This Week's Newsletter

Director's Notes

We've had a busy and productive week in the HCMS Band Room!  Our beginners are already making progress on their first concert song --- and the 7th and 8th Graders are powering through several programs!  

NO GRADES DUE THIS WEEK--DUE TO TESTING

    Next Week: Beginning Band will resume Ningenius (Lesson/Star 4 - Due Sunday October 25)

Our ButterBraid and Coffee Fundraiser has begun and will last until Wednesday, October 28.  Please remember that students will receive 80% of profits from this fundraiser to be applied toward their band-related costs (trips, rental, etc.).  

• ButterBraids can be sold in person (orders collected on paper order form), online (find your student's store online HERE) or both.  Please only write orders collected in person on the paper order form.  Online orders handle payment online and will provide a detailed list of information for you when Butter Braids arrive on November 16.  Butterbraids are $18 each.

• Coffee is sold for $20/each.  Orders should be written on the green order form included in your fundraiser packet. 

• Please collect payment up front with the orders.  Payments can be cash/check (HCMS Band).  If you would like to receive online payments (Venmo, Cash App, etc.) and write one check to the band, that's just fine too!  

• ButterBraids will be delivered to HCMS on November 16 and will be available for pick-up from 3:00-5:00 that day.  Students should plan to collect their orders and distribute them to those that ordered.  

• Coffee should be delivered around the same time and will be distributed to students to deliver to those that purchased.  

Our next football game will be Tuesday, October 20 at 6:30.  

• • WHO: 7th and 8th Grade Band Students (Graded Performance); Beginning Band Members are Welcome to attend as well! 

  • WHAT TO WEAR: Band T-shirt/Hoodie, Khaki Shorts/Pants, Tennis Shoes (It will probably be cool that night---feel free to bring your band hoodie or a jacket).

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

  • WHERE: Milton Frank Stadium

  • WHEN: Our game begins at 6:30 p.m.  We will meet by the Front Gate at 6:00 p.m.  Students will check in with Ms. Parker and show their flip folder and that they are in full uniform (black band shirt or hoodie/khaki shorts or pants/tennis shoes.)  If you do not see the band by the front gate, students may enter through security and meet us in the stands.  (Beginners can bring their instrument but do not need to bring any music.  We will have posters with their notes.) 

  • Additional Info

    • We will not be taking a bus to these games.  Due to bus routes, they would have to drop us off at the stadium at 1:30 or could bring us by 5:30 -- neither of which would work well for this event.  We ask parents to transport their children to Milton Frank Stadium and home afterwards.  

    • Parents who would like to attend the game (but who are not chaperoning) will need to purchase tickets online at GoFan.

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

    • The game should last until about 8:15-8:30 - depending on when we get started.  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.) 

    • 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.  This should not take long if everyone does their part. 

    • Housekeeping issues for football games:

      • Students may bring a bottle of water for the stands. 

      • 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.  Students will need to eat before/after 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.  

      • We can have 10 volunteer chaperones assist the band during the game.  Our president (Lindsey Giambrone) will be reaching out to those who expressed interest, but if you would like the opportunity - please contact her at hcovemsband@gmail.com 

Save the Date! - Mellow Mushroom (Jones Valley) Spirit Night - Monday, October 26! 

Please update your calendar - Our Spring Concert will be on May 13 at 6:00 at the Huntsville HIgh School Auditorium.  There was an error in our original calendar that has been updated in the digital copy below! 

Our Spring Trip (7th/8th Grade) will be to Universal in Orlando May 14-17.  Registration is now open - just find the link to the trip website below.   Students can register and begin payments via that site -- All payments are handled with our travel company, American Travel Consulting.   We will reschedule our Band Banquet.

SCHEDULE THIS WEEK: 4 6 7 1 5 2 3

Please look for this HCMS Band Newsletter every Sunday.  It will review all upcoming information for the week.  You can also find the newsletter and all other band information on our website:  wwwhcovemsband.org. Please contact Ms. Parker if you have any issues receiving the weekly newsletter (emily.parker@hsv-k12.org or hcovemsband@gmail.com).

Beginning Band (6th Grade) 

• FOOTBALL GAME INVITATION  Each year we invite our Beginning Band to join us for one football game.  If your student chooses to participate, they will join us in the stands and play on some of the stand tunes we have learned in class.   This game will be Tuesday, October 20 at 6:30 at Milton Frank Stadium.   Details are at the top of the newsletter.  No need to sign up - students will sign in with Ms. Parker when they arrive at the game.  (Please note - Students who attend will be expected to remain with the band for the full football game.  You can pick them up at the Milton Frank Front Gate after the game is over.) 

• FACEBOOK GROUP Feel free to join the "HCMS Band Parents" Facebook Group if you are on social media.  As this is a private group, you will be asked to answer two questions to be admitted.  

Symphonic Band (7th/8th Grade)

• FOOTBALL GAMES  Our next Football Game will be the Semi-Finals on October 20 at 6:30.   

• NEXT FOOTBALL GAME We will be playing our last game on Tuesday, October 27.  I believe it will be at 6:30 as well, but can confirm for certain following this week's game.  Please save the date!  

• HALLOWEEN CONCERT Our Halloween Concert will be Thursday, October 29 at 6:00 in the HCMS Gym.  Students may wear their Halloween costume or their pep band uniform, whichever they prefer.  Call Time will be 5:30 p.m.  This will be a performance grade for all 7th and 8th grade band students.  

• CONCERT UNIFORMS We are planning to issue/send home Concert Uniforms this week. Please ensure your student has paid their $25 for Uniform Rental (sent in or via SchoolCash) before that time.  Once uniforms come home, please take a moment to double check that your student's uniform fits and let us know if there are any issues or changes needed.  The dresses (and possibly the pants) will most likely be too long -- please include a temporary hem for them and do NOT cut or remove the fabric.  You can access details in our uniform paperwork HERE.

• HORNS & HOOVES JAZZ BAND Horns & Hooves Jazz has begun and we will continue with our schedule of 8th Grade Jazz on Mondays and 7th Grade Jazz on Wednesdays.  To prepare for our performance at the Halloween Concert, we will combine both groups for Jazz Band on Monday, October 26 from 3-3:45.  There will be a $25 fee for Jazz Band participation. 

• SPRING TRIP - UNIVERSAL (ORLANDO) Registration for our Spring Trip to Orlando is now open.

  • To register, visit the HCMS Band Trip Website HERE.  This should take you directly to our trip page.

  • Payment Schedule:  Deposit - $100 (October 1, 2026), Payment - $185 (November 1, 2026/December 1, 2026/January 1, 2027/February 1, 2027/March 1, 2027), Final Balance - April 1, 2027

  • Students must meet the disciplinary requirements to attend this trip. Any students with OSS or 3 or more days of ISS will not be permitted to attend.  This requirement has been mentioned in class since the first day of school and has been included in our Band Handbook. 

  • Travel Insurance is HIGHLY encouraged.   

  • All paperwork may be viewed in our Spring Trip Google Drive HERE.  

• BAND HOODIES   Parents may purchase them at any time through cash/check ($40) or Square.  Contact Ms. Parker if you would like to order a hoodie at any point during the year.    

• FROM HUNTSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL BAND 

  • Information on the 2027-28 Huntsville High Trip to Rome for current 8th grade families can be found here including payment schedule and other information from the middle school meetings last week.  If you plan to start making payments for the trip, fundraise, or would like direct communication from us on this trip, please fill out this form.

• BAND BOOK We have started with the blue band book (Tradition of Excellence Book 2) in class. We still have additional copies if you need to purchase one for your student.  They are $13 ($16 for percussion).  Thank you for your assistance with this!  

• PERCUSSION 7th and 8th Grade Percussion - Included in your packet is an optional order form for mallets, drumsticks and stick bags.  You are more than welcome to purchase these items on your own - but I will be placing an order for anyone who is interested.  I'll be placing the order early this week and will distribute materials as soon as possible.

• BOOSTER OFFICERS NEEDED We still have a few band parent association officer positions available.  Please contact Ms. Parker or the Band Parents (hcovemsband@gmail.com) for more information!  We really appreciate your willingness to help!

• VOLUNTEER SURVEY We are looking for volunteers to assist with various projects throughout the year.  This survey is NOT a commitment - just a way to let us know if you would be interested/available to help from time to time.  We will reach out with options as they arise to see if they work for you.  Please complete and return the paper survey or complete the GOOGLE FORM. 

• FACEBOOK GROUP Feel free to join the "HCMS Band Parents" Facebook Group if you are on social media.  As this is a private group, you will be asked to answer two questions to be admitted.  

Thank you! 

Emily Parker, Director of Bands