WEEKLY UPDATE #3
Congratulations on our first “home” game performance this past Friday at Artesia High School! Thank you to all the parents who helped with concessions, equipment, and transportation!! We had a huge turn out and were successful on our concession stand thanks to your help. We would also like to thank everyone who came to our first Booster Meeting and who ate at The Habit Burger on Wednesday! We have an important week of rehearsals ahead, with a Prop Building Party and Saturday practice from 9AM-5PM. STUDENTS: Bring $5 for walking tacos on Saturday!
SCHEDULE UPDATES: The band and guard will not be performing at this Thursday’s “home” game at Artesia HS, and instead will have a normal rehearsal from 3:30-6:00PM. Next Tuesday, September 13th, the students will have rehearsal earlier from 3:30-5:30PM due to Back to School Night.
SAVE THE DATE: Our first Gahr Invitational Field Show Committee Meeting is next Wednesday, September 14th at 6:30PM in the Gahr HS Band Room! We need all hands on deck to make this a successful event. See you there!
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1) FUNDRIVE CLOTHING & SHOE DONATION EVENT 9/17 — 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 17th from 9AM-2PM. SHOES MUST BE BAGGED SEPARATELY FROM CLOTHING.
BONUS: We’re raffling off a $40 Amazon gift card! Each student who donates three full bags will receive one (1) raffle ticket.
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2) FIELD SHOW PROGRAM ADS — Advertise in our event program for the Gahr Invitational Field Tournament, held on Saturday, November 5, 2022! THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST INDIVIDUAL STUDENT FUNDRAISER OF THE ENTIRE YEAR. The deadline for all advertisements is Friday, October 7, 2022. We cannot accept late ads once the program is sent to the printer. Click here to download the form. See Mr. Loney for a sample program booklet.
Many local businesses are looking for ways to advertise to the community. This is also a great opportunity to put a "shout-out" for your son/daughter in the program! Best of all, students earn 90% of profit from program ads! You can now also purchase a program ad through our website. Just make sure you email the ad to Mr. Loney at darren.loney@abcusd.us.
SENIOR PARENTS — There are a number of things the boosters do to celebrate the seniors and to show appreciation for all that they’ve accomplished. We have an annual tradition of creating a picture spread on the middle pages of the Gahr Invitational Field Show Program that will show their baby pictures. Please email your son/daughter’s baby photo to Mrs. Varney at dvarney15@gmail.com or text it to (562) 413-3068. Thank you, and way to go Class of 2023!
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3) ASB CARD & TRANSPORTATION FEE CLARIFICATION — All students need to purchase an ASB card and pay for transportation. When you buy these items together should only cost $120 total ($60 for the ASB card and $60 for transportation). Parents or students can pay for this at the finance office during school hours. Some parents have found that on the school website if you pay for the ASB card as a separate transaction, you can go back in afterward and it will give you the discounted transportation fee of $60. If you pay with a check or cash, they will not charge you the credit card processing fee.
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4) MARCHING BAND SCHEDULE — Rehearsals start on time, so please use the restroom and change immediately after school. Make sure you bring dinner or have a plan to eat before evening practices. This is the marching band practice schedule for the fall semester:
MONDAYS
3:30-5:30PM Winds and Front Ensemble
6:00-8:30PM Battery onlyTUESDAYS
Homework time during class period
5:30-8:30PM Everyone (PLEASE NOTE THAT NEXT TUESDAY 9/13 IS 3:30-5:30PM)WEDNESDAYS
6th Period-5:30PM Color Guard onlyTHURSDAYS
3:30-6:00PM Everyone
**If we have a football game, we typically have rehearsal and a run-through after school.
***Rehearsals start and end at the scheduled time. However, please allow up to 15-20 minutes after practice for students to put away equipment and walk back from the rehearsal location.
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5) 2ND DONATION PAST DUE — The 2nd donation of $150 was due on Monday 8/22. We accept checks payable to “Gahr Band Boosters,” cash, or you can pay online. It is critical that all donations are turned in on time. We cannot pay our instructional staff, purchase materials for props, or register for competitions without your contribution. Please communicate with Mr. Loney if you have any issues.
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6) REQUIRED ITEMS — ALL WIND AND PERCUSSION STUDENTS WILL NEED A BLACK SLEEVELESS COMPRESSION T-SHIRT, BLACK COMPRESSION SHORTS, AND LONG BLACK SOCKS. You can also get these items at Big 5 Sporting Goods. Just a general reminder that all students must wear a hat, athletic clothes, athletic/tennis shoes (no sandals or converse), sunscreen, and bring a 1-gallon water jug to ALL rehearsals. You may keep these items in your cubby during school. Make sure you're continuing to hydrate 24 hours ahead of time, eat breakfast & lunch, and get plenty of rest.
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7) MARCHING BAND & GUARD ORDER FORM PAST DUE — 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. Any color guard members who already have warm ups do not need to purchase new ones.
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8) HAWAII PERFORMANCE TRIP! — Click here to download the itinerary and payment sheet. The performance 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. All participants should have signed up on WorldStrides and have 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 if you still need to register and get caught up with payments:
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9) STUDENT SPONSORSHIP LETTER — The Student Sponsorship Letter is a great way to raise money for marching band, Winter Drumline, Winter Guard, or even the Hawaii trip! 100% of the money sponsorships goes directly to your student account. These may take a few hours to complete and mail out, but you can raise upwards of $500 if done correctly! Click here to download the instructions and letter.
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10) ATHLETIC CLEARANCE PAST DUE — All new AND RETURNING STUDENTS must complete their athletic clearance to be admitted into the band or color guard. Here are the steps to complete athletic clearance:
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 but you must call ahead for an appointment:
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
When you complete the clearance, it will ask if you would like to purchase an ASB card and pay for transportation. You can do this on the FamilyID website, the Gahr High School webstore, or in-person at the finance office.
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11) GET YOUR OFFICIAL BOOSTER MEMBERSHIP — Become an official Gahr Band Booster Member! You’ll receive a high-quality embroidered lanyard and a 2022 field show t-shirt. You can wear your shirt to home football games and get in free when you volunteer at our concessions stand! Membership is just $25 per person. PLEASE NOTE WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR A SHIPMENT OF SOME SIZES INCLUDING 2XL AND 3XL.
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12) 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 helps pay for school equipment including flag silks, rifles, and sabers. For percussionists, this helps cover drum heads, sticks, mallets, etc. Thank you!
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13) 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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THIS WEEK:
MONDAY 9/5
NO SCHOOL
KEEP HYDRATING!
TUESDAY 9/6
7:20AM Jazz Band
5:30-8:30PM Rehearsal (everyone)
WEDNESDAY 9/7
Memorization Test: Mvt. 1 TOP-C
7:30-8:30AM Band Room open to practice
6th-5:30PM Color Guard rehearsal
3:15PM Optional sectionals and make up tests
5:30-7:30PM ABC Family Band Night in the Whitney HS Gym
THURSDAY 9/8
7:20AM Jazz Band
3:30-6:00PM Rehearsal (everyone)
FRIDAY 9/9
7:20AM Jazz Band
3:15PM Optional sectionals and extra help
SATURDAY 9/10
Important rehearsal 9AM-5PM
PROP BUILDING PARTY!
8:30AM Band Room open
9:00AM-12:30PM Block 1
12:30-1:30PM Lunch (bring $5 for walking tacos)
1:30-5:00PM Block 2
NEXT WEEK:
MONDAY 9/12
7:20AM Jazz Band
3:30-5:30PM Winds & Front Ensemble rehearsal
6:00-8:30PM Battery only rehearsal
TUESDAY 9/13
7:20AM Jazz Band
3:30-5:30PM Rehearsal (everyone)
6:00PM Back to School Night!
WEDNESDAY 9/14
Memorization Test: Mvt. 1 D-E
7:30-8:30AM Band Room open to practice
6th-5:30PM Color Guard rehearsal
6:30PM Gahr Invitational Field Show Committee Meeting!
THURSDAY 9/15
7:20AM Jazz Band
3:30-6:00PM Rehearsal (everyone)
FRIDAY 9/16
DONATION #3 — $150 DUE
7:20AM Jazz Band
3:15PM Optional sectionals and extra help
SATURDAY 9/17
Important rehearsal 9AM-5PM
UNIFORM SEWING PARTY!
FUNDRIVE CLOTHES AND SHOES DROP-OFF DAY 9AM-2PM!
8:30AM Band Room open
9:00AM-12:30PM Block 1
12:30-1:30PM Lunch (bring $5 for lunch)
1:30-5:00PM Block 2