Guilford Park Band Camp Information

Dear Students and Parents,

Congrats to everyone on another great week of Band Camp! We have only a little rehearsal this week, but several performances!

April Lerner & Becki Vivrette will be in touch with you about donating to the End of Band Camp Preview Picnic/Potluck. Everyone should come to this: parents, families, cousins, Aunts, Uncles, etc.! The students have worked hard, and this is their chance to show it off and give you a sneak peak of the halftime show! Please join us on Friday, the performance begins at 6pm! Take a look at our Sign-Up Genius to bring items for the Potluck! If we cannot get enough donations for the Potluck by Tuesday evening, we will need to pivot to either just cake or no food.

If you're on Facebook, join the Facebook group now; you'll get important updates and some great pictures from our events! April and Becki have been doing a lot of work behind the scenes to setup a great season; you'll be hearing from them to find out how you can get involved and I hope you'll join us as Band isn't just for the students!

Thanks to everyone who joined us at last week's MUSIC DEPARTMENT PARENT meeting on Tuesday night. The next meeting is August 25th @ 7pm on Google Meet (a link will be sent next week).

BAND CAMP SCHEDULE THIS WEEK:

We are not performing Thursday morning - I apologize for the error/miscommunication on my part.

• Tuesday, 4pm-9pm
• Thursday, 4:00 PM Rehearsal, Back-to-School-Night performance @ 6pm. After the performance, students may attend B2SN with their families or go home.
• Friday, 4:00 PM - Rehearsal, Preview/Picnic @ 6pm

With Pride,

-Mr. Posner

Mr. Posner, Director of Bands - eric_posner@hcpss.org

Mr. Aleksei, Asst. Director of Bands - wyeth_aleksei@hcpss.org

If you have not done so already, make sure you fill out the 2026 Marching Band Contract! THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!

ALL students for 2026-2027 are expected to fill this out, even if you are applying for a Marching Band exemption due to sports or a medical reason.

• August 3-4, Band Leadership Team Training (only the leadership team attends)
• August 5, 9am-6pm, All New Members, Drumline (Battery), and Color Guard
• August 6-7 and 10-12, 9am-6pm, Full Band
• August 13-14, 18, and 20-21, 4-9pm, Full Band (picnic on the 21st)
• We will have a Performance and Picnic on the 21st. The performance will start at 6pm followed by the picnic. More information from our Marching Band Parent Coordinators (April Lerner and Becki Vivrette) will be forthcoming.

FULL SCHEDULE - Rehearsals, Football Games, etc.

All dates in the attached document were released before school ended, with only one change occurring since (addition of 9/19 for BLT, drumline, and upperclassmen). Please make sure everything is in your calendar as all rehearsals and performances are grades for Quarter 1.

We recognize that things come up and that athletes have games. Mr. Aleksei and I will work closely with you to find solutions to excused conflicts, all you need to do is communicate effectively via speaking in-person or emailing in advance of the conflict.

• Excused Conflicts: Illness, Family Emergency, Doctor’s Appointments, GPHS Athletics (communicate with both coaches and directors)
• Unexcused Conflicts: Homework, Jobs (communicate with your managers well ahead of time, it’s not fair to them if you don’t!), Non-GPHS athletics (club)

These forms should be turned in on the first day of Band Camp - please do not email them to me.

There are two forms:

1. Page one must be filled out by everyone and can be done by an adult at home
2. Page three only needs to be filled out if medication is needed (even OTC) and must be done by a physician.

• August 3-4, Band Leadership Team Training (only the leadership team attends)
• August 5, 9am-6pm, All New Members, Drumline, and Color Guard
• Registration/Check-In begins at 8:15am
• August 6-7 and 10-12, 9am-6pm, Full Band
• Registration/Check-In begins at 8:15am
• August 13-14, 18, and 20-21, 4-9pm, Full Band (picnic on the 21st)

All students must arrive no later than 8:45am, this ensures that you have checked in and we’ve collected all necessary forms and payments from you before rehearsal begins. Forms are attached to this email. Here is what you must bring with you to Registration:

1. Materials payments: Checks can be made out to “Guilford Park High School”, cash is also accepted but unfortunately, we cannot do online payments. The amount owed for materials should be in the confirmation you received after submitting the Marching Band Contract, BUT we will also have this information available at registration. No one will be denied participation due to financial concerns; please communicate with Mr. Posner ASAP and a plan will be worked out on a case-by-case basis.

2. Medical Forms (Read carefully...) There are TWO forms:

1. The first form is REQUIRED by everyone and must be turned in on 8/12.

2. The second form is only required if you may need medicine administered at any point (this includes OTC medications) and it must be signed by a doctor.

*By law we cannot give you any medication without this form. It is recommended that you get this form filled out by your doctor for OTC meds including Tylenol, Aspirin, etc.

Band Camp is a place where you will meet new people, make new friends and reconnect with old ones, build our sense of team and “band family”, and for new students make an easy and smooth transition to high school. We’ll learn our music and how to march, play games, and have fun!

This time is crucial to our success. Your attendance is expected, because when we’re missing one person it’s difficult for others to know where to go on the field! Communicate conflicts as soon as they arise so we can make arrangements and work through those together to find a solution.

You will rehearse both inside and outside. Wear appropriate clothing and bring a large water jug. All HCPSS policies regarding heat and water breaks will be adhered to.

See photo for the Band Camp Entrance on the side of the building, Door #s70-73.

• Materials payment

• Medical Forms

• Lunch/Dinner/Snacks

• Instrument and related materials (mouthpiece, valve oil, etc.) - School instruments will be assigned to most students; trumpets should bring their own trumpet from home.

• CLARINETS & SAXOPHONES - Legere Reeds (these are much better for outdoor use and can also be used indoors) https://www.legere.com/ If you want to “try before you buy” we have some at school to try out.

• Pencils!

• Music in plastic sheet protectors and in a black binder with your name This will be checked at registration and is imperative for learning music outside.

• Appropriate dress for weather and movement (T-shirts, shorts) HCPSS Dress Code will apply no matter how hot it gets.

• Tennis Shoes/Sneakers with socks. NO CROCS or slides for rehearsals!

• Hat

• Sunglasses

• SUNSCREEN, don’t forget to apply throughout the day!

• WATER JUG You will want something large enough to last you throughout big rehearsal blocks. Think ½ gallon jugs, not a simple water bottle. Check out this one on Amazon!

• Backpack to carry your things

• Tan Khaki Shorts, Old Navy Examples