Rehearsals Begin Next Week: Monday, August 1st

August band rehearsals start next week on Monday, August 1st!  Drumline, Colorguard, and Leadership Team students will meet from 12-4pm, and ALL students will rehearse from 5-9pm. For a complete version of the schedule, click here.

Students should bring their instruments, music, and gym shoes for marching.  Students are also encouraged to bring water and sunscreen to all rehearsals.

Next week there will also be a mandatory parent and student meeting on Wednesday, August 3, at 7:30pm in the Auditorium.  We will go over policies and complete paperwork.  Payment of band costs outlined in the May informational mailing will be accepted at this meeting.

Lastly, PSHS registration will also be taking place next week.  Band families should register on Friday, August 5^th, from 8am-12pm to avoid conflicts with rehearsals. 

If you have any questions, you may contact the band office by calling 815.577.5702.

Monticello Chaperones Needed

Hello everyone,


This a call out to our band parent community, especially to our band dads. We are in need of volunteers who would be available to chaperone the Monticello band camp this year. The dates for camp are Saturday morning, August 13th, to Monday - evening, August 15th.

Speaking from experience, it is very rewarding to attend band camp as a chaperone. We do work hard but we have a lot of fun. It is a great way to learn about our band program, get to know the students, and meet other parents. You leave band camp with such an appreciation for the amount of hard work our kids and directors put into the marching band program.

All chaperones are reminded that they must have a background check on file with the District 202 office and must have had a TB test within the last year. Additional information will be provided to those of you who sign up so that you will be prepared.

Please reply to the e-mail addresses below if you are interested in volunteering and feel free to pass the word to other parents who may not be on the booster email listing but may be interested.

Kind regards,

Kristen Hamilton & Kristen James
Monticello Chaperone Coordinators
hownkris@comcast.net & jamesk1857@aol.com

Monticello Deposit & E-mail List Update

1. Monticello Camp Deposits of $100 are due TODAY!  Please make checks payable to: PSHS Band Boosters and return to the Blue Box in the band room.
2. E-mail List: 2011 Graduating Senior Parents - I will be removing your e-mails from this list this week.  If you would like to remain on this list, please e-mail me.  We are also creating an alumni database.  If you would like your e-mail to be added to the alumni database, please e-mail me as well.  cdortweg@psd202.org

Band Booster Meeting & First Rehearsal Tomorrow

Tomorrow (Tuesday, June 7) is a busy day!

1. Band Booster Meeting
   7:30 in Band RoomPlease join us as we plan for the 2011-2012 school year.  We have room on all committees for new/more help!  Contact Kristen Hamilton with questions (hownkris@comcast.net)
   Brief Agenda:
   Set New Budjet
   Set New Fundraising Calendar
   Committee Discussions
2. First Rehearsal for ALL Students
   5-9pm at PSHSPlease Bring: Instrument, Gym shoes for marching, Lyre and Flip Folder

Band Picnic - Friday, June 3

The Annual Band Picnic is this week! 

When: Friday, June 3, 4-7pm (ish)

Who: Everyone in band.  (Alumni welcome, too)
 
Where: Village Green Park in Downtown Plainfield
THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN LAST YEAR!  SEE THE MAP BELOW:

Why: Why do you think?  To have fun!!!

This will be a “potluck” style picnic with everyone bringing something to share.  Suggestions are:

Flutes - Drinks (pop, punch, iced tea, lemon aid, etc.)

Oboes and Bassoons –Condiments (ketchup, mustard, relish, etc.)

Clarinets – Desserts

Saxes – Fruit (berries, cut-up apples, watermelon, grapes, etc.) or veggies

Trumpets – Chips

Horns – Paper products (plates, cups, napkins, forks, etc.)

Low brass – meat (hot dogs, brats, hamburger, etc.)

Percussion – Buns

Directors - Charcoal

When purchasing items, keep in mind there are about 140 students and others may be  bringing the same item.  No one person should spend more than about $4.

Please direct any questions to Mr. Cook at 815-577-5702.

Concert & Symphonic Band Auditions

Auditions for Concert & Symphonic Bands are next week on Wednesday (5/26) and Thursday (5/27).  Auditions will occur during band classes.

Students who auditioned for Wind Ensemble in February do NOT need to re-audition.

Excerpts for the auditions is below:

• Flute
• Oboe
• Clarinet
• Bass Clarinet
• Bassoon
• Alto Sax
• Tenor Sax
• Bari Sax
• Trumpet
• Horn
• Trombone
• Euphonium
• Tuba

(Note: ALL Percussionists have already auditioned.)

Students must also perform scales of 0 to 2 sharps or flats from the IMEA Scale Sheet.  Extra copies are available here.

2011-2012 Band Information

Band Information for the 2011-2012 school year was sent home this week.  This included:

• Tentative Performance schedule
• Summer Marching Band Schedule
• Monticello Information
• Audition Information (for those who did NOT try out for Wind Ensemble in Feb.)
• Cost Information
• Equipment Information

Please click here for an electronic copy.

If you have questions, please e-mail a band director.

Reminder: Band Booster Meeting TOMORROW

Reminder: The May band booster meeting is TOMORROW at 7:30pm in the band room.  We will be voting on officers for the 2011-2012 school year.

See you there!

Barnes & Noble Book Fair: Friday, May 13, 2011

Barnes & Noble Bookfair this week!

Details:  From 4-8pm on Friday, May 13, the South Band will host a book fair with Barnes & Noble at the Rt. 30/Plainfield Rd. store in Joliet.

Here's how it works: Present our voucher (available by clicking here) or ID number (10456879) when making a purchase, and up to 20% will be donated to the Band Program. This includes the cafe as well.  This is a great way to do GRADUATION shopping AND support the band!!!

Online Purchases: You can also shop online anytime this week and earn the same profit for the Bands. Just input the ID code (10456879) at checkout.  This allows family members from out of state to help us, too!

What happens at B&N: Our students will be involved in the evening by performing in small ensembles. The cafe will also be selling a specialty drink that will be named by our band students.

We will need some help: Students can sign up at school.  PARENTS: We need just a few people to supervise the following time slots:

• 4-5pm
• 5-6pm
• 6-7pm
• 7-8pm

If you can volunteer for one or more shifts, please e-mail Mrs. Hamilton at  (hownkris@comcast.net).  Volunteers should arrive at the designated time and we will put you to work!  (It's easy...just grab a coffee and keep an eye on things!)

Announcements: 5/4/2011

LOTS of announcements this week!

1. Schedule -
   5/7 - Flower Sale Pick-up at Fields Nursery, 10am-1pm
   5/10 - Band Booster meeting, 7:30pm
   5/12 - May Band Concert, 7pm
   5/13 - Barnes & Noble (see info below)
   5/16 - Graduation Rehearsal (ALL NON-SENIORS) 6-9pm
   5/18 - Concert Band A Performance at Aux Sable (see info below)
   5/21 - Band Banquet, 1:30pm at PSHS (see info below)
   5/22 - Graduation, call time 12pm (see info below)
2. Flower Sale - Don't forget to pick up your flower orders this Saturday, May 7, from 10am-1pm at Fields Nursery.  Address: 1850 Caton Farm Road, Crest Hill, IL.  **There will also be some extra flowers for sale at the May Concert on 5/12.
3. Barnes & Noble - We will be doing another B&N fundraiser on 5/13.  More info and vouchers will come out later this week.
4. Concert Band A will be performing at Aux Sable Middle School 8th grade band concert on 5/18.  Please click here for more information.  
5. Band Banquet - Invitations to the band banquet will be mailed home this week.  This is our end-of-the-year awards ceremony.  Please let us know if you do not receive an invitation by next week.
6. Graduation - ALL non-seniors are required to perform at Graduation on Sunday, 5/22.  Call time on that day will be 12pm, and the ceremony begins at 2pm.  To prepare music for the event, there will be a required evening rehearsal on Monday, 5/16, from 6-9pm.  ALL non-senior band students must attend.
7. Summer Dates - Next year's school calendar pushes the start of school up a week.  As a result, we are planning to have marching rehearsals in June and in August this year to accommodate for lost time.  Exact dates will be sent home at the end of this week.  At this point, we are planning to have rehearsals on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 5-9pm starting the week school ends (6/6).  After summer vacation, we will start up again during the first week of August.  Just trying to give you a heads up.