BAND PARENTS' UPDATE

This message was sent to all GRANDVIEW HEIGHTS BAND FAMILIES.
Hello GH Band families! We are getting back into busy season for the bands, so there

are many, many updates this week from the GHBPA:

1. WHO ARE THE BAND PARENTS?: just a reminder...YOU are the band parents! Any adult family member of a Grandview Heights band student in grades 5-12 is a BPA member. And we need you ALL!  Whether it's just pitching in for one volunteer slot here and there, helping to plan big events during the year, putting in some time at the football concession stand, or serving as a committee chair or board member - we welcome your involvement however it works for you. We are currently forming committees and board membership for next year, and we are always interested in welcoming new faces and new ideas. Please join us! BPA meetings are typically held at 6:30 pm on the third Thursday of the month in the HS band room (next meeting on April 19). But if you can't make a meeting, please visit our web site (http://www.grandviewhtsband.org/band-parents-association.html) and/or feel free to contact any current board member or committee chair for more information on how you can get involved.
2. CAKE WALK IS COMING! The Cake Walk this year is on Friday, April 13, from 6:30 to 9:30pm in the GHHS gymnasium. For those who may be new to the Cake Walk: this is a huge community tradition/event and also a fundraiser for the Band Parents Association. ALL BAND STUDENTS IN GRADE 5-12 are asked to contribute one cake, to be given away that night. (More information on where and when to deliver your cakes will be forthcoming.) Note that all band students in grades 7-12 will also be expected to perform at the event that evening. And of course, EVERYONE is welcome to come and participate in cake walking and other assorted fun, so please make sure your calendars are marked! We also need LOTS of parent and adult family member volunteers, so please visit the signupgenius today if you have not already signed up: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050f4aafad23a57-cake
   
3. HS UNIFORM FITTINGS: to ensure accurate sizing, all current 8th grade band students will be measured by BPA volunteers at school on May 9 at 1:30pm. These measurements will be used to assign formal fall uniforms, and also for summer uniform items that must be purchased by each student (see details below). Current HS band members will not be resized, unless specifically requested (please contact Lorena Caito if you wish to be resized). 
   
4. HS UNIFORM ORDERS: the HS marching band has two different uniforms, the "summer" uniform (which includes a white GHHS Band logo polo shirt, navy GHHS band logo athletic shorts, and white marching shoes), and the "fall" formal marching uniform (which includes the same marching shoes, white gloves, tall white socks, a jacket w/plaque, pants, raincoat, and hat). Each student is expected to purchase all pieces of the summer uniform, as well as the white gloves, directly from the BPA. Order forms and pricing information will be made available soon, and all orders are due by June 15. You may purchase white socks on your own (we recommend several pairs!). The remaining pieces of the fall uniform are provided by the BPA at no cost to your student, and are stored at the HS and distributed to the students by BPA volunteers before each game or appearance. Note that all 8thgrade students who will be participating in HS band must place an order by June 15; any current student who needs new or replacement uniform items must also place their order by this date.   
5. HS BAND CAMP: Band Camp for the GHHS Marching Band will be at Wittenberg University this year, from July 22-27. The full band camp information packet and all necessary forms are available at the BPA web site (http://www.grandviewhtsband.org/band-camp.html). Please note that all forms and payment are due by JULY 1, 2018. Installment payment plans are available, as is financial assistance.
   
6. BAND CAMP PARENT VOLUNTEERS: It takes nearly 50 adult family members, and roughly 300 volunteer hours, to make band camp a success every year. Seriously! After the cake walk is behind us, we will be posting a signupgenius to begin gathering the volunteers we will need for this monumental effort. Please plan to do your part to help make it happen. In the meantime, please also visit the district web site (https://www.ghcsd.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=842228&type=d&pREC_ID=1214084) to ensure that your volunteer background check is up to date, as this will be necessary for all volunteers who participate in band camp or any other band activities.   
7. SENIOR AWARDS: did you know that we will honor our outgoing band seniors on April 26, immediately following the final HS band concert? (I didn't!) Just a little FYI for those, like me, who may still be new to HS band traditions. 
   
8. HS BAND SUMMER SCHEDULE: and for those who will be new to HS marching band next year - welcome! In addition to information about uniform orders and band camp above, you may also have noticed that there are a number of events for HS band students between the last day of school in May and the return to school in August, including the GH Blue Star Mothers' ceremony (May 24), the GH Memorial Day Parade (May 26), pre-camp rehearsals (July 16-20), band camp (July 22-27), decal drive (July 29), post camp rehearsals (July 31, August 2, 7, and 9), and the Falco Park concert (August 12). The Blue Star Mothers' event involves only a select group of students, and the parade will only include current HS band members, but the rest of these events are mandatory for all students planning to participate in HS marching band next year. If your student has an unavoidable scheduling conflict, please work directly with Mr. Herrmann. And otherwise, please mark your calendars now, as these things will be sneaking up on us before you know it.   

Thanks, all!  Questions? Let me know!

​Julie Rutter, Communications
Grandview Heights Band Parents Association
buckeyejla@yahoo.com
614-314-8481
grandviewhtsband.org
https://www.facebook.com/groups/GHBandParents/