Dear Freedom Band Family,

Thank you so much for all the hard work on Friday night continually changing and strange circumstances. Everywhere I looked I saw a crew of red-shirted parents doing something for the band. I can never thank all of your personally one at a time but know that you are appreciated.

This week is a big week!

* Fundraiser Due

* First Away Game

* First time in uniform!

Please be sure you read the entire weekly update as it contains much information you will need for the future. It will save the hassle of repeated information and “lack of knowledge” when planning for the week.

Volunteers Needed:

Show Crew (uniforms, equipment, and chaperones) THIS FRIDAY - Contact Kevin Brennan: KPMSBrennan@gmail.com

- ALL Volunteers must register or renew with ADDitions: http://www.freedombands.ocps.net/volunteer/

- ALL chaperones must fill out a “Chaperone Application”: http://www.freedombands.ocps.net/volunteer/

Immediate Calendar Outlook:

Friday, August 27 - Fairshare Payment #2 (PAST DUE)

Monday, August 30 - Marching Band Percussion Sectional - 1:30pm-4:00pm

Tuesday, August 31 - Guard Sectional - 1:30pm-4:30pm

Tuesday, August 31 - Marching Band Rehearsal - 5:30pm-8:30pm

Thursday, September 2 - Marching Band Rehearsal - 2:45pm-5:45pm

Friday, September 3 - Away Football at Timber Creek – Call Time: 5:45pm

Monday, September 6 - NO SCHOOL

Tuesday, September 7 - Guard Sectional - 1:30pm-4:30pm

Tuesday, September 7 - Marching Band Rehearsal - 5:30pm-8:30pm

Thursday, September 9 - Marching Band Rehearsal - 2:45pm-5:45pm

Friday, September 10 - Away Football at West Orange- Call Time: 5:45pm

Full Calendar: http://www.freedombands.ocps.net/calendar/

Fundraiser:

All fundraiser forms and money must be turned in TUESDAY!

1. All items must be pre-paid. All checks payable to “Freedom High School.” All items are $15.

2. Out of town friends can support the band by buying products from our website: http://www.gafundraising.com/. Our school code is 492819.

Procedure for setting up an online student fundraiser account:

1. Visit: http://www.gafundraising.com/

2. Click "Online Portal" - bottom right hand corner

3. Click "students and Parents click Here"

4. Click "Is this your first visit? Click here."

5. Click "Step 1: Create Your Account"

6. Continue through the registration process from there.

7. The Freedom High School Band Store ID is "492819"

Football vs. Timber Creek - Friday, August 27 (Full Uniform)

We will be performing at halftime this week!

5:00 Equipment Loading Starts

* This is the call time for all percussionists and low brass players.

5:15 Prepaid Food Ordering Begins *

5:45 Prepaid Food Ordering Closes *

5:45 Call Time (ready to perform) in Courtyard **

6:00 Load Buses

6:15 Depart Freedom High School

6:45 Approximate Arrival & Warmup Time

7:30 Game Time

10:00 Approximate Game End

10:30 Approximate Departure

11:00 Approximate Return to Freedom High School

Student Provided Uniform:

(Uniforms are not issued to students without ALL of these pieces)

1. Black marching band shoes (the new batch of shoes just arrived on Friday)

2. Black socks

3. Black gloves (gloves may be purchased in uniform room)

4. Lightweight athletic shorts

5. Navy Blue dry-weave shirt or 2010 Show Shirt (Be cautious of “royal blue” dry-weave shirts).

6. No jewelry

7. Hair up. Students must provide their own supplies for putting up their hair.

Students and parents need to communicate our approximate return time to school. Plan on a half hour from our departure from Timber Creek High School that we will be back at school. I will post our departure on the Band Twitter once we leave - http://twitter.com/freedomhsband/. It will also be on the front of the band website - http://www.freedombands.ocps.net/

Students are dismissed once ALL EQUIPMENT and UNIFORM is put away CORRECTLY in the band room. Some games end earlier. Some games end later. Students are expected to leave campus within 30 minutes of dismissal. Please make plans and communicate with your student.

A few reminders about travelling to other schools:

1. Students are not permitted to visit the concession stand at any football game.

2. Students are not permitted to leave the visitor's half of the stadium at away games. This is a major safety concern.

3. Parents, please do not park in the loop in the front of the school. This blocks the buses from drop-off and delays all of us from leaving.

* The only food allowed to be eaten in uniform is the pre-ordered/pre-paid food from the band parents. Prices will be posted in the band room. Students may not receive delivery of food from any sort of outside source. Failure to follow these rules can result in loss break privileges and/or financial responsibilities for uniform damage.

** “Call Time” means “Ready to Perform” - full uniform with instrument prepared for travel

Drill:

All students are expected to have coordinate sheets at every rehearsal. Additional copies can be downloaded: http://www.freedombands.ocps.net/drill/. Students who are unprepared for rehearsal will be removed from rehearsal.

Spirit Wear:

Order your Freedom High School "Pride of the Patriots" jackets, hoodies, hats, blankets, and other apparel online from Embroidery Solutions: http://www.freedombands.ocps.net/spirit/

2010/2011 Band Handbook:

The Handbook was distributed at the Parent Orientation Meeting. If you haven’t received it or lost it please download it at http://www.freedombands.ocps.net/forms/files/BandHandbook.pdf. Please pay close attention to the Attendance Policy. Notification of an absence does not necessarily excuse an absence.