Band Booster Newsletter

Each month the Band Boosters publish a Band Newsletter which is distributed to all booster members. The first issue this year is going out to all parents. Please click here (or the booster logo above) to read the newsletter.

If you like the newsletter and are not currently a band booster member, please consider joining so you continue to receive newsletters in the future. The membership cost is $15, and that money goes directly back to the band program. Being a member does not obligate you to attend meetings, but you are always welcome to join us on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30pm.

Membership forms are available at http://www.pshsbandboosters.org.

Announcements for week of 11/9/2009

1. Schedule -
   11/12 - Fall Band Concert, 7pm, PSHS Auditorium
   11/13 - Cheesecake Sale begins (see below)
   11/14 - Pep Band Trip to ISU - Call time 12:15
   11/18 - Instrument Step-up Night, 6-8pm
   11/21 - IMEA District Festival at Hampshire H.S.
   11/30 - Cheesecake Sale Ends
   11/30-12/4 - Auditions for 2nd Semester
2. Fall Band Concert - Call times are as follows:
   Concert Band A - 5:15
   Concert Band B - 5:30
   Symphonic Band - 5:45
3. Cheesecake/Coffee/Tea Sale - Our 2nd fundraiser of the year begins on Friday! We are selling cheesecakes, coffee, and tea. Orders are due on Monday, 11/30, giving you the Thanksgiving holiday to sell. Pick-up is scheduled for the evening of Monday, 12/14.
4. Instrument Step-up Night - Once students reach the high school level, many have outgrown their beginning-level instrument. Students are encouraged to look into "step-up" instruments when they reach high school, as high quality instruments allow students to develop better tone quality, achieve better technique, and play with better intonation. It truly gives them a competitive edge!
   If a step up instrument is a possibility for your student in the future, please consider attending the step-up night on 11/18 from 6-8 in the band room. A representative from the Music and Arts Center will be here with many high quality instrument models to try out. All instruments will be represented with the exception of bass clarinet, bassoon, euphonium, tuba, and percussion. (If you play one of those instruments, the school-owned equipment you currently use is already of professional quality!)
   

Announcements for week of 11/2/2009

1. Schedule -
   11/2 - Symphonic Band Rehearsal, 6-9; Concert Uniform Fitting for ALL members yet to be fitted, 6-7:30
   11/3 - Pep Band Rehearsal (ISU trip students only), 4-5:45
   11/4 - Jazz Band Rehearsal, 6:30-8pm (note time change)
   11/5 - Pep Band Rehearsal (ISU trip students only), 4-5:45
   11/9 - Symphonic Band Rehearsal, 6-9
   11/12 - Fall Concert, 7pm; Cheesecake Sale Begins
   11/14 - Pep Band Performance at ISU (IHSA State Girls Volleyball Game)
2. Concert Uniform Fitting - All students who have not yet been fitted for their concert uniforms MUST attend tonight's final fitting session from 6-7:30pm. Enter through Door R (right next to the band room door on the other side of the trailer) and go to the back entrance of the uniform room. Girls: Please bring your black shoes.
3. 11/12 Fall Concert - Please come out to see the first concert and symphonic band performance of the year. Admission is free and the concert will begin at 7pm in the auditorium. Free cheesecake samples will be available after the concert! If you are available to help serve cheesecake, please contact Mrs. Wilczek.
4. Scrip - We will have scrip cards available for purchase at the Fall Concert. These are essentially gift cards sold at face value (no extra cost to you), and the band receives a donation from the retailer. Cards that will be available include: Jewel, Dominick's, Walmart, Speedway, Panera, Barnes and Noble, and more. You can purchase these at any time throughout the year, but be sure to check them out at the concert! Want to learn more about how Scrip works? Click here!
5. Tux Shirt payment - For male students ordering a tuxedo shirt (this includes ALL male students NEW to the program), the $12 cost is due next Monday, November 9. You must submit payment before we distribute your shirt.
   
   

Announcements for week of 10/26

1. Schedule -
   10/28 - Wendy's Fundraiser for Color Guard (see below)
   10/30 - PSHS Talent Show, 7pm
   11/2 - Symphonic Band Rehearsal; Uniform fitting for ALL students who have not yet been fitted
2. Wendy's Fundraiser - Please come out and support the South High color guard in their Wendy's Fundraiser tonight (10/28). The event runs from 5-8pm at the Wendy's on Rt. 59 and Black Rd. by Dominick's. A portion of the night's profits will go to the color guard!
3. Talent Show - Please come out to see the 6th annual cougar talent show on Friday at 7pm in the auditorium. Tickets are $2 for students and $3 for adults. Proceeds go to support the music department.
4. Concert Uniform Fitting - Any student who has not yet been fitted for their concert band uniform MUST come next Monday, 11/2, at 6pm. This is the last time parents will be here to fit students.
5. Tuxedo Shirts - All new male members to the program need to purchase a tuxedo shirt. The cost is $12. Please bring payment by November 9, 2009.
   

Craft Show Update

This is a message sent from the Craft Show Reps (Caryl Hayes & Cristine DeRose):

Hello South Band Parents-

Many Volunteers are still needed for this weekend's Craft Show.

• We need 3-4 Dads to work the Parking Lot Saturday morning between 5:30 a.m.-10 a.m.
• Set-Up help is needed from 5:45 a.m. until 9 a.m. on Saturday morning. Crafters will only have this time to unload & set-up their craft space due to a Home Football game Friday evening.
• Bake Sale Helpers are still needed Saturday from 2-4 p.m.
• On Sunday- Bake Sale Set-Up is needed from 8-9:30 a.m.
• Additional Cafeteria/Bake Sale help is needed Sunday between 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Tear Down Help on Sunday is needed from 2:45 p.m. through at least 5:30 p.m.
  

Other important info:

• Bake Sale Donations of any & all types of bakery goodies are still needed and can be dropped off at PHS-CC Friday evening in the Field House between 5:30 and 7 p.m., Saturday from 6 a.m.- 3 p.m. or Sunday from 8 a.m.- 10 a.m. Bake Sale drop-offs can be done on the East side at the Cafeteria doors.
  
• Volunteers are asked to dress in their School's Colors and identify yourself as a volunteer so that you can sign-in on our Schools Volunteer list in the Cafeteria.
  
• Volunteers are asked to park where possible, leaving closer parking spots for our Craft Customers.
• Volunteer admission is free. Admittance is on the North side next to the Field House and opposite the Freshman Center.
  

Any and all help is very much appreciated. Please contact Caryl Hayes directly to give your volunteer availability or for questions. 815.263.9584 or email cl.hayes@comcast.net.

Booster Craft Show - October 23-25 at PHS-CC

It is that time of year for our annual fall craft show and we need your help. The craft show is the only fundraiser where all four Plainfield High School band booster organizations work together to raise money. The profits from the event are split evenly as long as we contribute our fair share of volunteers for the event. This is a big fundraiser in the budget for the PSHS band boosters so we would really appreciate your help.

We need student AND parent help. Student sign ups are posted in the band room. Parent sign up time slots can be viewed here.

If you are available to help, please reply to Tara Turner with the times that you are available according to the sign-up sheet (see the link above). Her e-mail is: pshs.band.boosters@gmail.com

If you are not available to sign up as a volunteer, there are other ways to help:

• Donate bakery items to the bake sale. Drop off your favorite goodie at the Plainfield Central HS cafeteria during the event.
• Shop at the craft show. You will find cute decorations for those upcoming fall & winter holidays as well as unique gifts for friends and family.
  

If you have questions, please e-mail pshs.band.boosters@gmail.com. Just remember that this is one of the few fundraisers where we are only asking for your time and not asking for money. So, if you have been looking at an opportunity like this, please consider getting involved.

Thanks for your help!

Announcements for week of 10/14

1. Schedule -
   10/15 - Rehearsal CANCELED
   10/16 - Homecoming Game, Senior Night, call time 4pm
   10/19-20 - Talent Show Auditions
   10/22-23 - Jazz Band Auditions
   10/23-25 - Booster Craft Show at PHS-CC
2. Lincoln Way Competition - Congrats to the band on a great show at Lincoln Way East High School! There was significant improvement in the two weeks since Wheaton. If anyone has any photos to share from the competition, please e-mail Mr. Dortwegt.
3. IMEA Audition Results - A BIG congratulations to Aileen Hamilton and Zach Simmering. Both were selected to the IMEA District 9 Honor Band, and will have the opportunity to perform with other outstanding students from the Chicagoland area in November.
   
4. Concert Season - We will begin Concert Season on Monday, 10/19. Please make sure your students have the necessary materials or instrument on that date.
5. Fall Craft Show, 10/23-10/25 - One of our biggest fundraisers each year is the Fall Craft Show. Crafters converge on Plainfield Central each year, bringing large crowds and generating income for the Band Boosters of each Plainfield High School. We will need volunteers. A separate e-mail will be sent out regarding the craft show soon.
6. Concert Uniform Fitting - We will begin the process of fitting concert uniforms on Monday, 10/19 for Symphonic Band students. Concert Band students will be asked to come in to be fitted on a Monday evening for a short period at some time in the next few weeks. We will announce specific dates next week.
7. Notes about Concert Uniforms - Please make sure you have your black dress shoes (closed toe for women) when you are fitted. Also, men will need a tuxedo shirt. This will be ordered for all new members. Returning men should check to be sure they still have a tuxedo shirt that fits from last year. We need to know asap if you need another shirt ordered.
   

Announcements for week of 10/5/2009

Congratulations to the band on a great performance at the Plainfield Homecoming Parade! Great job everyone! Here are some announcements...

1. Schedule -
   10/5 - Rehearsal, 6-9pm
   10/6 - Band Booster Meeting, 7:30pm
   10/6 - IMEA Auditions
   10/8 - Rehearsal, 3:45-4:45
   10/10 - Lincoln Way Competition (see info below)
   10/12 - NO REHEARSAL (Columbus Day)
   
2. Lincoln Way Competition - It's hard to believe we are approaching our final competition already! Please click here to view the schedule. Call time is 3pm!
3. IMEA Auditions - Student participating in IMEA Auditions will be released from 7th period at 3pm on 10/6. We will not arrive back at PSHS until late, so students should bring homework to do on the bus.
   

Plainfield Homecoming Parade

1. Schedule -
   10/3 - Homecoming parade, call time 7am. See below for details.
   10/5 - Rehearsal, 6-9pm
   10/6 - IMEA Auditions
   10/6 - Band Booster Meeting
   10/8 - Rehearsal, 3:45-4:45
   10/10 - Lincoln Way Competition
2. Homecoming Parade - Call time on Saturday is 7am. Please read the trip information here.
3. Congrats to the entire band for a great first competition performance at Wheaton North High School! You can look at/order photos online at www.hispix.smugmug.com. Proceeds support the Wheaton North Band Organization.
   

Announcements for week of 9/21

Happy Autumn, everyone!

1. Schedule -
   Thursday, 9/24 - Rehearsal 3:45-4:45
   Friday, 9/25 - Football Game, call 4pm
   Saturday, 9/26 - Competition (see below)
2. 9/25 Football Game - 8th grade students from Aux Sable and Drauden Point will be at PSHS on Friday! Pizza and drinks will be provided for all students. Remember to bring black socks!
3. 9/26 Competition - Click here to view the schedule for Saturday. If you are planning to come see the performance, here is more detailed information regarding the festival, including directions.
4. Alternate Transportation Forms - Anyone who is not riding the bus to or from the competition must complete an Alternate Transportation Form and submit it by Thursday, 9/24. Late forms will not be accepted. Forms are available here.