BAND DIRECTOR'S UPDATE

Several items to cover in this week’s update.  Please read the entire email carefully. 
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Marching Band Formal Photos - Monday, August 9 - REVISED SCHEDULE
Next Monday, all athletic teams and marching band will have their photos taken.  This includes headshots of band seniors and a full band photo.  Band members will need to wear their formal uniform (band jacket, band pants, long white socks, and white marching band shoes).  This will take place midday - a detailed schedule is at the bottom of this email. 

Annual Falco Park Concert - Sunday, August 15 - 7:00PM
The Annual Falco Park Concert in Marble Cliff is scheduled for Sunday, August 15 at 7:00PM.   Music from the 2021 marching band season will be featured; providing audience members a ‘Season-in-Preview.’ Students will wear their summer uniform including white marching shoes.  This concert is free and open to the public.  Bring your lawn chairs and invite your neighbors! 

Decal Drive - Sunday, August 22 - 6-8PM
Decal Drive is the largest fundraiser for the band program. Funds raised benefit ALL band members with reduced camp costs, instruments & repairs, uniform maintenance, music rights, and much more.

It's MANDATORY, and all students in the High School Band are expected to attend. Student groups ride in vehicles driven by parents to designated routes and collect donations in exchange for a window cling Decal. If residents aren't home, we leave a donation envelope in their door.

Attention Parents - We are seeking additional volunteers - click HERE to sign up!
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 Mark Your Calendars!!!
Below is the 2021/2022 band calendar - details regarding each event (report times, dress/uniform, etc) will be released each Monday morning in the weekly Update.  
2021
8/9 Formal Uniform Photos Day REVISED TIMELINE BELOW
      Post Camp Rehearsal 8-10PM
8/11 Post Camp Rehearsal 8-10PM
8/15   Falco Park Concert TIMELINE RELEASED NEXT WEEK
8/17   First Day of School
8/19 Band Parents Association Mtg 6:30PM
        Evening Rehearsal 8-10PM
8/20 Home vs Centennial Call - TBA
8/22 Decal Drive 6-8PM  
8/27 Away at Centerburg Call - TBA

9/3 Away at Northridge Call - TBA
9/7 Away at Whitehall-Yearling Call -  TBA
      Ox Roast Performance (after game)
9/16 Band Parents Association Mtg 6:30PM
9/17 Away at Harvest Prep Call - TBA
9/23 Evening Rehearsal 8-10PM
9/24  Home vs Kipp Academy (Alumni Night)    Call - TBA
9/30 Evening Rehearsal 8-10PM
  
10/1   Home vs Buckeye Valley (Homecoming) Call - TBA
10/8 Away at Columbus Academy Call - TBA
10/14 Band Parents Association Mtg 6:30PM
10/15 Away at Bishop Ready (Fortress Obetz) Call - TBA 
10/20 Jazz Ensemble - Fall Concert POTENTIAL RESCHEDULE
10/21 Marching Band Season-in-Review POTENTIAL RESCHEDULE
10/22 Home vs Bexley (Senior Night) Call - TBA
10/29 OHSAA Football Playoffs (if team qualifies)
  
11/5 OHSAA Football Playoffs (if team qualifies)
11/18 Band Parent Association Mtg 6:30PM
  
12/9   Holiday BandConcert     7PM
12/16 Band Parents Association Mtg 6:30PM
 2022
1/20 Band Parents Association Mtg 6:30PM
2/10 Band Parents Association Mtg 6:30PM
2/12   OMEA Solo & Ensemble Adjudicated Event (Optional)
  
3/10 Band Parents Association Mtg 6:30PM
3/11-12 OMEA Large Group Adjudicated Event (Tentative)
3/15 Music in our Schools Month - Concert Band     7PM
3/17 Artist Residency Concert  - Jazz Ensemble 7PM
  
4/8 Annual Cake Fundraiser  (Location TBA) 6:30PM
4/21 Band Parents Association Mtg 6:30PM
4/27 Spring HS Band Concert  7PM
  
5/5 Cabaret (Jazz Ensemble Only)
5/19 Band Parents Association Mtg 6:30PM
5/26   Blue Star Mothers/Memorial Ceremony  TBA
5/28   Memorial Parade     Call TBA
  
7/18-22 2022 Pre Camp
7/24-29 2022 Band Camp
  
Note: Pep Band games will be selected and released at a later date - all students are required to perform at 4 games.
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 You can access the band calendar at any time at http://www.grandviewhtsband.org/calendar.html.  If you want to sync the calendar automatically to your device, follow instructions on the same page.

Thursday Night Rehearsals
Per the list above, there are four Thursday Night Rehearsals for this season and that number will not increase.  All four rehearsals are considered required and will be calculated into your student’s grade.  Exceptions to the requirement are (1) for athletes who have traveling matches which return later than 9:00PM on the dates listed above, or, (2) on a case-by-case basis as needed.  Work and non-Grandview Heights activities should be scheduled around Evening Rehearsals; please submit the dates above to your work management or advisors.  

Attendance Policy
Please note the following excerpt from the forthcoming 2021-22 Bobcat Bands Handbook.
  
“All band members make a commitment when they join band. These commitments extend to attending all rehearsals and performances. The dates of such are published and made known well in advance. Additionally, directors ensure reminders of rehearsals and performances are part of the daily rehearsal schedule. It is expected that all members will be in attendance at all scheduled events.Should a student be unable to make a particular rehearsal or performance, then a parent/guardian must complete the "Absence Request Form" a minimum of two weeks in advance of the requested absence. The form is available from the Grandview Heights Bands website - https:// www.grandviewhtsband.org - go to “Documents” to access the form.
In the event of a medical or family emergency, the parent/guardian should contact Mr. Herrmann at a time most convenient to the family’s needs by phone or email. Medical and/or family emergencies are automatically Excused. This includes students who are marked ‘Excused’ absent from school on the day of a performance.
Unexcused absences can result in lowered grades and loss of permission to travel. An unexcused performance can never be made up. Actions or lack thereof speak louder than words.
As stated previous, band is co-curricular. As such, work is not an excuse. Communicate clearly with your employer and well in advance. Missing school for work is unexcused; therefore; missing band for work is ALSO UNEXCUSED.
Alternate Performance Assessments (APA) will be assigned to all performance-based absences. The APA will include performing, individually or in small groups, music from the missed performance. 
Marching Band Absence Maximum: Each student is limited to two Excused absences during the marching band season (August 17 through November 5); including rehearsals and performances. Requests for exceptions will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.”

 Formal Uniform Photos
Monday August 9
Uniform: Formal Uniforms (band pants, band jacket, long white socks, white marching shoes)
Senior Head Shots (MS Commons) - 12:00-1:30PM
11:45 LMS Band Room Opens (Instrument & Uniform Pick-up)
12:00 Senior Headshots begin
1:15  9th through 11th graders - Report to LMS Band Room
1:45  Walk to Stadium
2:00 Prep for Full Band Photo
2:15 Full Band Photo
**Golf team members - please find someone to bring your uniform and instrument to stadium**
 Upcoming Events
August
9 Formal Uniform Photos (See details above)
   Post Camp Rehearsal - 8-10PM
11 Post Camp Rehearsal - 8-10PM
15 Falco Park Concert - 7:00PM
17 School Begins
19 Band Parents Association Mtg  6:30PM
    Evening Rehearsal 8-10PM
20 Home vs Centennial
22 Decal Drive   6-8PM
  
Lastly, please don’t hesitate to reply to any updates or contact me via email, Twitter or by phone. 
  
Go Bobcats!!! 
  
Mr. Herrmann