uses a school owned instrument. If a student is required to play more than 1 school owned instrument, no additional charges will apply.
There are 3 different ways to pay your fees:
1) Check or cash—mailed or placed in the payment envelope in Mr. Woody’s office.
2) PayPal Individual Payments on the FEES/PAYMENTS tab on the Band website (there is a small fee incurred)
Found on band website: https://www.nationfordband.com/fees-payments
3) PayPal 6 months same as cash payments—subject to credit approval through PayPal.
All checks can be made payable to FMDBBC and mailed to the following address:
FMDBBC
PO Box 611
Fort Mill, SC 29716
Whether paying by check or PayPal, please be sure your student’s name is included as well as listing NFHS.
If you would like to cash in points, they will not automatically debit to your account. You will need to email nafocharms@gmail.com and let Nicky know how many points you would like to redeem.
If you have already paid your band fees in full, or have a refund because of rolled over Disney Trip money, you may choose to keep that money in your account to cover part of your 2021-22 band fees or request a refund.
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).
$50 off Flyer
Mattress Sale Yard Signs are in!
Faculty, Staff and First Responders Flyer
MATTRESS FUNDRAISER
The NAFO Band Mattress Sale will be held on Saturday, September 26, from 10am - 5pm.
We had a GREAT turnout at our Parent Meetings on Saturday. Thank you all so much for taking time out of your Saturday before the first day of school to hear about our crazy amazing fundraiser. Remember, our goal is One Student = One Mattress! We already have a few students who have sold a mattress! Let's keep our title as the top fundraiser for the Southeast Region!
Be sure to follow our NAFO Band Even Facebook Page and share the Mattress Sale Event with all your family and friends.
We have had parents who were unable to attend last Saturday's meetings who showed interest in a make-up virtual meeting. If you missed it, we will be offering a GOOGLE MEET ONLINE MEETING THIS WEDNESDAY AT 7pm! Please sign up so we know who to send the invitation to. This sign up will close at 5:30pm on Wednesday so John from CFS can prepare for the meeting.
Remember, attending the meeting is also a fundraiser for the band! SIGN UP FOR MEETING LINK
If you are interested in seeing the video that explains the Hygienic Mattress Testing Kit it is linked here. It may make it easier to invite people to the sale!
We now have the Mattress Sale Signs. If you would like a yard sign or two to get the word out, please comment to our Facebook page, or email Dorothy at nafobandpres22@gmail.com. We will hook you up!
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.
PANTHERS STAND
The NFL schedule is still in flux and has been changing weekly. Pre-season games have all been cancelled. The 500 level will not have spectators, so when we get into the stadium we will be assigned a new stand, hopefully identical to the one we already know how to run!
As of now, we expect our first game to be Sunday, October 4. When we have confirmation, we will send out a SignUpGenius. It will be very important to sign up as quickly as there will be a short turn around time.
GOOD NEWS!! All training will be ONLINE so no more paperwork to exchange hands!
All students must be 16 to work in the stand. GOOD NEWS! We have found our Stand Manager for this year. Thank you Staci Hawkins. You're going to do a GREAT job!!
** NEW STAND RULE** All who work in the stadium must wear non-slip, closed toed footwear. This will be inspected upon check-in. All sneakers do not have non-slip soles. If you plan to work, please make sure you have appropriate footwear.
Please reach out to Carl and Shawna Lee Irish at nafobandpanthers@gmail.com with any questions.
MASK PRE-ORDERS
Due to family emergencies they will both be unavailable this week, but Shawna Lee will be available next weekend to pick your masks up and pay if you still need to. They will announce a Band Store date and time in the next week.
You may also still order online. Please click the ORDER FORM and submit your order. If you order online, we ask that you pay via PayPal online and follow directions to email the receipt.
Duffel
Band Store
Yard Signs for each Instrument
BAND STORE
Our Band Store carries fun items to allow you to show your support for Nation Ford Band. Once school starts, we will start selling jackets, hats, car magnets, PopSockets, puravida Spirit Bracelets and other items that will allow you to show that you are part of the band! Stay tuned for our next Band Store day!
Yard Signs may be ordered by filling out the order form that was emailed out on Friday, 8/30. If you did not receive an order form and would like to order, please email nafobandstore@gmail.com. Deadline for Yard Signs is September 26.
Show shirts will be delayed this year, but Mr. Linkous has something exciting planned! Those will also be available for order once completed.
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.
HARRIS TEETER e-VIC
** We only have 26 of our parents registered, this is a super easy way to earn money for our band! **
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!
WAYS TO GET INFORMATION AND STAY IN TOUCH
Next meeting: Monday, September 28, 7pm
SPIRIT NIGHTS
STAY TUNED FOR OUR NEXT SPIRIT NIGHT
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.
WORKING CALENDAR
All information that is listed below is EXTREMELY SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Dates and events may be dropped, added, or changed in response to directives from our school district and state officials regarding COVID-19. Any dates listed that do not specify exact information will be filled in as soon as details and confirmations become available. ALL PAYMENT DATES ARE FIRM.
September 9 MATTRESS SALE ZOOM MEETING 7pm
September 18 FIRST PAYMENT $250
September 26 MATTRESS SALE-- 10am - 5pm
October 16 SECOND PAYMENT $100 (Total Dues $400 if paid in full by this date)
November 3 THIRD PAYMENT $75 (Total Dues $425)