F.J. Reitz High School Marching Band Parent/Student Information 2017 Marching Season Welcome to Reitz High School Marching Band 2017! We are very excited about the year ahead and are glad you have decided to participate with us! The students work very hard and at the end of the season they always seem to come away a little taller and prouder for their accomplishments. As directors, boosters, and parents we are here to support them and help foster in them an appreciation for music that they will take with them their whole life. We hope you and your student find it as rewarding an experience as we have! This handout has been put together for both the parent and the student in mind. If you still have questions please feel free to contact us by emailing us or asking right on our Facebook page. Meet the Directors Band Director: John Miller Johnathan.miller@evsck12.com Guard Director: Larysa Euteneuer larysa.euteneuer@evsck12.com Meet the Reitz Music Booster s Executive Board President: Alyson Roblero amroblero@gmail.com Vice-President: Jo Hawes jojo47712@gmail.com Secretary: Teresa Kercher tkercher@hotmail.com Corresponding Secretary: Robert Townsend rm.townsend@twc.com Treasurer(s): Kelly Gardener kelgardner@hotmail.com Paige Walling familywalling@yahoo.com Marketing Coordinator: Jamie Morris jpmevv@gmail.com Outgoing President: Dawnyel Flavin How Do I Find Out Information During the Year? E-mail - Our primary means of communication is by email and we will frequently send updates and last minute information as it arises so it is VERY important to get on the email list. To get on our email list please email us at fjreitzinstrumentalmusic@gmail.com Facebook link (OFFICIAL F.J. Reitz Instrumental Music Booster Club) or our closed marching band group on Facebook called 2017 FJ Reitz Marching Band. Website - current information and schedules will be posted along with other fun stuff related to current musical performances of the students. The site is www.fjreitzmusic.weebly.com Band room handouts are available in the band room by Mr. Miller s office. OF COURSE, typical teens will not bring them home so please refer to the first point and GET ON THE EMAIL LIST! Remind 101 (instructions below on how to sign up for Remind):
Booster meetings are announced by email and generally held once a month during marching season and periodically during concert season. All parents are invited and encouraged to attend. A lot of information is discussed at each meeting, including upcoming events, fundraisers, volunteer needs, schedules and so much more. Instruments We have select instruments available. Marching brass can/should be provided. Low reeds are provided. We have a very limited supply of upper woodwinds. Summer rental cost is included in band fees. There is rental fee during the school year of $40 a year. Loss or damage of school property will be at the student s expense. If you own your instrument, you may want to check with homeowner s insurance to see if it covers student s musical instrument. Unfortunately, with many students involved in marching, accidents can happen. Carrying insurance on your student s instrument may help. Grading and Attendance Policy Band is co-curricular. Students will receive a grade for the entire marching season as well as during the school day. Attendance, communication, and responsibility play a big part in students' grades during marching band. We excel only when together. We develop only as a team. ATTENDANCE IS MANDATORY AT ALL PRACTICES AND BAND PERFORMANCES! Contact the director well in advance for any possible conflicts. We compromise with other school activities, but we do not compromise for work or avoidable conflicts. We need seriously committed students to be a part of our seriously great band. Be there for the entire experience! Email is our primary source of communication. Financial Responsibility Everyone is responsible for their band fee. This year our fee is $400 ($30 additional for students needing shoes). Families with multiple children will pay $400 for first student and $200 for each after that. To provide for all the expenses to run our marching program it costs over $70,000. The fees include: band camp, T-shirts, uniform rental, other clothing expenses, show writing and design, entry fees, instructional staff, equipment, props, flags, music/recording fee and transportation. We will not let financial issues stop anyone from participating. Therefore, if you have problems with the band fees please contact Mr. Miller ASAP to work out a payment plan and use offered fundraisers. We try to offer at least 2 if not more fundraisers that can go directly toward student fees. You are strongly encouraged take advantage of them. We also want to note that if a payment is received and not honored at the bank that the payment plus the returned check fee will be the responsibility of the person who wrote the check. Parents may also write and send checks to FJRIMB for fees to our PO Box for it to be in a secure location until someone checks for fees or to have the convenience to pay anytime. Of course, fees can be paid on Charms and left in the band tote. Our address is: PO Box 6911, Evansville, IN 47719
Band Camp and Rehearsal Information for 2017 Regular rehearsals are typically held at the Barker Lot on Mon, Tues, Thursday, & Some Saturdays. 2017 Band Camps Camps are held at Reitz High School from 10 am to 6 pm June 1-6 (Sunday is not included in these dates) BRING A SACK LUNCH July 24-28 MEALS may be OFFERED July 31-Aug 4 MEALS may be OFFERED Meals during our July camp are based on donations received from local businesses and our families. If you know of a business who can donate please let us know. We have been very fortunate and been able to get all these meals donated in the past, and hope that will continue. Rehearsal Required Items WATER JUG (make sure you are drinking plenty of water before camp not just during camp. Hydration is extremely important) Pencil Baseball hat or any brimmed hat Running type shoe with good support (not sandals or converse type) 2-inch binder Plastic page sleeves Note card book Instrument specific items (valve oil, electrical tape) Recommended Items SUNSCREEN IS A MUST {make sure to reapply often} Chap stick with SPF Personal medicines (Motrin for example) Healthy snack Wear comfortable, light colored clothes to all rehearsals. Rehearsals are held outside almost all the time. We play at all home football games in the fall. Starting early in September we will have competitions (Invitationals) almost every Saturday mixed with one or two Saturday rehearsals. Please be sure to check the schedules which generally will be sent by email or posted on the website by the Wednesday prior to contest date. Band Uniforms Uniforms will be fitted and assigned. Band members should wear t-shirts, bike type shorts or gym shorts and long black socks for all performances. These will be worn under the uniform so they need to be inconspicuous so as not to bulk or show under the uniform. Band students are not permitted to eat while in uniform. They may drink water only.
Contests and invitational performances An invitational is a marching show hosted by schools as fundraisers for their band programs. There is always a charge to get in (usually around $7) and concessions are offered for spectators. We participate in these invitationals as practice for the state ISSMA competitions. ISSMA is the Indiana State School Music Association. The contests are sanctioned and lead up to the State Championship Marching Band Finals in Indianapolis. By Wednesday, if possible, a schedule detailing the time line for the contest day, meal plans, and directions will be available in the band room. Encourage your student to bring one home so you will be aware of the specific times. We will email the schedule to all email addresses we have so be sure you have gotten on our email list. Try to attend as many performances as possible. This is a good way to meet parents, get to know the students and support the band for all their hard work. The boosters try and sit together for most contests to cheer for our students Parent releases Occasionally parents may want to take students home from the contests. This must be done in writing. When picking up a student, the parent must personally talk to the bus chaperone and sign the student out before the student will be released. NO student will be allowed to leave with anyone other than his/her parent or guardian without PRIOR written permission given to Mr. Miller before the event. Parents may be asked for an ID if chaperone is not familiar with the parent. These requirements are in place to protect you and the student. Show shirts During marching season a T-shirt is designed for the program. This is the show shirt that students often wear under their uniforms and to performances. All students will receive a show shirt which is already included in band fees. Parents and fans may order additional shirts. This is a voluntary purchase but most parents like to have them to wear to contests. AWARDS & LETTERS During the year students can earn points to receive a letter for band which is presented at the year-end banquet. When and if a student earns, a letter is determined by the number of instrumental music activities and volunteer hours (fundraiser and events). After a student earns a letter, additional points earned are accumulated and stars are awarded. Essentially, a star signifies that you have earned enough points to qualify for another letter so they are significant as well. Please encourage you student to volunteer! Points carry over from year to year. So, if a student does not earn enough points to letter their freshman year, those points are carried over to the next year. Only Reitz High School students are eligible to earn letters and stars. Eighth graders are not eligible to receive letters, but any points earned as an 8 th grader will be added to points earned as freshmen.
PARENT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES and FUNDRAISING We need students and parents to help! We always need lots of parent involvement throughout the year. It takes a lot of man power to put together everything. We expect all families to work a shift at the Fall Festival in the booth or parking lot. We also expect all families to work football and basketball concessions. We are always looking for people that have a Class A CDL who can help drive our semi, or 4 wheelers to help haul out equipment. Bottled water and soda pops are always needed. We sell these 2 items at the cruise in, craft show and water at the Fall Festival. Please as you see these items on sale and can afford extra please consider giving to our program. There are a variety of fundraisers. The band program can cost $60,000 or more per year to operate. To keep student fees as low as possible we need to raise money by a variety of fundraisers. For those who need help with their student s band fees, there are usually two fundraisers that will be offered that will go directly into individual student s accounts to help defer this cost and we strongly encourage participation in these. Some of our fundraising activities include West Side Nut Club car show, football and basketball concessions, craft show, and of course our two largest are Drums on the Ohio and Nut Club Fall Festival booth and parking. We will need everyone s help! Sign up now to volunteer for Drums on the Ohio online. Registration is open until June 4 to ensure you get a t-shirt. Also check out The Blue Star Experience and Color Guard Clinics. SUMMARY We are here to give students a fantastic experience through learning how to be part of a high caliber team. We will be there every step of the way so please do not hesitate to contact any one of us on the Instrumental Booster Board if you have questions. There is a lot going on during marching season. It is a great experience for your kids so I hope you join us as active members of the F.J. Reitz Instrumental Music Boosters!!!! Important Dates to add to your calendar: August 18, 2017- Home Football Game- Henderson County 7:00 PM September 9, 2017- Evansville Central High School Invitational September 16, 2017- Castle High School Invitational, Newburgh, IN September 22, 2017- Homecoming Football Game- Memorial 7:00 pm September 23, 2017- Evansville North High School Invitational- Evansville, IN September 30, 2017- William Henry Harrison High School Invitational- Evansville, IN October 6, 2017- Home Football Game- Bosse- Senior Night- 7 pm October 1-7- 2017 Fall Festival- all families are expected to work a shift at the booth or parking October 13, 2017- Home Football Game- Mater Dei- 7:00 PM October 14, 2017- ISSMA Open Regional- Evansville October 20, 2017-2017 BOA Indy Super Regional- Indianapolis, IN October 21, 2017- FJ Reitz Invitational- All hands on deck needed to make a success October 28, 2017- ISSMA Open Semi-State- Indianapolis, IN November 4, 2017- ISSMA State Finals- Indianapolis, IN in Lucas Oil