IMPORTANT DATES
9/19/2022 Cookie Dough Sale Kickoff!!
9/19/2022 3 - 4pm Woodwind and All Percussion Sectionals
9/20/2022 3 - 5:30pm Full Band Rehearsal
9/22/2022 3 - 5:30pm Full Band Rehearsal
9/23/2022 5:00pm Stadium Night Dress Rehearsal
9/24/2022 2:00pm Arlington Competition!!
Director’s Notes:
After School Rehearsals are mandatory for ALL BAND MEMBERS. Failure to attend will have an adverse effect on student grades.
All students will need their water bottles and coordinate cards at every outdoor rehearsal.
Concert Band Placement Auditions are scheduled after school on 10/3 &10/5. See the band calendar for more info (https://www.thehoustonband.com/calendar).
Please check the Band Calendar for locations of all our 2022 Marching Band Competitions.
OTIS SPUNKMEYER COOKIE DOUGH
It’s time for Otis Spunkmeyer Cookies! These are a very popular product!
All Items are $20 Each – Goal is 6 per family
Sale begins September 19, 2022 and ends October 3, 2022
A couple very important facts regarding the cookie dough:
Cookie dough is frozen, so it must be picked up and delivered/stored in your home freezer on the day of delivery
The expected delivery date will be prior to Thanksgiving, with the exact date determined once orders are turned in
The fundraiser profits will be used to support the extra expenses of the band including extra instructors, buses, meals, equipment, etc.
Paper packets will be sent home with each band and color guard member but you can also check out and place an order online for cookie dough ($20 each) on The Houston Band Website (link coming soon). Checks or cash will be placed in Woody in the Band Room or a check can be mailed to the band booster PO box.
FRIDAY, SEPT 23, STADIUM DRESS REHEARSAL
Band Room doors will be closed and locked between 3:00-5:00pm. No students are to be in the building between those times.
The students need to be in the band room no later than 5:00pm in Member Shirts, Athletic Shorts and LONG BLACK SOCKS!
Rehearsal will run from 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Section Leaders will inspect the uniforms and ensure their sections are properly dressed.
SATURDAY, SEPT 24, ARLINGTON INVITATIONAL
On Saturday, we will be competing in the Arlington Open Invitational at Arlington High School. See the attached flyer for the complete competition details.
2pm - Get uniform bags and hat boxes ready. Load U-Haul
3pm - Load Buses
3:15pm - Meeting in the big band room
3:30pm - Leave HHS - eat a snack on the bus
7:15pm - Performance
8:45pm - Awards
10:00pm - Arrive HHS, unload truck and U-Haul, put up uniforms
10:30pm - Go Home
PARENTS - DO NOT PARK IN THE BACK CIRCLE DRIVE OR THE SMALL STAFF
PARKING LOT! The semi truck and U-Haul will be the only vehicles in the back circle drive.
UNIFORM VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES - PLEASE HELP!
Next week's rehearsal is a FULL DRESS REHEARSAL. Please wear black gym shorts, long black socks and a member shirt. Volunteers are needed as if it is the real deal! Please email houstonbanduniforms@outlook.com if you can help!
Our first competition will be Saturday, September 24th! We need help shining shoes and distributing hat wraps. Sign up on the Sign Up Genius, and email houstonbanduniforms@outlook.com with questions. We are a fun group and it’s a great way to get to know the kids!!
Sign Up for 9/24 Arlington Competition Uniform Help
DO YOU HAVE MIDDLE SCHOOL FRIENDS/FAMILY INTERESTED IN GUARD?
Tell them to come to the GMSD Winterguard Meet and Greet!
Mondays/Wednesdays - September 19, 21, 26, and 28
4:00pm - 5:00pm in the HHS Bandroom
(see attached flyer)
This is not an audition! Come meet at the High School Bandroom where you will learn what Winterguard is about, and learn a few dance, flag, and other prop skills. This is the perfect time to try something new and connect with new people. Following the meet and greets, an informative email will be sent. Then our Winterguard season will begin.
THE HOUSTON BAND DUES
ALL dues payments are now past due. Payment coupons can be found here: https://www.thehoustonband.com/forms
**As a reminder dues are $725 (siblings $100 discount - $625)**
Please be sure you are up-to-date on your band dues!
Many of our yearly expenses happen right now during marching season, so prompt payments are very much appreciated!!
Thank you to the families who have paid HHS band dues so far.
Payments can be made by a check payable to The Houston Band Boosters that can be dropped off in the wooden box located in Mr. Taylor's office or mailed to HHS Band Boosters/P.O. Box 38233/Germantown, TN 38183. Payments can also be made via PayPal using the link on the band website (thehoustonband.com) under the members tab/payments. For clarity, please include your student's name with all correspondence and payments. Questions about payments received or remaining balances can be sent by email to houstonbandtreasurer@gmail.com.
JOIN THE PIT CREW!
The Pit Crew needs new members to join and help the kiddos during halftime shows and competitions! The primary responsibility of the Pit Crew is to HAVE FUN! …and help move the front ensemble, or “pit,” onto and off of the field during football games and marching competitions. The Pit Crew also is responsible for building and making props as needed, transportation (truck and UHaul), repairing and maintaining carts and equipment (i.e. painting carts, inflating tires, replacing tires, keeping ladders in operational condition, etc.).
Having a student in the pit is not a requirement to be in the Pit Crew. The Pit Crew is open to all Houston Band parents who wish to join. So please join us! It’s a really cool vantage point to watch the show from (right down on the field) and possibly get a closer look at your son or daughter performing in the process!
We’ll be having our first “meeting” next Friday, 8/19/22, at halftime during the game. If you are interested in joining the Pit Crew, please contact Jeff Borgsmiller via mobile phone 901-568-7583 or email jborgsmiller@tcco.com. If you’re unsure, and want to watch a show or two before joining that’s ok – you’re welcome to join at any time during the season.
VOLUNTEER AND HAVE FUN! WE NEED YOU!
We’ve got SUPER FUN volunteer opportunities galore, so no matter what you may be interested in or how much (or how little) time you have, we’ve got a spot for you, and we NEED you! There’s nothing more fun for kids than band – and their families! If you are interested in volunteering with The Houston Band, please complete this form as soon as possible as committees are forming now!
2022-2023 HHS Band Parent Volunteer Interest Form
We can’t wait to get started making the 2022-2023 band year the best year yet! Thanks for being a part of this great group and for making The Houston Band the BEST BAND IN THE LAND!
The Houston Band Calendar
All dates for rehearsals and performances are mandatory. Be sure to look through and mark them on your family calendar so you can avoid conflicts.
Important dates have been updated on the calendar.
https://www.thehoustonband.com/calendar
Attendance policy is outlined in the HHS Band Handbook. Please review the Houston Band Handbook on the website. https://www.thehoustonband.com/forms
KROGER REWARDS
Calling all Kroger Shoppers, What an easy way to support the band!!. Pick Houston High School Band Boosters (BW921) as your appointed Community Partner to receive Kroger Community Rewards. THE Houston Band receives a small percentage of money just by doing your regular family shopping at Kroger! This does not impact your Kroger Fuel Points earned on purchases.
If you ever have any questions about class or anything band related,
please reach out to the Directors
Matt Taylor matthew.taylor@gmsdk12.org | John Hagan john.hagan@gmsdk12.org