This Week's Newsletter

Director's Notes

Our Beginners started their first notes this week and have all done a fantastic job!  I'm very excited about the year ahead and all the progress they will make!  

Band Book orders have been distributed to Beginning Band (6th Grade) and will be distributed to 7th/8th grade later this week.  We do have extra books if you have not yet gotten to purchase one for your student.  They are $13 (or $16 for percussion). 

Our Calendar Fundraiser concludes on Wednesday, August 26.  Please ensure your student turns in any donations collected to the Band Box by that date.  Thank you for your support! 

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

SCHEDULE THIS WEEK: 3  4  6  7  5  1  2

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) 

• STARTING WITH INSTRUMENTS  At this time, all students need to have an instrument AND the red Tradition of Excellence Book for class each day.  Please be sure every student has their name on their instrument! 

• SECURING AN INSTRUMENT You can find our recommendations for instruments HERE.  This packet includes all of our local music stores, recommended brands and supplies needed for each instrument.  Please be cautious when securing an instrument for your student.  If a price seems too good to be true, there is usually a reason.  Bargain instruments frequently make playing even more difficult for the students (especially as they are getting started) and the quality does not hold up.  Music stores will not repair the bargain instruments as the costs of repair exceed the value of the instrument.  If you have questions or financial concerns, please contact Ms. Parker (emily.parker@hsv-k12.org).  We do not wish to create any financial difficulty or hardship -- we just want to make band as positive an experience as possible for each student! 

• BAND T-SHIRT ORDER We have placed our T-Shirt order and anticipate they will be ready to distribute in early September.  We have ordered extra shirts just in case anyone missed the order deadline.  

• CALENDAR FUNDRAISER Our first fundraiser will end on Wednesday, August 26.  We will be doing a "Pay the Date" calendar fundraiser to raise funds for new lockers and clinicians for this year.   

  • Students have been given an August calendar and asked to collect donations for each date (Ex: $1 for August 1, $2 for August 2, etc.)  Students will collect all donations and return their envelope on August 26.  

  • Donations via credit card can be taken by Square HERE.   Please remind donors to fill in the student's name they are supporting on their Square donation. We will forward receipts of Square payments as quickly as possible so you are aware of donations your student has received.  

  • You can see the information sheet below.  We greatly appreciate any support you can provide with this fundraiser!  It provides great assistance for our program and allows us to provide many opportunities and resources for our students.  

• FIRST DAY PACKETS Please ensure you have returned all forms/paperwork from the First Day packet. Copies of the information from the packet are included below and extra paper copies are available upon request. 

• BAND PAYMENTS We have two accounts for HCMS Band.  Our school account pays for all uniforms (concert and T-shirt) and Fair Share.  All rental payments, hoodies, Jazz Band and Band Book payments are paid through our Band Parent Account at Redstone.  All checks may be made out to HCMS Band and will be deposited in the correct account.  Please be sure to include your student's name and what the payment is for in the Memo line of any check. 

• SCHOOLCASH LIVE SchoolCash is now live and ready to receive payments for HCMS Band fees (Fair Share, Band Shirt, 7th/8th Grade Concert Uniform).  In order to use this system, we had to assign fees to each band class.  If you have already sent in payment via cash/check, please disregard any notifications from SchoolCash that those payments are due.  Our bookkeeper is going through all of our receipts and waiving the fees in SchoolCash for all who have already paid.  

• 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.  

Symphonic Band (7th/8th Grade)

• lYRE/FLIP FOLDER With football season around the corner, please be sure your student has a lyre and flip folder for their instrument so they will be prepared for football games.  I highly recommend taking your instrument to one of our local music stores to pick out the correct item.  Examples are pictured next to these announcements.  **HCMS Percussion, HCMS Volleyball, HCMS Football and HCMS Cheer do not need to purchase lyres/flip folders.**  

• CALENDAR FUNDRAISER  Our first fundraiser has begun and will conclude on Wednesday, August 26.  We will be doing a "Pay the Date" calendar fundraiser to raise funds for new lockers and clinicians for this year.   Students have been given an August calendar and asked to collect donations for each date (Ex: $1 for August 1, $2 for August 2, etc.)  Students will collect all donations and return their envelope on August 26.  Card payments can be taken by Square HERE.   You can see the information sheet below.  We greatly appreciate any support you can provide with this fundraiser!  It provides great assistance for our program and allows us to provide many opportunities and resources for our students.  

• UNIFORM VOLUNTEERS NEEDED We would greatly appreciate some uniform volunteers who can assist us assigning uniforms for our 7th/8th grade students during their class period.  This week we will need uniform volunteers each day from 11:10-12:00 and 2:11-3:00.  If you have any availabilty during either of those times on any day, please feel free to come on to the band room!  We have finished fitting all the dress uniforms and have started on the tux/vest/pants option, which takes a bit more effort.

• FROM HUNTSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL BAND 

  • You can now register here for the middle school night and tailgate party before the game!  High School Band Middle School Night is Friday, September 4th at Milton Frank.  All 8th grade students are invited to come play with the high school band! The high school band will also be coming to the HCMS vs. HJHS football game in September to play!  

  • 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 T-SHIRT ORDER Our Band Shirt Order has been placed and we ordered extra just in case anyone missed the deadline.  Please ensure your student has their black band shirt and khaki shorts ready for our first game! 

• RENTALS Rental paperwork has been sent home with 7th and 8th grade band students who will be renting school instruments.  Those who rented over summer may keep their school instruments - but please return the form/payment as soon as possible.  Please email me (emily.parker@hsv-k12.org) if you have questions about Instrument Rentals.  

• 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.  

• HORNS & HOOVES JAZZ BAND Horns & Hooves Jazz will begin after Labor Day after school from 3-4. Please complete this Google Form if your student is interested in Jazz Band.  We are investigating the option of two Jazz Band practices - one on Mondays for 8th Grade and one on Thursdays for 7th Grade, depending on how many we have sign up.  Please communicate your interest this week so we can plan accordingly!

Thank you! 

Emily Parker, Director of Bands