This Week's Newsletter

Director's Notes

It's hard to believe the first quarter of the school year is already wrapping up!  I am so proud of all of our band students.  Thank you to all who supported the Football Game against HJHS!  We dominated Battle of the Bands and received so many compliments for music AND behavior!  I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to work with these phenomenal students each day!  Thank you all for everything you do!

We are very excited to welcome an additional band director to our program!  Mr. Stephen Moran will be working with some of our band classes as well as teaching music appreciation and technology classes at HCMS!  Mr. Moran has joined us this week.  Welcome, Mr. Moran! 

Hope you all have a restful and relaxing Fall Break! 

• FALL BREAK BINGO Fall Break Bingo cards will be available for Beginning Band students looking for extra things to do over the break.  Students who receive a bingo get a Jolly Rancher - and those that complete the full card will receive a full-size candy bar. Not a requirement - just a fun way to practice and keep up skills over the holiday!  

• HCMS VS MORRIS (6:30) - TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8- VOLUNTEER GAME

  • WHO: 7th and 8th Grade Band Students (Sign Up Here!) 

  • WHAT TO WEAR: Band T-shirt/Hoodie, Khaki Shorts/Pants, Tennis Shoes

  • WHAT TO BRING: Instrument (please leave case in car), flip folder with music, lyre, bottle of water

  • WHERE: Milton Frank Stadium

  • WHEN: Call Time is 6:00 p.m. - We meet by the Front Gate at MIlton Frank Stadium. The game will last until roughly 8:15 - depending on when the game starts.  

  • Additional Info

    • We will not be taking a bus to these games.  We ask parents to transport their children to Milton Frank Stadium and home afterwards.  

    • Chaperones - If you are available to chaperone, please email hcovemsband@gmail.com. 

    • Parents who would like to attend the game will need to purchase tickets online at GoFan. Tickets typically "go live" on Go Fan on game days. 

    • Please remember that Milton Frank has a clear bag policy for all guests!

    • The game should last until about 8:15 - depending on when we get started and whether or not they take heat breaks.  Students may bring phones to text you before the 4th quarter.  (Please plan to be in the vicinity for pick-up around 6:15 so we can get all students home in a timely manner.) 

      • • Beginner Band students who join us will need to remain with us for the entirety of the game.  Thank you for your help keeping everyone safe!

    • Percussion students will get their equipment off of the band trailer when they arrive and are responsible for loading it back up when we leave.  Percussion will need to stay until we are sure everything has been loaded up.

    • Housekeeping issues for football games:

      • Students should bring a bottle of water for the stands and are welcome to wear sunglasses.  

      • We will not be eating food in the stands and greatly appreciate your assistance with that matter. Please do not bring food up to students during the game.  

      • Please encourage students to use the restroom before the game.  

      • Students may have phones with them so they can notify you when the game is about to end but all phones must be put away during the game itself.  

• JAZZ  Thanks for being flexible with the scheduling conflicts these last few weeks!  "Horns & Hooves" Jazz Ensemble will resume Monday rehearsals on Monday, October 7 from 3:00-3:45. 

• GRADES We will soon be finishing our first nine weeks.  7th and 8th grade students who are missing assignments have been notified and have a "1" marking their missing assignments.  Thank you for your assistance encouraging your students to complete these assignments promptly so I can get their grades updated as quickly as possible.  

• Additional Director  We want to welcome Mr. Stephen Moran, who will be joining us starting on Wednesday and following Fall Break.  More information to come!

• Band T-Shirt Order All hoodies and T-shirts should now be distributed.  If you feel you have still not received your order, please email Ms. Parker and we will sort it out.  We still have plenty of band shirts ($15 - payable by cash/check/MySchoolFees) and hoodies ($40 - cash/check) if anyone needs one at any point throughout the year. 

• SPIRIT NIGHT Our next Spirit Night will be at Mellow Mushroom (Jones Valley) on Monday, October 14th.  They will donate proceeds from all dine in or carry out purchases for lunch/dinner on that day!  Be sure to mention you are with the HCMS Band!

• FOOTBALL GAMES  A HUGE THANK YOU to all who volunteered for the first volunteer football game.  They represented us so well!  We have one more volunteer football game on Tuesday, October 8. You can sign up on the link below!

  • • Students who volunteer will receive a bonus 100 test grade for each additional game they attend.  Students who do not volunteer to participate will not be penalized and will be marked exempt from that performance. 

    • Please sign up here for any additional football games your student can help with https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf2gpzaNMvHtSwUH4Nx-RUcGMqcL6AZ_soMg7loSazHp64pBA/viewform

I hope you all have a wonderful, relaxing Fall Break!  Thank you for your continued support of the HCMS Bands!

Thank you! 

Emily Parker, Director of Bands