This Week's Newsletter

Director's Notes

Hope everyone has had a wonderful Fall Break!  Looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow!

NO GRADES DUE THIS WEEK--DUE TO FALL BREAK 

Our ButterBraid and Coffee Fundraiser will begin this Tuesday (October 13) and 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.).  

Our next football game will be Tuesday, October 20 at 6:30.  This will be a required performance for our 7th/8th Graders.  In addition, 6th grade students are invited to join us for this event.  Students who want to attend will wear their black band shirt, khaki pants/shorts and tennis shoes.  They can bring their instruments and will be able to play on some of the songs in the stands.  This is optional for Beginning Band students, but a fun way to see some of what is in store in 7th/8th grade band.  

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: 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) 

• 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.  

• 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.   

• 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.  

• 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.  

• CONCERT UNIFORMS We are planning to issue/send home Concert Uniforms next 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.  

• 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.  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