REHEARSAL AND FUNDRIVE EVENT THIS SATURDAY!

Great job at the home football game this past Friday and at the performance today at the Artesia DES Portuguese Hall! STUDENTS: Great improvement this past week. We’ve got a big rehearsal week ahead and practice this Saturday from 8:30AM-5:00PM as we continue finishing our 1st movement. Make sure you continue to hydrate, stay on top of your homework, and continue to practice and review daily.

We will be kicking off a program-wide Snap Raise Fundraiser this Tuesday right after school from 3:30-4:00PM. The money can be used for marching band donations, our WBA Championships trip to Fresno, the 605 All-Star Band, or to get a head start on Winter Guard or Indoor Percussion.

Thank you to all of the amazing parents who helped at the game with uniforms, concessions, merchandise, and push on props and front ensemble equipment. We would also like to give a special shout out to Rod, Will, and the team of parents who have been helping with props for this year’s field show production! They have been working behind the scenes on the weekends and in the evenings to build, and we are super appreciative of their hard work and dedication. If you are able to help this coming Saturday, please click here to sign up and join the fun!

Please make sure your student is caught up with the 3rd donation of $150. At this point, there should only be a balance of $150 or less remaining. Color Guard students must be caught up with the first three donations in order to receive their costume. As always, you can pay with cash, a check made payable to “Gahr Band Boosters,” or you can make a payment online with a credit card. Thank you!

This Sunday, September 29th, there is a color guard and battery percussion placement audition for the 605 All-Star Rose Parade Band from 9AM-4PM at Bellflower HS. Attendance is required for color guard, snare drum, tenor drums, bass drums, and crash cymbals only (NO WINDS). Make sure you check the Slack channel for all the music and video flag choreography and practice this week.

FUNDRIVE DONATION EVENT THIS SATURDAY 9/28 — Clean out your closets for a good cause! Our FUNDrive is this Saturday, September 28th. 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 28th anytime from 9AM-2PM.

BONUS: We’re raffling off a $40 Amazon gift card! Students receive a raffle ticket when they donate three full bags. We will also be giving out additional prizes to the students who donate the most.

Thank you to everyone who came to last Wednesday’s Gahr Invitational Kick-off Committee Meeting! We’re gearing up for an amazing tournament. If you were unable to make it, our next one is Wednesday, October 16th at 7:00PM in the Band Room, and we would love to see you there! We need ALL HANDS ON DECK to make this a success. If you haven’t signed up for a shift yet, please click here to sign up to volunteer.

FIELD SHOW PROGRAM ADS — Advertise in our program for the Gahr Invitational Field Tournament! THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST INDIVIDUAL STUDENT FUNDRAISER OF THE ENTIRE YEAR!! Students earn 90% of the profit from all ads sold. Please click here to download the form. The deadline for all advertisements is Friday, October 18, 2024. We cannot accept late ads once the program is sent to the printer.

This is a great way for local businesses to advertise to the community! The Gahr Invitational Field Tournament typically has over 5,000 people in attendance, and we usually sell around 500 programs. This is also a great opportunity to put in a "shout-out" for your son/daughter in the program! Best of all, students still earn 90% of profit from getting a shout out!

You can also purchase a program ad directly through our website. Please just make sure you email the ad to Mr. Loney at darren.loney@abcusd.us.

SENIOR PARENTS! We are extending the deadline to order senior parent t-shirts to this Thursday, September 26th. These awesome, high-quality shirts are just $20 and are perfect to show your support of your favorite senior! Please contact Donna Besson-Skinner at dbesskinner@gmail.com.

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 a 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 dvarney15@gmail.com or text it to (562) 413-3068. Thank you, and way to go Class of 2025!

We are ordering 2024 Booster Windbreakers and Marching Gladiator Hats for our boosters this year! These items are perfect to wear to show your support at competitions or at band events! Get one, or both!! These items are pre-order only. ALL MONEY & ORDER FORMS ARE DUE BY MONDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2024.

Congratulations to our GAHR FAM representing at Pulse/POW percussion auditions! Owen, Oscar, Sean, and Kyle made it into POW and Jaren and Amir got into Pulse! Way to go!!

ASB CARD & TRANSPORTATION — All students need to purchase an ASB card and pay for transportation. When you buy these items together it 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.

STUDENT SPONSORSHIP LETTER — The “Student Sponsorship Letter” is a great way to raise money for marching band, Indoor Percussion, and Winter Guard! 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.

ATHLETIC CLEARANCE PAST DUE — Please make sure you’ve completed your athletic clearance to be admitted into the band or color guard. This is important so we have your emergency contact information for competitions and trips. Here are the steps:

STEP 1 - Get a physical exam. You need to print and bring the Physical Evaluation Form for the physician to fill out. It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to use a walk-in clinic instead of scheduling this with your doctor. Anderson Chiropractic Care does athletic physicals for $20 cash and can be reached at (714) 952-0673.

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://students.arbitersports.com/organizations/gahr-high-school

THIS WEEK:

MONDAY 9/23
NO JAZZ BAND
3:35-6:00PM Winds, Front Ensemble, Color Guard rehearsal (new drill)
6:00-9:00PM Battery rehearsal

TUESDAY 9/24
7:17AM Jazz Ensemble – Winds only with Nic Chaffee
3:30PM Snap Raise Fundraiser Student Kick-Off – ALL STUDENTS
4:00PM Optional sectionals

WEDNESDAY 9/25
STUDY HALL/GRADE CHECKS DURING CLASS PERIOD
AFTER SCHOOL: Do your homework, eat dinner, and keep hydrating.
5:00PM Set up for rehearsal, jog, stretch
5:29-8:30PM Rehearsal (finishing Mvt. 1 drill at stadium)

THURSDAY 9/26
7:17AM Jazz Ensemble (everyone with Nic Chaffee)
3:35-6:00PM Rehearsal (adding music to new Mvt. 1 drill)

FRIDAY 9/27
7:17AM Jazz Ensemble (everyone with Chris Stevens)
Hydrate and go to bed early!

SATURDAY 9/28
Eat a good breakfast and keep hydrating.
Important Saturday rehearsal 8:30AM-5:00PM – DO NOT BE LATE
7:45AM Band Room open
8:00AM Jog/stretch/set up for rehearsal
8:29AM Rehearsal Block 1 – Finish Mvt. 1
9:00AM-2:00PM FUNDrive Event Drop-Off!
12:00PM Lunch (bring $5)
1:00PM Rehearsal Block 2 – Full ensemble
4:45PM Full run-through Mvt. 1
4:50PM Debrief/Clean up
5:00PM Dismissal

SUNDAY 9/29
Color Guard & Battery Percussion Audition Placements
8:30AM Check in at Bellflower HS – 15301 McNab Ave, Bellflower, CA 90706
9:00AM Block 1
12:00PM Lunch (bring your own sack lunch)
1:00PM Block 2
4:00PM Dismissal