SUMMER UPDATE

Written By Darren Loney

Hope you’re having a great summer! PLEASE DO THIS NOW IF YOU HAVEN’T >> All new and returning members of the Gahr Marching Gladiators must fill out the 2022 Band Registration & Participation Form. Please have a parent or guardian fill this out with the student. This takes about 10 minutes to complete and is crucial for us to get off to a good start!

Color Guard Camp is NEXT WEEK — July 11-15th from 4-8PM each day at Ross Middle School. We will begin learning the choreography for our 2022 field show production, “Mad Science.” The $150 Band Camp Donation is due for all Color Guard members on Monday, July 11th. We cannot purchase your costume without this donation. Please also bring in the form and payment for your Color Guard Summer Spirit Pack. We also resume weekly percussion rehearsal for Battery and Front Ensemble this Wednesday, July 13th from 5-8PM. We still have open positions for synth (piano) and auxiliary percussion. If you know anyone who might be interested in joining the band, please have them email Mr. Loney ASAP: darren.loney@abcusd.us.

PARENTS: We have received lots of interest to help with food and serving lunches; however, we are still in need of a LEAD for the Food Team! You’ll be keeping students fed so they can learn and be productive on their big rehearsal days. This is a SUPER IMPORTANT position and requires availability on weekdays during Band Camp. Once school starts the demand is less and is typically limited to making sure lunch is provided on Saturday rehearsals. There will be plenty of parent support, but we won’t be able to do this without a lead person. If you are interested or would like more info, please email Co-President Ammie Goncalves: ammie.goncalves@abcusd.us.

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1. BAND REGISTRATION & PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT — https://forms.gle/4gCsFUEt3i97EiNL7

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2. BAND CAMP NEWSLETTER — Please read through the summer Band Camp Newsletter. This contains important information so we can be successful. All students MUST attend band camp to be admitted into the field show for the fall semester. We perform before the school year starts, and it is very difficult to catch up after missing 75+ hours of instruction. Please note that due to campus construction, all summer rehearsals will be held at Ross Middle School — 17707 Elaine Ave, Artesia, CA 90701.

PERCUSSION REHEARSALS: 7/13, 7/20 from 5-8PM each day
COLOR GUARD CAMP: July 11th-15th from 4-8PM each day
BAND CAMP: July 25th-August 12th, Mon-Fri, from 9AM-4PM each day

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3. BAND CAMP DONATION — In order to pay for our summer instructors and field show materials, there is a $150 Donation due this Monday, July 11th for Color Guard students and on Monday, July 25th for all other students. We are unable to run Band Camp without these funds. We accept cash, checks made payable to "Gahr Band Boosters," or you can pay online.

Marching Band Donation

The total student donation for the marching band is $675. Your donation helps cover major items such as instructional staff, equipment and instruments, uniform maintenance, production costs, tournament entry fees, and transportation. Specialized instruction inspires students to keep at it, a skill they can apply to their other classes. Students will gain knowledge of a specific instrument or equipment, a performance mentality, and invaluable life skills.

We highly encourage the donation to be paid in full to help with upfront costs such as show design, production costs, and competition entry fees. If needed, it can be broken down in the following way:

  • $225 - 1st Donation

  • $150 - 2nd Donation

  • $150 - 3rd Donation

  • $150 - 4th Donation

Your donation may be tax-deductible; please consult your accounting professional. Tax ID #45-4683974. Scholarships and fundraising may help offset your donations. Please contact darren.loney@abcusd.us for additional details.

Payment:
Quantity:
Add To Cart

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4. REGISTRATION PAYMENT OF $269 DUE TO WORLDSTRIDES — We currently have over 150+ students, parents, and alumni who have signed up for the Hawaii trip!! The trip includes accommodations for 6 days and 5 nights, a performance at the USS Missouri in Pearl Harbor, a clinic at the University of Hawaii, a visit to Diamond Head State Monument, a dolphin and snorkeling excursion, a luau, and more. Click here to download the itinerary and payment sheet.

IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO SIGN UP! We typically go on this trip every four years, so if you’re an incoming freshmen, this may be your only opportunity in high school to go. ALL PARTICIPANTS SHOULD HAVE SIGNED UP ON WORLDSTRIDES AND PAID THE $269 REGISTRATION FEE. All payments at this point should be made directly to WorldStrides. Your initial deposit of $100 is applied to your final balance (last payment). Please follow the instructions below on how to register:

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5. ATHLETIC CLEARANCE DUE 7/22 — All new AND RETURNING STUDENTS must complete their athletic clearance to be admitted into the band or color guard. Here are the steps:

STEP 1 - Get a physical exam. You need to bring a print out of Gahr’s Physical Evaluation Form for the doctor to fill out. It is highly recommend to use a walk-in clinic instead of scheduling this with your primary care physician. If you are looking for a clinic, this one is available for $30 cash and they typically do same-day appointments:

Sheila Weddle, DC, CCSP
Phone: (562) 866-8384
Address: 5687 Woodruff Ave, Lakewood, CA 90713

SETP 2 - Take a photo of the form. Click here for instructions on how to use your iPhone as a document scanner.

SETP 3 - Register and upload your form on the Family ID website: https://www.familyid.com/gahr-high-school

All students will eventually need to purchase an ASB card and pay for transportation, but this can also be done in person during Gahr High School registration on Thursday, August 11th.

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6. INSTRUMENT/EQUIPMENT DONATION — There is a $35 Instrument/Equipment Donation for all members of the battery, the front ensemble, the color guard, and any wind players who are using a school instrument. For color guard this will help pay for school equipment including flag silks, rifles, and sabers. For percussionists, this helps cover new drum heads, sticks, mallets, etc. Please click here to pay this online. Thank you.

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7. SIGN UP FOR REMIND ANNOUNCEMENTS — If you’re not getting Remind text messages, please take a moment to sign up now by your student’s grade level. This is our primary method of communication.

FRESHMEN: Text "@music2026" TO: 81010
SOPHOMORES: Text "@music2025" TO: 81010
JUNIORS: Text "@music2024" TO: 81010
SENIORS: Text "@music2023" TO: 81010

If you are a student, please also sign up to use “Slack” for important rehearsal communication:
https://join.slack.com/t/gahrband/shared_invite/zt-1a9al3s2v-mqytQ9nRPPVnRnZgaE86kQ

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8. TWO GREAT WAYS TO RAISE MONEY — Use the fundraisers below to raise money for your marching band donations, as well as the Hawaii trip! This is the BEST TIME to do it before we get busy with school starting. STUDENTS MUST BE CURRENT WITH MARCHING BAND, WINTER GUARD, AND WINTER DRUMLINE DONATIONS IN ORDER FOR FUNDRAISERS TO BE APPLIED FOR THE HAWAII TRIP.

  • Field Show Program Ads - Earn 90% of the profit from all field show ad sales. The ad prices range from $25 to $175. Many local businesses are looking for ways to advertise to the community.

  • Student Sponsorship Letter - 100% of the money sponsorships goes directly to your student account. These take a few hours to complete and mail out, but the return on investment is HUGE if you can make $400-500! This is a great way your family and loved ones can help support.

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Darren Loney
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