WEEKLY UPDATE #4
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU’VE FILLED OUT THE GAHR BAND PARTICIPATION AND REGISTRATION FORM. THIS IS REQUIRED TO BE PART OF THE MUSIC PROGRAM AND TO TRAVEL TO COMPETITIONS: https://forms.gle/4gCsFUEt3i97EiNL7
We’ve got another busy week ahead with after-school rehearsals, our first Field Show Committee Meeting on Wednesday, and an important Saturday practice from 9AM-5PM with parent help needed for lunch, uniform sewing, prop building, and our clothing & shoe FUNDrive! If you would like to join the fun this Saturday, please click here to volunteer. Just a reminder that the 3rd Donation of $150 is due this Friday 9/16. You can turn in cash, a check made payable to “Gahr Band Boosters,” or click here to pay online.
STUDENTS: Because of Back to School Night, this Tuesday’s 9/13 practice will be earlier from 3:30-5:30PM. Please continue to practice and review individually so we can continue making progress this week. We are hoping to be back in the stadium the following Tuesday for normal night practices!
PARENTS: We look forward to seeing you for our first Gahr Invitational Field Show Committee Meeting this Wednesday, September 14th at 6:30PM in Band Room! We need all hands on deck to make this a successful event. We are also now fully stocked on 2022 “Mad Science” Field Show T-shirts, so if you did not receive one that you ordered, you can pick it up or Mr. Loney can send it home with your student. Thanks!
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1) NEW BAND UNIFORM SIZING — It’s finally happening! After over 25 years, the Gahr Marching Gladiators will be getting our own brand new uniforms in early 2023!! We will be measuring the students after school/practice to make sure we have an accurate size-range for the new uniforms. We have about five parents who will be helping with the sizing, so it should go pretty quickly. Please see the following uniform sizing schedule:
SENIORS: Monday 9/12 from 5:30-6:30PM
JUNIORS: Thursday 9/15 from 6:00-7:00PM
SOPHOMORES: Friday 9/16 from 3:30-4:30PM
FRESHMEN: Monday 9/19 from 5:30-6:30PM
MAKE UPS: Tuesday 9/20 from 3:30-5:00PM
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2) FIELD SHOW COMMITTEE MEETING 9/14 — Join us this Wednesday, September 14th at 6:30PM in the Band Room for our 1st Gahr Invitational Field Show Committee Meeting! We have 30 bands signed up and we need all hands on deck to make this a successful event. This will also be the first year that we will have an ASTROTURF STADIUM!! Please click here if you have not signed up for a shift yet: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0e48afa82ea3f8c61-7thannual
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3) FUNDRIVE CLOTHING & SHOE DONATION EVENT THIS SATURDAY — 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 THIS SATURDAY, September 17th from 9AM-2PM. SHOES MUST BE BAGGED SEPARATELY FROM CLOTHING. We’re also raffling off a $40 Amazon gift card! Each student who donates three full bags will receive one (1) raffle ticket.
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4) 3RD DONATION OF $150 DUE FRIDAY 9/16 — The 3rd donation of $150 is due this Friday, September 16th. We accept cash, checks made payable to “Gahr Band Boosters,” or you can pay online. We cannot pay our instructional staff, purchase materials for props, or register for competitions without your contribution. It is critical that all donations are turned in on time. All color guard members will need to be caught up with the first three donations to receive their costume.
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5) 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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6) ASB CARD & TRANSPORTATION FEE — 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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7) 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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8) 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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9) 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 payments are 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:
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10) 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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11) 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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12) 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.
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13) 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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14) 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 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 9/12
7:20AM Jazz Band
3:30-5:30PM Winds & Front Ensemble rehearsal
5:30-6:30PM SENIOR New Uniform Sizing
6:00-8:30PM Battery only rehearsal
TUESDAY 9/13
7:20AM Jazz Band
NO STUDY HALL DURING CLASS
3:30-5:30PM Rehearsal (everyone)
5:50PM Back to School Night!
WEDNESDAY 9/14
Winds Memorization Test: Mvt. 1 D-E (♩= 120)
Last Chance to Make Up Mvt. 1 TOP-C (♩= 168)
7:30-8:30AM Band Room open to practice
6th-5:30PM Color Guard only rehearsal
6:30PM Gahr Invitational Field Show Committee Meeting in Band Room!
THURSDAY 9/15
7:20AM Jazz Band
3:30-6:00PM Rehearsal (everyone)
6:00-7:00PM JUNIOR New Uniform Sizing
FRIDAY 9/16
DONATION #3 — $150 DUE
7:20AM Jazz Band
Mental Health Workshop During Class
3:30-4:30PM SOPHOMORE New Uniform Sizing
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
NEXT WEEK:
MONDAY 9/19
7:20AM Jazz Band
3:30-5:30PM Winds & Front Ensemble rehearsal
5:30-6:30PM FRESHMEN New Uniform Sizing
6:00-8:30PM Battery only rehearsal
TUESDAY 9/20
7:20AM Jazz Band
3:30-5:00PM MAKE UP New Uniform Sizing
5:30-8:30PM Rehearsal — STADIUM TBA
WEDNESDAY 9/21
Winds Memorization Test: Mvt. 1 D-E (♩= 168)
7:30-8:30AM Band Room open to practice
6th-5:30PM Color Guard only rehearsal
THURSDAY 9/22
7:20AM Jazz Band
3:30-6:00PM Rehearsal (everyone)
FRIDAY 9/23
7:20AM Jazz Band
PEP TUNE DAY!
SATURDAY 9/24
NO CAR WASH