Tailgate, fundraisers, & Booster Meeting

There are items to take off of our tailgate list on the bulletin board, inside the band room. Please help us out while we feed the band and enjoy each other's company Sept 7, 2012. We start setting up at 3:30 for those that bring cooked Taco Meat. Yes, it's Taco Night! For other items, 4pm is great to drop off food donations. Any help around those times is appreciated! Please just show up! Lots to do before a home game. Call/text Christyne MacDermaid if you have questions. 734-476-0312 Yankee Candle orders are due next Friday, 9/7/12. Drop off in the band mailbox. Little Caeser's Pizza Kits will start next week and end 10/20/12. Delivery will be 10/25/12. We'll need help sorting that day. We'll keep you posted on times for that day. First Booster meeting of the year is Weds. Sept. 5, 2012 at 6:30pm. Please feel free to come, even if you're student is new to band. We'll see you in the band room!!

Uniform Help!

Any help at 1pm today is APPRECIATED!! We need help in the band, uniform room handing out uniforms and collecting after pictures. We will also have a sign up sheet for next week's tailgate! Food donations needed!! Have your student take an item off of our list & let you know what you are donating!

Band Shirts

If you loved the shirts designed by our very own student, Sean Carbary, and want one here's the scoop..... We have a few left, contact Christyne MacDermaid @ 734-476-0312, text is great!! Sweatshirts, or size Large T-shirts can be obtained by contacting Thread Works, www.TwShirts.com.

First Game!

August 23, 2012 Report Time: 6pm Step Off: 6:30pm Dress: Black shoes, Black socks, Khaki shorts, and your band shirt will be handed out to you at the 6pm report time. Color Guard Dress: Black pants, jazz shoes if you have them. Food: PLEASE EAT BEFORE YOU GET TO THE SCHOOL FOR REPORT TIME AT 6pm! We will NOT be having a tailgate this week. Extra parents that can help get water, ice, percussion instruments, etc to the field please come into the band room at 6pm.

Also!  Breaking news!  Here are the practice times for next week:

Wednesday August 29th, 7:00-8:00AM (yes, am :( sorry)
Thursday August 30th, 11:00AM-1:00PM

Pictures are still on for that Thursday (August 30th, at 2:00PM, kids will most likely be staying through to put on their uniforms.

GO HIGHLANDERS!!!

Changes

One change! NO Pictures on Monday!! We will still fit Newbies with uniforms. Please expect this to take an hour to an hour and a half. We'll let you know ASAP about a new picture date. Next week practice Mon-Thurs 7-10am. Monday newbie fittings right after practice. Mrs. A2Z could use help!! We need cases of water donated!! Our first home game is August 23, 2012. If you can help please drop them off inside the band room.

Hello everyone! Everything went great! We left around 1, be there around 3:30 or 4:00. Don't forget to get your child's meds when you pick them up.

Headed Home

We are headed home! Expect us around 4pm!

Practice Schedule

After camp, next week the practice will be as follows: Monday through Thursday August 20-23, 2012 7am to 10am Monday we will fit Newbies with uniforms between 7am & 11:30am. Report time back on Monday is 12:30pm!! Pictures will be taken on Monday August 20, 2012 expect them to be done around 2pm. So, Monday's a big day!! Practice is necessary that week!! Our first home game is August 23, 2012 @ 7pm @ Howell High!! We could use cases of water donated and powdered Gatorade. Please feel free to bring those into the band booster room at anytime. We'll direct you. Anyone who can help with uniform fittings on Monday Aug. 20, please let Lisa A2Z know when picking your student up from camp. We'll be back 3:30-5pm!!

READ THIS ONE AND THE ONE BELOW IT!

Hello all! Please read the previous post  regarding newbie day.  Secondly, I was contacted by a parent saying there was no information on what to pack.... I know we usually include a packing list in our packet, but if that didn't happen, we will supply packing lists tomorrow at newbie day.  If you are not making it to newbie day, email (smigellj@howellschools.com) and I can email one to you. Here is the bottom line:

Your child may pack one piece of luggage, a bag for bedding (bedding, towels, and toiletries need to brought from home), and their instrument. This basically 2 bags and their instrument. Medical equipment

 obviously does not count toward the luggage count.

School rules apply for this trip. School appropriate clothing, no banned substances. No banned items as per state law and school code of conduct.

Sunscreen, bug spray, flashlights, rain gear, extra musical supplies.  Lyre, flip folder, extra socks, comfortable athletic footwear, bathing suit (optional), sunglasses, all necessary hygiene products, medications (all medications must be checked with the nurse prior to departure). Along with clothing is a good idea. 

We suggest you leave expensive electronics at home (even though we have wonderful kids, why tempt them?), and not to bring undue amounts of snacks, as this invites animals, some of them large and toothy!

Students with special dietary needs need to contact mr. Smigell or ms. Sumner directly so we can make arrangements for your needs.

Ok, as I suspected, I have basically written the whole darn packing list over, hope this is helpful.

-Smigell

Newbie Day!

Newbie Day has been moved to Parker Middle School Football Field! Please still meet at 9am, Friday Aug 10th. We will most likely be done with practice between 12:30-1pm. We will not fit uniforms tomorrow! Parker Middle School is located at 400 Wright Rd., Howell MI 48843. Parker is South on D-19/Pickney Rd, left onto Wright Rd. Please call Christyne MacDermaid if you have any questions. 734-476-0312 More info about uniforms etc later today!

Hello everyone!

There have been a lot of questions emailed to me and people calling... It must mean band camp is around the corner!!! I am going to try and answer as many of these as I can.. If you have any questions.. go ahead and email me at smigellj@Howellschools.com.  There is about a 75% chance of your question being answered (just being honest), so sometimes a repetitive approach helps :)

Question #1:What are the times for band camp and pre band camp days?
This has been partially answered, so sorry if there is some repetition..

SQUAD LEADER DAY:
What: Training day for all squad leaders, section leaders and drum majors.
Where: Howell High School band room
When: 9am-2pm Thursday, August 9, 2012
Who: Squad leader candidates, section leaders, and drum majors.  Everyone who took the test received an acceptable score and is invited to attend.  Squad leaders are "squad leader candidates" until the are officially instated after band camp.  Bring a lunch, sunscreen, your instrument, and a water bottle.  There are very few absolutely mandatory things in band.  If you want to be a squad leader, you need to be at this clinic.


NEWBIE DAY:
What: Optional (but highly recommended) training for all new members of the Howell High School
Where: Howell High School band room
Marching band. There will be an informational question and answer question right at 9am for parents and students for a short time, then rehearsal will begin.
When: 9am-2pm Friday, August 10, 2012
Who: Any new member and all squad leaders, section leaders and drum majors

BAND CAMP
What: It's BAND CAMP!!! WOOOOOOOOOT!
Where: Report and be picked up at Howell High School Band room.
When: REPORT TIME 7:30AM SUNDAY AUGUST 12th.
Who: All Marching band members

If you are wondering about payment, whether or not you are on the roster, or other things, please email me (once again smigellj@howellschools.com)  Our fearless book keeper will be back from vacation very soon, so we will have a roster up soon.


QUESTION #2:  What is the show?
we are doing a CIRQUE DU SOLEIL show!  One is an old prog rock tune from ELP, but it fits perfectly.  The songs are called:

Karn Evil 9
Ka: Pursuit
Urban

You can listen to these songs online at arrpubco.com

I am really pumped about this show!  It is very energetic, and full of tasty music and visual opportunities!

Oh, and our shirts are going to be sweet! Check out the front:

GET AMPED FOR THIS SEASON, FOR IT DRAWS NEAR!!

(does a ridiculous victory lap around the living room, sits back down at keyboard)

Ok, hopefully that is a little taste to get you excited!  See you soon!

-Smigell

Uniform Fittings

Friday, August 10, 2012 we are looking for 1-2 more parents to assist w/uniform fittings.  No prior experience needed!  We'll show you what to do.  Please contact Lisa Arszulowicz if you can help us at 1pm.  517-546-6059.
Students who are new to marching band will be fit immediately following practice.  So, for the newbie's please forgive my 2pm practice ending mix up.  Uniform fittings normally take 1-2 hours, so please plan accordingly.  If there is a problem w/this time please contact Mrs. A2Z at the above number to make other arrangements.
Current students who already have a uniform assignment, but think they may have grown, please see Mrs. A2Z on THURSDAY, August 9th 9am until practice ends.  Again, call Mrs. A2Z at the above number if you need to make other arrangements.

Squad Leader & Newbie Day

Thursday August 9, 2012 is Squad Leader Day 9am-2pm, please bring your lunch, drinks, sunscreen,& all things needed for this day. Friday August 10, 2012 is Newbie Day 9am-2pm If you are new to marching band, a squad leader or drum major, you must come to Newbie day! Bring a lunch, drinks, sunscreen, and your instrument. Wear comfortable, school appropriate clothing and tennis shoes. The more you drink between now and the days leading up to camp and these two days, the better you'll feel!! Report times for camp will be posted by Tuesday, but expect it to be EARLY!

Smigell is back! Mostly....

Hey folks! Thank you for your patience as I recovered from surgery. I am almost completely recovered, just don't ask me to wrestle with you or move a sofa for 2 more weeks! I am however, resuming my duties as director of bands and will be in and out over balloon feet weekend. I will also be in next week at the high school doing a bunch of summer wrap up and band camp prep. I have tried to answer all my emails dating back to before the surgery today. If yours somehow slipped through the cracks or you have a new question, email me at smigellj@howellschools.com. Looks like we have a nice sized marching band and lots of talented kids coming back, in addition to great new kids coming up from the middle schools, LET'S GET PUMPED!!!! -Smigell

Balloonfest Volunteers

Anyone that still needs a parking pass and is a volunteer this weekend please contact Mr. Michaels 810-513-2291. If you made arrangements to pick yours up from Mrs. MacDermaid, please don't call Mr. Michaels. He won't have yours, Mrs. MacDermaid will. He only has those I have not spoken, texted, or emailed with. Any problems with working your shift this weekend, please call Mrs. Klug 810-845-1246. We have students that would like any shifts that you can't complete, or be there for. Mr. Michaels needs 2 more students to fill a shift Thursday 9am to Noon. Please call him at his number above. Bring gloves if you're helping on Thursday!! You'll be moving bags of ice! Double check your scheduled sheet handed out tonight. A few students are asked to report to the courthouse on Saturday. That is not a typo. Look for the bright green shirts and sign in w/Mrs. Pratt. You'll be helping her sell Pepsi products. Thanks everyone for their time and help this weekend!

Balloonfest Volunteers

Tuesday, June 19, 2012 @ 7pm we will have a volunteer meeting. This will be in the FRESHMAN CAMPUS LIBRARY! Enter through the administration doors if possible. These are located off of Highlander Way. The carnival might be setting up, plan accordingly for parking. We will cover where to meet, hand out parking passes and volunteer shirts. If you have your shirt from last year, that helps. Any questions call or text Christyne MacDermaid 734-476-0312

Hey folks! Surgery was a success! Thank you so much to the people who cleaned the band room while I was gone.

Balloonfest Volunteers Needed!

EARN MONEY FOR YOUR BAND ACCOUNT!
We are still in need of student and adult volunteers for Balloonfest Weekend.  We try to pay the students minimum wage or more if we can.  Please contact Christyne MacDermaid at 734-476-0312, or christynemacdermaid@yahoo.com if you can fill any of the following shifts: 
Friday, June 22, 2012 9am to 1pm we need 2 adults, and 3 students, 1pm-5pm we need 2 adults and 4 students, 5pm-9pm we need 1 adult and 5 students.
Saturday, June 23, 2012 8:30am-1pm we need 2 adults and 1 student, 1pm-5pm we need 2 adults and 4 students, 5pm-9pm we need 4 students.
Sunday, June 24, 2012 1pm-5pm we need 1 adult and 1 student, 5pm-9pm we need 2 adults and 3 students.
First come, first served basis.  If the spots aren't filled by Weds. June 13, 2012 I will call the students who want extra shifts and start letting them have extra. 
Adults who volunteer MUST have a background check done with the high school!
We look forward to helping you earn lots of money for your music needs!!

I just wanted to take a moment to say THANK YOU to all of the band parents that I've become friends with over the last four years.  We've stayed up all night at lock ins, measured kids for uniforms and then hung them up after games when they are sweaty and smelly, dished out food to hungry band kids, sat in downpours in the stands for football games, wacthed with pride as they mastered new music and drills, watched our kids become young adults that we are sooooo proud of.  I've had a great time as part of the boosters organization and will miss ALL of you, especially the kids I've gotten to know.  We will always have a place for you at our bonfires =)


Thank you also to Jason Smigell who let me be part of this special group and became a mentor to Katie.  You make the band program a special place for the kids and I will always be grateful to you.


Have a great summer everyone, see you Friday nights in the fall !!

Commencement post part 4: (I am doing this from my phone) Thank you so much for everyone participating in commencement! Any questions, text mr. Smigell.