BACK TO SCHOOL!
Hope you had a relaxing week off and are ready for school on Monday! JUST A REMINDER THAT ALL MARCHING BAND AND COLOR GUARD ORDER FORMS AND PAYMENT ARE DUE THIS FRIDAY, AUGUST 18TH. WE HAVE A BUSY FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL WITH OUR FIRST SATURDAY PRACTICE FROM 9AM-5PM. PLEASE make sure you read this update so you’re prepared!
Congratulations again on an awesome two weeks of Band Camp! Also, congrats to color guard student Emily Barrera who marched with Pacific Crest and just performed at Drum Corps International Championships at Lucas Oil Stadium! We have a busy first week as we start our after school rehearsals and have our first Saturday practice from 9AM-5PM. There is an important mandatory Color Guard Parent/Student Meeting this Wednesday, August 16th at 8PM (we will be ending guard practice a little early for the meeting). We will be going through important guard-specific information for the fall and winter seasons with our Caption Heads, Chadd Hartman and Sami Taylor, as well as the possibility of the Varsity Winter Guard team traveling to the 2024 WGI Championships in Dayton, Ohio.
Thank you to Mr. Miller and all the students and parents who helped with our moving day! Everyone did a fantastic job and this will help things go more smoothly for the first week of school. Thank you again to all the parents who volunteered at Band Camp, the Family Beach Bonfire, the Sneak Preview BBQ & Concert, and the Car Wash! We could not have done it without you. We’re gearing up for a great year, and it's not too late to be a part of the fun! Join us at our Kick-Off Booster Meeting on Tuesday, August 22nd at 6:30PM in the Band Room. You can also become an official Gahr Band Booster — just click here to purchase your booster membership for just $25.00 and get a 2023 field show shirt and Gahr Marching Gladiators lanyard.
MARCHING BAND WEEKLY REHEARSAL SCHEDULE
Make sure you always bring your equipment, a hat, athletic clothes/shoes, and water jug every day to rehearsals. Rehearsals start and end at the scheduled time. Please allow up to 15-20 minutes after rehearsal for students to put away equipment and walk back.
MONDAYS
3:30-5:30PM Winds and Front Ensemble only
6:00-9:00PM Battery only (eat dinner and do HW after school)
TUESDAYS
6th Period-5:30PM Color Guard only
WEDNESDAYS
Study Hall during class period
5:30-8:30PM Everyone (eat dinner and do HW after school)
THURSDAYS
3:30-6:00PM Everyone
SATURDAYS
9:00AM-5:00PM Everyone (bring $5 for lunch)
REHEARSAL THIS SATURDAY 8/18 — We have an important marching band rehearsal this Saturday, August 18th from 9AM-5PM. We will be covering A LOT of new material and will begin learning drill. Make sure you always hydrate the day before because we will typically be out on our practice field the entire day. This will be a similar schedule to a day of Band Camp and we will have lunch available for just $5. PARENTS: We will be sending out a Sign Up Genius for help with cooking and serving. Thank you!
JAZZ BAND UPDATE — We currently have over 50 students who have signed up or are interested in being a part of zero period Jazz Band this year! It’s not too late to still join – especially upperclassmen who already have experience. No experience is required to be a part of Jazz Band B. Just show up for our first Jazz Band rehearsal is this Tuesday, August 15th at 7:17AM and we can get you worked in!
MARCHING BAND AND COLOR GUARD ORDER FORMS — There are several required items you will need to be in the marching band. Many of these items should be a one-time purchase that can be reused year after year. If you are in the winds or percussion sections, you will need a Gahr Marching Gladiators Hoodie and Black Drillmasters Marching Shoes. If you are in the color guard section, you will need ALL of the items listed on the color guard order form. All Marching Band Order Forms and Color Guard Order Forms are due this Friday, August 18th. There are three payment options for both forms:
Cash (attached to order form)
Check made payable to “Gahr Band Boosters” (attached to order form)
Pay online through the website (and still turn in order form)
https://www.gahrband.org/store/p/make-a-donation
Please enter the grand total as the quantity amount.
REQUIRED ITEMS — In addition to the black marching shoes on the Marching Band order form, ALL BAND STUDENTS WILL NEED A BLACK SLEEVELESS COMPRESSION T-SHIRT, BLACK COMPRESSION SHORTS, AND LONG BLACK SOCKS. You can usually find these items even cheaper at Big 5 Sporting Goods. ALL MARCHING MEMBERS (WINDS, BATTERY, AND COLOR GUARD) WILL NEED A DOT BOOK (3x5 spiral-bound index card notebook available from Mr. Loney or Mr. Miller for $3). You can get a dot book and lanyard together for just $5.
At rehearsals, all students must wear a hat, athletic clothes, athletic/tennis shoes (no sandals or converse), sunscreen, and bring a 1-gallon water jug. You may keep these items in the Band Room and change at lunch or after school. Continuing to hydrate 24 hours ahead, eat breakfast & lunch, and get plenty of rest.
BAND JACKET — Get your official Gahr Marching Gladiators Band Jacket! Jackets are $135.00 each. We accept checks to “Gahr Band Boosters” or cash. Please fill out a separate order form for each jacket you order. THE DEADLINE IS THIS FRIDAY, AUGUST 24. Click here to download the jacket order form.
BRUSTER’S THIS THURSDAY — Go to Bruster’s Ice Cream after practice this Thursday, August 17th from 6-8PM! Make sure you show the flyer to support the Gahr Marching Gladiators! Spread the word and we’ll see you there :)
BOOSTER UPDATE — Please join us at our Kick-Off Booster Meeting on Tuesday, August 22nd at 6:30PM in the Band Room! This is a great time to get in the loop and involved in what your student will be doing this year. It’s not too late to become an official Booster Member for just $25.00 and get a 2023 field show shirt and Gahr Marching Gladiators lanyard.
If you can join us, we’re having our first Prop Building Party on Saturday, August 26th! No experience is required, and we need as many parents as possible to help get our props ready for our first field show competition. Thanks!
Click below for fliers and handouts that were given out at the Band Camp Parent/Student Meeting:
BAND REGISTRATION & PARTICIPATION FORM — All NEW AND RETURNING members of the Gahr Marching Gladiators must fill out the 2023-24 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.
ATHLETIC CLEARANCE — 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 recommended to use a walk-in clinic instead of scheduling this with your primary care physician.
STEP 2: Take a photo of the form. Click here for instructions on how to use your iPhone as a document scanner.
STEP 3: Register and upload your form on the Family ID website:
https://www.familyid.com/programs/2023-2024-athletic-registration-10
FUNDRIVE EVENT 9/9 — Clean out your closets for a good cause! We’re collecting men’s, women’s, and children’s clothes, shoes, coats, scarves, ties, belts, bedding, comforters, blankets, towels, linens, pillows, and more! Place donated items into 13-gallon kitchen trash bags. All items must be clean and in sellable condition. We’re asking each family to donate a minimum of three (3) bags.
DROP-OFF: Please drop off bags at Gahr High School on Saturday, September 9th from 9AM-2PM.
BONUS: We’ll be raffling off gift cards and will give out prizes to the students who donate the most!
TWO GREAT WAYS TO RAISE MONEY — Use the fundraisers below to raise money for your marching band donations! This can also go towards Winter Guard and Indoor Percussion. This is the BEST TIME to do it before we get busy with school starting.
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. See Mr. Loney to get a past field show program that you can use as an example when selling ads.
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.
THIS WEEK:
MONDAY 8/14
SCHOOL STARTS! 609/610 WILL BE OPEN TO DROP OFF INSTRUMENT/EQUIPMENT, REHEARSAL CLOTHES/SHOES, AND WATER JUG.
NO ZERO PERIOD JAZZ BAND
Arrive early to pick up your class schedule in the morning.
3:35-5:30PM Winds and Front Ensemble rehearsal
6:00-9:00PM Battery rehearsal
TUESDAY 8/15
7:00AM Band Room open
7:17AM Jazz A and Jazz B starts!
6th-5:30PM Color Guard Rehearsal
3:30-4:30PM Optional Sectionals
WEDNESDAY 8/16
NO ZERO PERIOD JAZZ BAND ON WEDNESDAYS
STUDY HALL DURING CLASS PERIOD
AFTER SCHOOL: Do your homework, eat dinner, and hydrate.
5:00PM Set up for rehearsal
5:30-8:30PM Wednesday Night Rehearsal (everyone)
THURSDAY 8/17
7:17AM Jazz Band
3:35-6:00PM Rehearsal (everyone)
6:00-8:00PM Bruster’s Fundraiser!
FRIDAY 8/18
MARCHING BAND AND COLOR GUARD ORDER FORMS DUE
7:17AM Jazz Band
NEED DOT BOOK IN CLASS PERIOD
DRINK A LOT OF WATER BEFORE YOU GO TO BED
SATURDAY 8/19
IMPORTANT SATURDAY REHEARSAL 9AM-5PM
ALL MARCHING MEMBERS (WINDS, BATTERY, GUARD) WILL NEED A DOT BOOK (3x5 spiral-bound index card notebook) AND PENCIL. You can buy a dot book from Mr. Loney for $3. Get a dot book + lanyard for $5.
Hydrate and eat a good breakfast. Wear athletic clothes/shoes, hat. Bring water and $5 for lunch.
7:45AM Band Room open
8:59AM-12:00PM Rehearsal Block 1
12:00-1:00PM Lunch (bring $5)
1:00-5:00PM Rehearsal Block 2
