We are beyond proud of our band! Even though things didn’t go our way on Saturday, we know how great our students are and we loved their performance. We are still working to clean the show for our last performance of the marching season at Paragould High School on October 26th. It would be WONDERFUL if we had a huge crowd of parents in the stands for this last run. These young folks deserve our best support for all of their HARD WORK!
Things are rolling here at the band this week, we have a lot going on and will be working to close out this quarter strong.
Be sure that you are checking up on grades in Skyward as those will be closing out this week. Contact the directors with any questions or concerns.
REMEMBER: The away game at Collierville High School this week has been moved to THURSDAY NIGHT. Please sign up on the board outside Mr. Taylor’s office on Tuesday morning. Student Leadership is expected to participate.
We have six seats left on the parent bus for Paragould on Saturday, October 26. Please contact Amy Morse our Booster President (901-830-8847) if you’d like a seat.
Calling all techies: we need a volunteer that has skills in inDesign or Microsoft Publisher to produce our end of the year memory books for our seniors. We can get you the template and other information you may need. This is a special assignment that enhances the experience for our students. Contact Amy Morse our Booster President (901-830-8847) if you can help us.
THIS WEEK
Monday (10/7) Concert Band Placement Auditions
Follow directions provided by directors for this graded assignment.
Tuesday (10/8) Rehearsal is CANCELED for winds and percussion
COLORGUARD WILL REHEARSE 3:00-5:30
Thursday (10/10) Full Band Rehearsal 3:00 - 4:30
Away Football vs. Collierville
5:30 – Students Dressed in Band Room
Students can dress “Classy” for this game. Otherwise, they must wear this year’s Show Shirt. See Mr. Taylor with questions about appropriate attire.
Please use the parking lots to pick up students after we return. The circle drives need to be clear of vehicles for the bus and truck parking. Thank you!
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Band Website
Keep checking the website! You can find great info about the program and the goings on here. Be sure to visit the Members area to find information about Band Booster Dues, The Spring Trip, Volunteer Opportunities, and lots more!
Calendar
Please keep checking the calendar on the HHS Band Website. All of our upcoming dates can be found there: https://www.thehoustonband.com/calendar
Upcoming dates:
- 10/7: Wind Ensemble Placement Auditions (All-West Music)
- 10/10: Away Football @Collierville – Pep Band
- 10/12-10/21: Fall Break
- 10/25: Home Football vs. Cordova
- 10/26: Paragould Marching Invitational
- 11/1: Second Trip Payment DUE
- 11/15: Final Band Booster Dues Payment
Band Booster Dues
Thank you to all who have paid their dues on time and/or in full! If you haven’t made your third payment, it is now PAST DUE (as of September 15th)!
Please work to stay current on these payments as this is how we fund purchasing of all of the materials/equipment for marching season and concert season.
As a reminder, a minimum of three payments totaling $550 should have been paid for all band members at this time. The 2019-20 band dues payment schedule is as follows:
May 15th: $200
July 15th: $175
Sept 15th: $175 <— WE ARE HERE!!!
Nov 15th: $175
Student Accounts
Student Account balances are available in a spreadsheet in Charms. An updated file that includes monies raised from Commissary Coupons is now available in Charms.
1. Log into Charms at www.charmsoffice.com
2. Enter “HHSBandBoosters” as the school code
3. Use your “Student Area Password” that you share with your student
4. The spreadsheet is in the “Handouts & Files” folder
SPRING TRIP UPDATE
We will be traveling to New York City to perform at Carnegie Hall (3/21/20-3/24/20). Our students will be part of the World Premiere of a piece commissioned for the Houston High School Band and composed by Brant Karrick (https://www.windrep.org/Brant_Karrick). This is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity for our students to be part of Houston Band History.
The cost - $1850. Don’t freak out! We will have plenty of opportunities for fundraisers directly into Student accounts.
Payment Schedule
October 1- $400 – This payment is the initial deposit and is non-refundable
November 1- $400
December 1- $400
January 15- $400
February 15- $250
Payments will go directly to the boosters not travel company. For those wanting to make Spring Trip payments via PayPal, please visit thehoustonband.com/spring-trip. Installment payments can be initiated using the PayPal section. Payments can also be mailed to: HHS Band Boosters, PO Box 38233, Germantown, TN 38183. Please include indication that payment is for the Spring Trip, Student’s Name and any other instructions regarding payment or use of student account funds.
FUNDRAISING UPDATE
Please continue to support The Houston Band by purchasing treats from our sponsors at the football game – Say Cheese Food Truck, Mempops, and Donut Hutt.
FLAMINGO FLOCKING - With the exception of a few birthday flockings to come, Flamingo Flocking officially ended September 30th. Thank you to all who flocked, picked up flocks, and paid to flock.
For those of you who have committed to the New York trip, we are trying to offer new and different fundraisers to help you cover costs as much as possible. In addition to Otis Spunkmeyer cookie dough and Butter Braids (that will start the end of this month) we have an online shopping link for you to share with your friends, family, coworkers, etc. FORTY percent of the total sales of each order you get goes directly to your student account. Spend $100, $40 is going to your student account. If you are sharing the link with others, have them put your student's name in as "Seller First and Last Name" in order for us to give you the credit. The link to share is as follows: https://www.boonsupply.com/collections/603634-the-houston-band-boosters
For the sports fans in your life, we are working on an online shop that has team sports paraphernalia, like Tervis tumblers, stainless cups and bottles, Koozies, and coolers, as well as pet items, candles and calendars. More info to follow.
MUSTANG MOOLA - Go to www.shopwithscrip.com, set up an account using enrollment code: F9L39E9E4629, and buy eGift cards (ScripNow) only, (NOT physical or reloadable cards). On the left hand side of screen, change the search to “card type” and select ScripNow so you don’t get confused! There are thousands of retailers who offer rebates for buying their cards, and new this year, the entire rebate goes to your student account! Think food vendors like Starbucks, McDonald’s, Chili’s, Subway. Think about everyday purchases like Target and Wal-mart, TJ Maxx, Old Navy. Think about home improvement like Lowe’s and Home Depot (we bought a new fridge with Home Depot gift cards!) Think travel plans like Carnival and Hotels.com, Air BnB! With some high dollar purchases you’ll be making anyway, put it on a gift card and get the rebate benefit!
MERCHANDISE - We are working on getting winter gear and will have an order form out soon. In the meantime, we still have a few Show Shirts (mostly smalls and mediums), stadium seats, stadium blankets, tumblers, magnets, car decals, and yard signs. If you need any of that, please reach out to Tricia Hardin (901-412-5486 or tghardin@aol.com).