There is a lot of information here this week! Please take a few minutes to read over everything carefully.
This Week’s Schedule
Monday August 23, 2021
- 5:00pm-7:00pm Rehearsal
- 5:00pm-7:00pm Late Band Registration in Band Hall
Tuesday, August 24
- 7:00am-8:30am Rehearsal
- 6:00pm-8:00pm Back to School Picnic Performance
Wednesday, August 25
- 7:00am-8:30am Rehearsal
- Special guest clinician Mr. Frank Troyka will be with us this morning!
Thursday, August 26
- 7:00am-8:30am Rehearsal
- 7:00pm Kickoff: North Mesquite @ RHS (10:30pm approximate dismissal)
Friday, August 27
- OFF
Late Band Registration – Monday, August 23
All students who missed band registration during summer band camp for whatever reason must register tomorrow evening from 5-7pm in the band hall. This is the last chance to register and be a part of the GEB for the 2021-2022 school year. Students who have not registered by 7pm on Monday will be referred to their counselor to get a schedule change. Late registrants will not attend the first game on Thursday due to the lead time of ordering supplies and materials. After registration, we must have a physical on file, and students must be attending rehearsals regularly before they are permitted to attend football games with the GEB.
Back to School Picnic – Tuesday, August 24
All GEB students should be lined up in the band hall by section with instrument, flip folder, and lyre at 6:00pm. Attire for this event is the 2021 Elemental show shirt and athletic shoes/shorts of your own. Approximate dismissal time is 8:00pm.
Varsity Football Game – Thursday, August 26
Once school dismisses at 4:20pm, all GEB students should come to the Eagles Nest/Band Hall to get ready for the game. If you ordered pre-paid Game Day Meals, those will be served in the Eagles Nest. After finishing your dinner, you should change into the GEB Summer Uniform and gather your instrument, flip folder, and lyre. Then, assemble with your section and wait for further instructions.
GEB Summer Uniform
Our Summer Uniform consists of the following:
- Elemental Show Shirt
- GEB Athletic shorts
- Black MTX Marching shoes
- Black ankle socks or no-show socks
- Show Hair (defined below)
- No visible jewelry (no-show/clear studs for visible piercings will be acceptable)
The GEB Athletic Shorts and MTX marching shoes that you ordered at Band Registration will be delivered this week. Black ankle socks or no-show socks should be purchased on your own. ‘Show hair’ means that students with long hair that covers the ears or touches the collar in the back should be pulled up and back. Hair should be secured in a bun with black hair ties only.
We will wear the Summer uniform for the first 3 games. Hair dye of non-natural colored tones (i.e. Purples/Greens/Blues/Pinks/etc.) will be permitted while we perform in Summer Uniforms. However, by the time we wear the full marching uniform on September 23, students should have a plan for hair that is currently a “non-natural” tone, as this will not be permitted during our contest season. We must be as uniform as possible. If you have specific questions about this policy, please inquire with Mr. Bronson.
March-A-Thon
We have 2 more weeks until the September 7 deadline for all pledges and donations for our biggest fundraiser of the year! Cash and checks should be deposited into the band safe near the band director offices. Additionally, all online donations should be made by September 7 (the day after Labor Day).
Be sure you are addressing your communications to an actual person (not generic), and follow-up in person wherever possible. Typically it takes about 3 different contacts before a business will commit to a sponsorship level. Don’t forget that businesses can make “in-kind” donations. For example, if it is a restaurant, they could supply the GEB with a meal for a competition in lieu of a monetary donation. Be relentless! The worst someone can say is “No” and you move on to the next option.
Students/parents should sign up HERE to approach your targeted local businesses to sponsor you in this 5k-style fundraiser. Please limit your first try to 2 businesses, unless you are personally adding new businesses to this list. To personalize the letters for businesses and personal contacts go HERE to download the Word docs from the March-A-Thon packet. (All of these links can be reached from the home page of www.richardsonband.org.)
The March-A-Thon is a big part of why RHS has the lowest band fees in the district, and we want to keep it that way…but everyone must do their part to make it a success! We ask each student to reach a personal goal of $250 in pledges between businesses and personal networks. All funds are due September 7.
Private Lessons Financial Assistance
Students: If you really want to take private lessons, but the financial burden of $20 each week is a bit too much for your family, we have great news! Due to the RISD grant that lowered our band fees this year, the RABC has decided to re-open the application process for Private Lessons Financial Assistance! The student and a parent must complete a portion of the application, so you will want to find time as a family to sit down and take care of it in one sitting. This Google form should take approximately 15-25 minutes to complete.
Click HERE to apply! The deadline is 11:59pm on Tuesday, September 7, 2021.
Bus Transportation – COVID
As RISD Central Administration planned for the resumption of fine arts performances in the 2021–2022 school year under heightened public health protocols, parents asked about arrangements for student transportation to performances. RISD will provide transportation at no cost for students to and from all RISD fine arts performances held away from your student’s school. Parents who wish to transport their students in their private vehicles may do so by providing prior written notice to the director.
To ensure that RISD is aware of parent authorization for student travel in private vehicles, you must notify your director in writing in advance of your intention to transport your student in a private vehicle. Verbal authorizations will not be accepted.
Please complete the “Fine Arts Parent Authorization for Student Travel” form and return it to Mr. Foster. The form will be available in band class starting tomorrow, August 23. RISD will require any student to ride the bus who does not have a private vehicle transportation authorization on file. Please contact Mr. Bronson if you have questions about this notice or authorization.
Note: The GEB’s first bus transportation event is Thursday, September 2, 2021.
Looking Ahead…
Thursday, September 2
Varsity Football Game: RHS @ Garland HS (Williams Stadium)
Our second football game performance will be away at Williams Stadium in Garland. Attire will be the GEB summer uniform. Parents: we would love to have you in the stands cheering on the GEB as we add to our show each week!
Monday, September 6
Labor Day
We will have no school and no rehearsal this day. Because of this, our normal Monday evening rehearsal will be pushed to Tuesday.
Tuesday, September 7
- We have two rehearsals this day due to the Monday Labor Day holiday
- 7-8:30am
- 5-7pm
- March-A-Thon pledges/donations due online and/or to the band safe by 7pm
- Private Lessons Financial Assistance applications due by 11:59pm
Friday, September 10
Varsity Football Game: RHS v. South Garland HS (Homecoming)
Our third football game performance will be homecoming at Eagle Mustang Stadium. Attire will be the GEB summer uniform. Parents: we would love to have you in the stands cheering on the GEB as we add to our show each week!