BAND PARENTS' UPDATE

GOOD MONDAY MORNING, GHHS Marching Band families! Here is some info about upcoming dates, deadlines, and other information just for you. Please read on!

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1. BAND CAMP MATERIALS DUE THIS THURSDAY JUNE 30: Every marching band family should have received an email this past Saturday letting you know whether we still need your student's registration form, payment, or both for the 2022 edition of Band Camp. Please, please, PLEASE ensure you complete both items by this Thursday, June 30. Having a firm head count will make it MUCH easier for us to plan for housing, food, and roommate assignments as we prepare to send our students off to Camp next month. Click here for the Band Camp page on our web site; click here for the registration form; click here for the payment form. Any questions? Feel free to reply to this email - we are glad to help!
2. PRE-CAMP SCHEDULE: Marching Band pre-camp rehearsals begin the week of July 18, and as hard as it may be to believe that is JUST AROUND THE CORNER! Squad leaders and drum line report on Monday July 18, and that group plus freshmen and new members report on Tuesday July 19. Wednesday through Friday rehearsals include the entire Marching Band. All rehearsals are from 11am to 1pm; report location is still TBD as we have to confirm classroom space in the current "transition" state of our facilities. Students should wear sunscreen and comfortable marching shoes (please explain to junior that flip flops won't cut it) every day, and bring a water bottle.
3. BAND CAMP SCHEDULE: students will report in "waves" for Band Camp check-in on Sunday, July 24, in the OLD Middle School commons. Percussion and tuba students should arrive at 1:15pm to load their instruments onto the equipment truck, and then may leave until their class check-in time. Freshmen may arrive any time between 1:30 and 2:00pm for check-in, sophomores and juniors any time between 2:00 and 2:30pm, and seniors any time between 2:30 and 2:45pm. Once your student is checked in for camp, they MAY NOT leave the school again until departure time; also, lunch is not served at camp on Sunday so they either should eat at home or bring a packed lunch with them to eat while at school waiting for departure. The BUSES WILL ROLL at 3:00pm, and anyone not on them doesn't go to Camp! (Reminder, the Band Camp Newsletter has a packing list on page 7 to help you and your student prepare!) Buses return to GHHS between 11:00am and 12:00pm on Friday July 29 - we'll update you via Facebook on precise expected arrival time. 
4. SUMMER UNIFORM ORDERS: Several families have inquired about summer uniform ordering, which typically happens (or has long since happened by) this time of year. Due to ongoing supply chain issue as well as the Band Director transition, we are still investigating options and formulating our plan on this, so rest assured you have not missed anything. We hope to be sharing more info on uniform ordering very, very soon. 
5. MEET THE DIRECTOR: just a reminder to mark your calendars for Wednesday July 20, from 6:30 to 7:30pm, when the Band Parents Association is hosting an open house meet and greet opportunity with our new director, Jennifer Olis. This event will be in the commons of the NEW Middle School, and we expect it to be fairly informal, so drop in any time to say hello!
6. BAND CAMP MEETING: Immediately following the open house at 7:30pm, members of the BPA, camp nursing staff, and Ms. Olis will host a brief 30-minute Band Camp meeting in the same space, to share some basic info about Band Camp and answer any questions you may have. (This is an OPTIONAL event; no need to attend if you don't have questions.)
7. 
   VOLUNTEERS: finally, we really, REALLY need some more adult volunteers to help make Band Camp a reality. Please click here for the signupgenius, and help us out if you can. Parents of freshmen and new members are WELCOME and ENCOURAGED to help - ALL THE JOBS ARE EASY, even overnight chaperoning! (Everyone here is raising a teenage band student at home, so you ALL know how to tell them to settle down and go to bed....NOW, AND THIS TIME I MEAN IT.) SPECIAL NOTE TO PARENTS OF SENIORS: your seniors will not get to enjoy the seniors-only Band Camp tradition of staying up past curfew together on the last night of camp unless somebody steps up and takes that particular volunteer slot, so please don't overlook that one! You don't want your kid to be mad at you all year!