FHS BANDS NEWSLETTER
10.23.22
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Special Announcement
Congratulations to Lucas Pederson for making the All-State Jazz ensemble! Lucas will perform at the Virginia Music Educators Conference (VMEA) in Richmond, Virginia on Thursday, November 17th at 12:00pm. Congratulations to Lucas!
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Important Dates this Week
Monday, Oct 24 - Student Holiday
Tuesday, Oct 25 - Marching Band Rehearsal, 6:00pm - 9:00pm (ALL MEMBERS)
Wednesday, Oct 26 - Marching Band Rehearsal 3:30pm - 6:00pm (ALL MEMBERS)
Thursday, Oct 27 - NO Marching Band Rehearsal (Masquerade Concert at 7pm)
Saturday, Oct 29 - Parade of Champions, James Madison University, Harrisonburg VA (more details below)
- 11:30, rehearsal at FHS
- 2:00, buses depart for JMU
- 7:45, performance time at JMU, Harrisonburg, VA
Sunday, Oct 30 - Mosby Woods Halloween Parade (more details below)
➣ PLAN TO ATTEND our next Boosters Meeting -- Tuesday, November 1, 7:00pm, Band Room
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Note From the Boosters President
Congratulations to the band for their Superior Rating at the VBODA Assessment! Congratulations to Mr. Freeman, his staff, and parent volunteers! This is half of what is required for Honor Band status. The other half will happen during the band assessments in March.
Another win for the football team! I'm sure the pep band's spirit helped! An undefeated football team means playoff games. The pep band will continue to play for the win. More details coming soon.
Boo! Thursday, October 27 at 7:00pm is the Masquerade Concert -- a Halloween tradition. Both the Wind Ensemble and the orchestra will be playing. Can anyone guess what Mr. Freeman will be wearing?
This weekend there are two favorite band events: the Parade of Champions (POC) competition at James Madison University and the Mosby Woods neighborhood Halloween Parade. The POC ends with a performance by the 500-member Marching Royal Dukes, including many FHS alumni! This competition is 2-3 hours away and is a very long day. Please make sure your band member is prepared with plenty of layers to stay warm, food, water, and money for concessions. Volunteers, be prepared for long walks; the buses park on the opposite side of campus from the stadium. The band will return very late at night, so please make sure you know how your student is getting home from FHS. Details below.
Don’t put away your costume after the Masquerade Concert! Wear it to the Halloween Parade! The Mosby Woods neighborhood’s big and little ghosts, superheroes, and princesses greatly appreciate the band marching in the parade. The little kids think the band is awesome and so do their parents. You never know how many future band members are watching! Remember to take your instrument home after the competition Saturday night or stop by the band room at 2:00pm on Sunday on your way to the Mosby Woods Pool parking lot. We need a few larger vehicles to transport the larger instruments to the parade. Sign up here. Details below.
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JMU Parade of Champions Itinerary
October 29, 2022
James Madison University
251 Bluestone Dr, Harrisonburg, VA 22807
🚌 STUDENT BUS SIGN UP HERE. 🚌
(Seniors first; others may sign up starting Wednesday.)
A few volunteers still needed! Volunteer HERE!
Schedule (follow this link to complete schedule):
11:30am – Rehearsal
1:00pm – Volunteers arrive
2:00pm – Depart Fairfax HS
7:45pm – Performance Time
2:00am – Approximate arrival at Fairfax HS, unload, clean room, dismiss
- Bring a bag lunch (to eat before leaving and make sure it is a good lunch and not just your spirit box).
- Bring snacks for the bus ride and money for concessions,
no food is available until after the band performs.
- Uniform – Be sure to have black shoes, TALL plain black socks, please no ankle socks or socks with characters on them, black T-shirt, NO jewelry or nail polish. Bring extra, thin, black layers to wear under your bibbers to stay warm.
- Bring good instruments unless it is raining.
- Bring extra reeds, mouthpiece caps, valve oil, and tuners.
- The band will be riding coach buses. Students must ride the bus to and from the event. If there is an extenuating circumstance, it must be in writing and approved by the director.
➣ Follow this link to POC detailed schedule
➣ Follow this link to parking maps for trailers and buses
➣ Follow this link to stadium map
➣ Follow this link to spectator information
➣ Follow this link to Competition FAQ
Questions? Contact Lynda Falkenstein at fhsbandscompetitionteam@gmail.com or 703-282-2023
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Mosby Woods Halloween Parade
October 29, 2022
Mosby Woods Pool
3136 Plantation Pkwy, Fairfax, VA 22030
2:00pm – Students who need instruments or flags, and parent trucks/minivans, arrive at school. Load large instruments and coolers and drive to pool.
2:30pm – All band members arrive at Mosby Woods Pool parking lot in costume with instruments. Volunteers and spectators arrive
3:00pm – Parade step-off
3:30pm – Back at pool for refreshments, load and return to FHS
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Fundraising Volunteer Opportunities
We have several fundraising opportunities throughout the year and need help managing them. Please consider leading or helping with:
Family Night Out -- coordinate fun family evenings out at local restaurants and businesses. The Boosters receive a percentage of the sales.
Wreaths Across America -- coordinate a Wreaths Across America fundraiser. We raise money to buy wreaths for veterans graves and ⅓ of the money raised goes to the Boosters. It’s a fundraiser and a service project!
Questions? Contact Janel Zinn at k_janel@hotmail.com
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Class of 2023 Senior Night!
We are excited to celebrate our seniors and their families on Friday, November 4th during the home football game. There will be a special reception for our senior parents before the game.
➣ Senior Parents, be on the lookout for an email with instructions about the event.
➣ Underclassmen Families! Please review the SUG and consider donating for this special event. Sign up HERE!
Questions? Contact Sara Chae at sara@teamchae.com
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Uniform News
➣ Please save the date for concert band fittings: after school from 3:00pm – 6:00pm on November 9. More information will be coming soon! The uniform team could use some help with labeling the new tuxes with sizes on November 3 between 3:00 and 5:30. Please email us at fhsbuniforms@gmail.com if you think you can help.
➣ Uniform team needed for next year: The uniform team is “graduating” this year, and the band is in need of a new team for next year. This is a job that can be done by a team of two or more. Basic sewing skills are helpful (hemming, basic mending, sewing on buttons). If you are interested and would like more information, please contact the uniform team at fhsbuniforms@gmail.com.
Questions? Contact Betsy DeMarco or Joy Koeppen at fhsbuniforms@gmail.com
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Online Spirit Wear Store is STILL OPEN
Is there still spirit wear that you or your band member would like to purchase? Or do you want to do some early holiday shopping for your band student? The online spirit wear store is still accepting orders! Some items have limited sizes, so order soon if there is something you know you want. We typically deliver orders at the end of Tuesday evening marching band practice, but once these practices are over we can make arrangements to meet for drop off (or if you don’t want your student to see what you ordered!). Just email us and we can make arrangements. Click the logo above to order!
Questions? Contact Deana McNeely or Kristi Bubb at fhsbandsspiritwear@gmail.com
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Other Ways to Help (Without Leaving Your Couch)
➣ Federal Employee? Donate to the Band Boosters via the Combined Federal Campaign
Fairfax High School Band Boosters are on the Combined Federal Campaign! Federal employees can designate Fairfax High School Band Boosters - code #37192 - during their agency’s enrollment period and donate directly to the Band Boosters! Find us in the "Local" part of the "National Capital Area Charities" list.
➣ Donate to the Band Boosters by shopping
Sign up for Amazon Smile. Click on this link: Amazon Smile. Then choose Fairfax High School Band Boosters as your charity.
Questions? Contact Vishal Bhatia at fhsbb.treasurer@gmail.com
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Coming Up
Tuesday, November 1: Boosters Meeting, 7:00pm, Band Room
Friday, November 4: Senior Night at Home Football Game v. West Springfield (underclass parents volunteer HERE)
Saturday, November 5: End-of-Season Picnic! (more details to come)
Save the Dates!
Tuesday, November 8: Election Day Bake Sale Fundraiser (more details to come)
Wednesday, November 9: Concert Band Fittings, 6:00pm - 8:00pm (more details to come)
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