WEEKLY UPDATE #5
QUICK ANNOUNCEMENTS — POPCORNOPOLIS IS STILL WORKING ON FULFILLING OUR ORDER AND WE WILL UPDATE YOU ON THE DELIVERY DATE ASAP. JUST A REMINDER TO PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU’VE FILLED OUT THE PARTICIPATION AND REGISTRATION FORM. THIS IS REQUIRED TO BE PART OF THE MUSIC PROGRAM AND TO TRAVEL TO COMPETITIONS: https://forms.gle/4gCsFUEt3i97EiNL7
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Great improvement this past week and thank you to the team of parents who helped with the FUNDrive, uniforms, lunch, merchandise, and prop building! Special thanks to Mrs. McKnight who did a mental health session with our students on Friday. A huge thank you to everyone who supported the program by dropping off donations for the FUNDrive. We had a total of 361 bags donated!! Congratulations to the following gift card winners:
Raffle Winner: Kyle Arnold — $40 Amazon gift card
Raffle Winner: Nia McKinstry — $10 Panera gift card
Most Bags Donated: Taylor Szendzial — $25 Apple gift card
Thank you to Mrs. Chao for donating the Panera and Apple gift cards!
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Thank you to all of the current parents and alumni who came to Wednesday’s Gahr Invitational Committee Meeting! We’re off to a great start and are excited to be hosting the 7th annual Gahr Invitational on our new astroturf field!! SAVE THE DATE: Our next committee meeting is Wednesday, October 12th at 6:30PM in the Gahr HS Band Room. We’re hosting 30 bands and need everyone’s help to make it a successful event. If you haven’t signed up for a shift yet, use this link to sign up to volunteer:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0e48afa82ea3f8c61-7thannual
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With all the busyness of this past week, please make sure you’re caught up with the 3rd donation of $150. This is important so that we can continue to pay our instructional staff for their hard work with our students. All color guard members will need to be caught up with the first three donations to receive their costume. As always, you can turn in cash, a check made payable to “Gahr Band Boosters,” or click here to pay online.
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1) NEW BAND UNIFORMS — It’s finally happening! After over 25 years, the Gahr Marching Gladiators will be getting brand new uniforms in early 2023! These uniforms are super customizable, with zip-off sleeves, a front panel that can be changed out, and snaps on the side cape and fringe. Thank you to all the parents who helped size our band students in record-time!!
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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. WE ARE NOT CURRENTLY LIMITING THE AMOUNT OF COLOR ADS THAT CAN BE SOLD.
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.
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3) STUDENT SPONSORSHIP FUNDRAISER — 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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4) 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. This is a safety issue, and we have had some of our new students still struggling to be prepared for rehearsal. 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. ALL WIND AND PERCUSSION STUDENTS WILL NEED A BLACK SLEEVELESS COMPRESSION T-SHIRT, BLACK COMPRESSION SHORTS, AND LONG BLACK SOCKS. You can also buy these items at Big 5 Sporting Goods.
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5) HAWAII PERFORMANCE TRIP! — JUST 282 DAYS UNTIL HAWAII! 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. Please follow the instructions below if you still need to register:
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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.
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7) 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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8) GET YOUR OFFICIAL BOOSTER MEMBERSHIP — It’s not too late to 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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9) 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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10) 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 9/19
7:20AM Jazz Band
3:30-5:30PM Winds & Front Ensemble rehearsal
6:00-8:30PM Battery only rehearsal
TUESDAY 9/20
7:20AM Jazz Band
3:15PM Do homework & eat dinner
5:30-8:30PM Rehearsal in stadium (Mvt. 1 top-D)
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
3:15PM Optional sectionals after school
THURSDAY 9/22
7:20AM Jazz Band
3:30-6:00PM Rehearsal (everyone)
FRIDAY 9/23
7:20AM Jazz Band
3:15PM Band Room open to practice
TAKE INSTRUMENTS HOME TO PRACTICE OVER THE WEEKEND
SATURDAY 9/24
Due to water restrictions in the City of Cerritos, we will be postponing the car wash that was scheduled for this Saturday.⠀⠀