Welcome to the Fall 2019 Bunnell-Stratford HS Marching Band & Color Guard!!!

Welcome to the 2019 Fall Edition of the Bunnell-Stratford Marching Band & Guard!

Please take a moment to read through this LENGTHY (sorry!) information and complete the tasks when prompted.

PLEASE read all — especially the notes below on the Financial Commitment for the Fall of 2019…

First Practice

Our first practices will be June 17 & 18 at the Bunnell Band Room from 9a-12p. If you are in town, you are expected to attend. Please enter the building through the Main Gym Lobby.

Band Officers should report at 830a, and plan to stay a little after.

• Please bring any/all Ad Book sales
• Please bring your instrument
• We will be taking a count to determine how many drill spots to write
• Students who are “Out of Town” with their families are excused, but should communicate that with me ASAP jamesmiller@bunnellband.org
• We will go over all of the new music, so that students will have an understanding of what they need to do over the summer to prepare for our 2019 run for our 4th consecutive Connecticut State CHAMPIONSHIP!

If you can not attend, please email me asap, so that we hold a spot for you!

jamesmiller@bunnellband.org

Schoology Group

We have created a “Schoology” group for all things Marching Band and Guard for the STUDENTS. All students MUST register on the Schoology Group ASAP.

Go to: www.schoology.com then “Join Course” (not join group) and use this as your access code: V3RR-5QH8-HWFSX (you may have to create a FREE Schoology Account first).

We will post links and resources, plus announcements on that site.

Summer Practices, Sectionals & “Captionals”

We will have regular Wednesday night Marching Basics for all Brass & Woodwinds, starting July 10. We will meet in the BHS Parking lot from 6p-7:45p.

• Sectionals: All sections (i.e. Flutes, Saxophones, Drums etc…) will have a weekly meeting with their student Section Leader called “Sectionals”. The purpose for these meetings to learn and hopefully memorize the “Finding Joy” music.
• Captionals: A “Captional” is for ALL Brass or ALL Woodwinds, or ALL percussion, not just a small section. Generally, we will hold one Captional per week, or every other week.

A List of the regularly scheduled Sectionals & Captionals will be published ASAP.

Attendance is required at all meetings, unless you are out of town, or have a family commitment.

Fall Schedules

The Fall Schedule is somewhat complete. Please click this link to view the schedule:

http://www.bunnellband.org/Site/Schedules.html

Follow Us

Communication in a large & successful group is essential! We offer a wide variety of options. Please feel free to subscribe to as many of the mediums listed below as you wish.

Many students & parents prefer the “Remind” option, as that sends a message directly to your mobile device.

Facebook Page for all PARENTS & STUDENTS & ALUMNI

https://www.facebook.com/groups/889464014469920/ — please join (send request to join) and subscribe

Twitter — (follow) https://twitter.com/BunnellBand

Remind — (Text messages to your device)

• To receive messages via text, text @bunnellb to 81010
• Trouble using 81010? Try texting @bunnellb to (203) 909–6032 instead.

Medium — https://medium.com/@bunnellband — then click follow.

Band Camp

Band Camp is Aug 19–23 (we generally finish on Thursday) 7a-4p at BHS and will not need the last day (23rd).

There will be a Performance for all of the Parents & Family Members on Thursday night. We will serve food & refreshments as well. Details — asap!

Here is a link so you can learn about Band Camp — http://www.bunnellband.org/Site/Band_Camp_Info.html

Parents

You will want to become involved. This activity is a fantastic way for you to bond with your child in the few years remaining, prior to their college experience!!!

Here are some important links:

• FAQ’s — http://www.bunnellband.org/Site/FAQs.html
• Parent Testimonials — http://www.bunnellband.org/Site/Parent_Alumni_Testamonials.html
• Parent Guidebook — http://www.bunnellband.org/Site/Parents_Guidebook.html

Band Handbook

Please familiarize yourself with the revised Band Handbook here:

iBooks for your tablet — https://drive.google.com/open?id=1F3UXgWlO-60aL5nkiyARpuWgYGfDAgRk

PDF File — https://drive.google.com/open?id=1F3UXgWlO-60aL5nkiyARpuWgYGfDAgRk

Fall Marching Band 2019 Music

“Finding Joy” — Students can Find Lifelong Joy in their HS Band!

Bunnell Fall 2019 Marching Band Sheet Music!!!

This music supersedes all other versions. There are MAJOR changes — even since Final Exam week. Please discard your older versions and go with this version.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1VwMbbMa72OzLdidONNqq5aOIox7XjWq9

All FIRST year members should choose a 2nd or 3rd part.

Save ink & Paper — print only what you need!

Audio Files for each part are in the folder above as well. Individual files, with a click track, so you can play along and learn your part!

Full Ensemble Audio — https://drive.google.com/open?id=1FkujMWwU6FdnkVlV4vvhbvHOw9FOXOOc

Ad Book (Cavalcade of Bands Program Book)

Sadly, the Bunnell Band is NOT fully funded by the B.O.E or the town (Very few — IF ANY — HS Marching Bands are funded anywhere in the USA). While they supply some support, it is simply not sufficient to operate a Competitive Program.

Some towns in our area, require their students to pay 2, to 3 to 4 times the amount that we require our students to contribute.

Band & Guard is free, provided you meet the annual fund raising goal, which is $455 (depending on the final BOE/Town Budget) for the 2019 Fall Season. The only time that you will have to pay “Out of Pocket” is when you don’t meet that goal using the provided fun raising tools!!!

The best fund raising tool, by far, is the Cavalcade Adbook, or Program Book. This is somewhat like a yearbook for the Band & Guard. Town Businesses will purchase “Ad Space” in return for a Tax Deduction (we are a 501(c)3 “not for profit” organization). In addition — many Family members will also purchase a “Good Luck” ad page for their child. Parents who purchase ads will also get a Tax Deduction as well. SO RATHER than paying out of pocket — purchase an ad and get the Tax break!

Please:

• Turn is ads/checks AS SOON as you get them.
• Ask family and friends to purchase an ad, get the tax break, and support you (or your child).
• Try all sections of town, and into Shelton on Bridgeport Ave & Devon, just over the Bridge.

Sell to:

• Doctor/Dentist/Orthodontist Office (especially if you are a patient)
• Law Offices
• Real Estate Offices
• Insurance Offices
• Restaurants
• Gas Stations
• Florists
• Mortuaries
• Local Businesses

Avoid selling to:

• National Chains (Home Depot, Wallmart etc…)
• Liquor Stores
• Smoke Shops
• Firearms Stores

Set a Goal and get out there and sell!

The Businesses know that we are coming —

Here is a sample script that students can use when asking a business to purchase an ad:

Hello, I am _________________________ and I’m here today from the Bunnell Stratford Marching Band, and I’m hoping that you can help me out.

The Bunnell Band will be performing at the Citrus Sports Parade in Orlando Florida and we will be representing the Town of Stratford on National Television.

I am hoping that you will purchase an ad for the Cavalcade of Bands Program book. This ad is 100% Tax-Deductible, and your generosity will help me reach my goal of representing our Town.

Please complete this form now, and if you don’t mind — writing a check today as well.

Thank you!!!

Here is the form that you will need — https://drive.google.com/open?id=1oaEvf381gZFwHLcdRuZ5-BkY8G92hpUV

See a Sample Ad Here — http://www.bunnellband.org/Sample_Ad_Page.pdf

You can also purchase an ad online here — http://www.bunnellband.org/Site/Purchase_an_Ad.html

Learn more about the ad-book here — http://www.bunnellband.org/Site/Ad_Book_Info.html

PLEASE:

• Please sell as many ads as possible, as 100% of the ads will go to the students’ accounts.
• Your family members may also take ads as well.
• Ads can be from out of State.
• Ads are Tax Deductible

All ads must be turned in by Oct. 3, 2019.

This isn’t for me!

The Bunnell Band & Guard has a rich tradition that is steeped in excellence.

That said — I know that this group isn’t for everyone.

If you have decided to change your mind, please do the following:

• Give it a chance — you never know!
• The Activity is basically 2 nights per week for two months, excluding the performances.
• You CAN do Sports & Band!

MOST IMPORTANTLY:

PLEASE — email me ASAP — if you change your mind so that we can adjust our plans.

Thank you for taking the time to read all of this

The Band Website is packed with info as well — please click around, explore

and

PLEASE contact me with any questions!!!

thank you

Jim Miller

Addendum — how the finances work:

I thought it would be important to highlight one section of the Band Handbook, in the event that you don’t have time to read every page.

This is the section on our Financial Commitment.

It’s important to note, again, that MOST High School Marching Bands in the USA are not funded by their respective Board of Educations. This is a sad fact of life. We can CHOOSE to NOT have a program, but then think of the number of students that this would miss out on this great opportunity. The opportunity to learn, work in a group to solve problems, and perform in front of thousands of people. These skills transcend “Band” and can be applied throught a lifetime of chasing excellence.

To fund the program, we take the budget (Busses, Staff, Design, Equipment etc…) subtract out the amount that the BOE gives us for Busses, and the amount that the Band Parents raise autonomously, and then simply divide the balance by the number of members in the group. Everyone must raise their “Fair Share”. We give multiple opportunities (suchas the Adbook mentioned above) so that a motivated student can earn their funds, rather than have them handed to them by a parent. Another “Life Skill” that our group teaches.

Please also note that, the other Bands in CT charge their families significantly more than we do, and have budgets, in some cases, three times our budget.

Our individual student Fund Raising Goal for Fall & Indoor 2019 is $455. This is LESS than last year! We might need to adjust that, up or down, if the predicted membership changes drastically.

Here is the section on finances from the Band Handbook:

As a member of the B.H.S. Marching Band and Color Guard it is your responsibility to help raise the funds for the operation of the program.

The following will explain the amounts, and the ways they can be obtained.

• Students will be given a “Fund Raising Commitment” Goal, as well as the means to meet that goal.
• 100% of the fundraisers will go towards their “Fund Raising Commitment” goal.
• If they MEET the goal, then NO out of pocket funds are required.
• If they go UNDER the “Fund Raising Commitment” goal, then they must pay the difference out of pocket, by the date indicated.
• If they go OVER the goal, they can use the additional credits to pay for overnight trips etc.
• Students who have parents that DO NOT participate in the Cavalcade of Bands and Indoor Show will have an additional amount ($35 per event) added to their “Fund Raising Commitment” goal.
• Students who have a financial hardship may APPLY for assistance or a payment plan, by speaking with the Director and/or Principal. The application will be confidential, and will require reasons for the request for assistance.
• Siblings will have the “Fund Raising Commitment” reduced automatically by $50

So what will this look like in 2019?

“Betty Clarinet” is a member of the band. Here is what her “Fund Raising Commitment” will look like:

Betty must send in a deposit of $50 by the first week in July, and then sell $435 in ads for the Cavalcade ad book. (She can use the ads to fund the deposit as well) This must be completed by August 20, of the current school year. If she goes UNDER the goal, then she must pay the difference out of pocket. If she goes OVER the goal, then she can use the credits to pay for other things, such as overnight trips etc.

The total raised by Betty will be $455.

The schedule for fund raising is (This is your payment plan):

$50 — Due July 1 (that’s one 1/2 page ad)

$150 — Due The FIRST day of Band Camp (Aug 19, 2019) (that’s one full page ad)

$150 — Due September 30 (that’s one full page ad)

$105 — Due October 30 (that’s one full page ad)

You can, of course, sell enough Fundraising so that you do not need any payment plan at all!

• Betty will now receive 100% credits for all ads, shake-a-can, car washes, bulbs, mums, pies/cookie dough, and holiday flowers. NONE of those fundraisers will go towards the general fund that helps everyone.
• The General Fund fundraisers will include — Returnables, Cavalcade, Indoor Show, Stratford Day Sales, Clothing Drive, Matching Gifts, Donations etc… These will go towards “Bridging the Gap” to help ALL STUDENTS.
• In addition — If Betty’s Parents DO NOT volunteer at the Cavalcade of Bands and the WGI (Winter Season Show) her “Fund Raising Commitment” goal will be increased by additional $35 per event.

That’s the 2019–2020 plan.

There may be some bugs that we haven’t planned on, but in general, this takes some of the stress off the Parent Group and “Motivates” students and parents to use the fund raising and attend the big events, such as the Cavalcade of Bands.

Remember — Band is not mandatory. You do not have to participate. But if you choose to participate, you MUST share in the “Fund Raising Commitment” to help fund this outstanding program.

In Addition -

A percentage of all of the profits from additional fundraisers or in trip years — “Trip Fundraisers” — will be applied toward the student’s “individual credit account.” (“ICA”). This account is a non-interest bearing account that the Band and Color Guard Parents and school system use to keep track of each student’s earnings. This account is used to draw from when we take trips, or to meet the following years obligations. When a student graduates, his or her ICA can be transferred to a relative, in the same family within 4 calendar years. If there is no relative to “will” the ICA to, the funds will then be placed in the general account, upon graduation.

Refund policy — refunds, or partial refunds, may be given in the circumstance of injury where a student is physically unable to perform and would miss more than half of the 10-week season.

A student who is removed from the group because of discipline, attendance, or any other reason will not be eligible for any refund.

Any student who quits the group at any time will not receive a refund.

The Band Director and the Band Parents organization President will examine all refund requests on a case-by-case situation.

Students who join after band camp MAY have a pro-rated commitment.

Thank you!