WINTER PARK BAND Weekly Newsletter
July 10, 2023
From Mr. Clemente
Dear Winter Park Band families,
We had such a great first week of Band Camp 2025! It's been wonderful to get the SOTW back together. Band Camp continues this week Monday, July 28 - Thursday, July 31. All days are 8 AM - 5 PM, and students should be on the GMS campus no later than 7:45 AM each morning. Thursday, 7/31 includes the Mandatory Band Booster Meeting (all parents/guardians) on Thursday, 6 PM in the MPR, followed by the Premiere Show at 7:15 PM. Students will not go home before the performance, and all students are provided dinner on Thursday. The Premiere Show is free and open to the public, so spread the word so we have an enthusiastic audience! All Band Camp rehearsals, meetings, and performances this year will take place at Glenridge Middle School 2900 Upper Park Rd, Orlando, FL 32814 due to construction on the WPHS Main Campus.
This Thursday, July 31, the first financial obligations of the 2025-2026 school year come due. The first Fair Share Payment (all students), the Marching Band Shoe Payment (if needed), and the Extra Show Shirt (optional) all come due on Thursday. Payments must be made on School Cash. More information concerning the school district's new payment system at Thursday's meeting. If you would like to refresh your memory of "what is due when" for the school year, please visit www.winterparkhsband.com/register.html and click on the information packet under Step 3.
Band Camp Meals: An enormous thank you to Christina Armendariz and her team of provisions volunteers for feeding our students each day at Band Camp! Everyone has been well fed and loving the menu this year.
Fundraising: Please take note of the Sponsorships & Student Dedication Fundraiser section of the newsletter this week. Sponsorship collection deadlines have been extended, so get out there, ask our community for their support, and sell some ads!
Physicals and ECGs:
Thank you to all the families who have acted quickly and ensured their student is cleared for Band. We did, however, still have about 20 students who are not yet cleared to fully participate outdoors, and are required to sit out some portion of the morning each day of camp. This requirement is of the utmost importance for the health and safety of our students. Please reach out to Mr. Clemente and Ms. O'Rourke if you need assistance.
Speaking of health and safety, students need to be sure they are taking care of their bodies while we are in camp and outdoors more than a typical day during the school year. Eat balanced meals, hydrate regularly, be diligent about sunscreen application and proper skin coverage when we are outdoors. The healthier we stay, the more fun we can have all together throughout the year!
Schedule Notes:
- Our regular after school marching band rehearsals begin on Tuesday, 8/12. Weekly rehearsals will take place Tuesdays from 3:15 - 6:30 PM and game days from after school - 5 PM.
- Our first football game performance is scheduled for Friday, 8/15 at the Preseason Kickoff Classic at Showalter Field.
- We also have a performance at the "Meet the Cats" Pep Rally on Thursday, 8/21.
- Our first regular season home football game is on Friday, 8/22.
- The rehearsal originally scheduled for Tuesday, 8/5 has been cancelled due to construction and moving schedules. Optimistically, Ms. O'Rourke and I will be back in the Band room on 8/4. However, we will have lots of organizing and moving to do with new furniture, instruments, and equipment to put back into the correct storage places.
What Do I Need for Marching Band Camp & Marching Season?
- A flip folder with at least 10 sleeves, and a lyre. This is an essential piece of equipment for marching band, and will be required at rehearsals and performances. Example linked above. Any music store that handles band instruments will have these on hand, but it would be a good idea to call ahead of time. Also, it is best to take the instrument into the store to have the correct lyre fitted to your specific instrument (different instrument manufacturers have different lyre connections).
- A half-inch, 3-ring binder with plastic sheet protectors. This will keep your sheet music safe and all in one place for rehearsals. You will need it at every rehearsal. Examples linked above.
- Tan/khaki shorts. All Students will need to provide their own tan/khaki shorts to wear as part of our Band Summer Uniform. Students must have their pair of shorts before the 2025 SOTW Premiere Show of Spanish Images on Thursday, 7/31.
- Drink lots of water and be active outdoors prior to marching band camp – don’t wait until the first day of camp to hydrate and to be exerting yourself in the heat and humidity!
- You will need comfortable athletic shoes and socks at every rehearsal. Sandals/Flip-flops/Slip-ons/Crocs/Hey Dudes/etc. are not allowed during a marching band rehearsal. You must have shoes on your feet at all times both inside and outside.
- Sunscreen. You will need it for just about every rehearsal.
- A brimmed hat and sunglasses. This will provide extra protection from the sun, and sunglasses will allow you to see the drum majors and where you’re going while you march.
- Light colored clothing. Avoid dark colors when rehearsing outside in the sun!
- A personal instrument that is in good working order OR a school-owned instrument for those who play large/specialized instruments.
Band Camp Meals Menu
Week 2:
Monday - Hamburgers & Cheeseburgers from Mohawk Smokehouse
Tuesday - Sandwiches from Bricks & Bowls
Wednesday - Chick-fil-a sandwiches
Thursday lunch - Pulled Pork sandwiches from Mohawk Smokehouse
Thursday dinner for ALL students - Pizza from Frank's Pizza
Thursday post-performance - Kona Ice, provided by Bear Team Real Estate
**PB&J table available everyday to all band students*
Can't wait to have a great second week of Band Camp and see everyone at the meeting and performance on Thursday!!
Mr. Clemente
From our Band Booster President
What a great first week of Band Camp! I have enjoyed seeing our returning students, new faces, and everyone's Spirit Week outfits. And thanks to the parents who came out to the potluck! This Thursday before the big show is the MANDATORY parent information meeting. There will be prizes! This is our best opportunity to get you connected to your section in order to disperse information throughout the year.
Save the date! This year the Band Booster Board is piloting a monthly Zoom to discuss events and answer general questions. The first virtual meeting will be 8/7 at 7:30pm. The link will go out next week.
Reach out if you have any questions: wphsbandboosterpresident@gmail.com
Laura Cambridge
Band Booster President
Sponsorship & Dedication Fundraiser Update
🎺 Sponsorship Deadline Extended — Let’s Make This Year Loud and Proud! 🎺
New Deadline: Monday, August 4th
We’re giving you a little more time to lock in your sponsorships—and we need everyone to step it up to make this year our most successful yet!
Here’s what we need by August 4th:
✅ Sponsorship payment (check or card)
✅ Vector logo files
✅ Any ad copy you'd like our designer to use
Please email everything to:
📧 wpbandprogram@gmail.com (Attn: Erica Diltz)
A huge thank you to those who have already hit the pavement this summer—you are the reason we’ve come so far! And for those still finalizing leads or just getting started—now’s your chance. We’ve extended the deadline to help you close those last-minute deals or start fresh!
🎯 Why Every Student Should Be Pushing for Sponsors:
• 45% of the sponsorship value goes directly back into your band account
• That money rolls over to next year—use it for the band trip or Fair Share!
• Our band is 90% self-funded—your efforts matter
• More funds = lower Fair Share for everyone
🎓 Student Dedication Deadline Remains: August 30th
📄 Sponsorship & Student Dedication Forms
Let’s rally together! We can’t do this without student energy and parent support. Whether it’s a neighborhood pizza shop, a family-run business, or your dentist—every ask counts.
Let’s make noise. Let’s show up. Let’s be the heartbeat of Winter Park.
🎶
Erica Diltz, Sponsorship Chair
Robyn Fodor, Fundraising Chair
Winter Park High School Band
wpbandprogram@gmail.com | 407-784-4361
From our Color Guard Liason
Hello everyone! A warm welcome to the WPHS Sound of the Wildcats families and band members. My name is Kirstin Cowan and I am the WPHS Colorguard liaison. I am excited to begin this fourth year with the colorguard. This year I have stepped up to fulfill the colorguard liaison position and I look forward to supporting the team and band for, what I know will be, an outstanding year. It is hard to believe the first week of band camp is complete! The colorguard has been working hard on marching techniques, dance and flag basics, pom routines, and team building. They were overjoyed to win section of the day on Tuesday! Go team!
Speaking of teams, the guard now has three section parents that are helping both support the guard and inform parents of important information. A huge thank you to Connie Tasker, Yedi Corps, and Kianna Fairfax for stepping into that role! They will be sharing updates and information via the colorguard GroupMe App. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to myself or one of our paw-some section parents!
My email is wphscolorguardliaison@gmail.com
I hope to see you all at the preview show and parent meeting on July 31 at Glenridge Middle School from 6-7pm. I will have important information for guard families and sign up information for shirts. You will also have an opportunity to meet with all of our awesome board members and ask any questions you may have in relation to volunteering, financial information, fundraising, and more.
Have a great week!
WPHS Colorguard Liaison
Kirstin Cowan
All-State Audition Materials Available NOW
All-State Auditions - Saturday, September 20 at Ocoee HS
Concert Band (9th & 10th grade)
Symphonic Band (11th & 12th Grade)
Piano (9th through 12th Grade)
High School Jazz Band (9th - 12th grades)
Sight-Reading Guidelines and Past Sight-Reading Excerpts
Start practicing now!
Private Lessons - Invest in Your Future!
Whether a student is learning a musical instrument to pursue a career in music, or simply for personal musical fulfillment and recreation, private lessons are one of the best investments that a parent can provide for their musical child. When working with a private teacher, students receive one-on-one instruction from a professional musician who specializes on that instrument.
Unlike a full band rehearsal experience, studying with a private teacher focuses in on the student’s individual needs. Students who study privately once a week from a professional musician are usually those who excel and find Band more enjoyable. These students frequently earn positions in honor groups like All-State and All-County, and make entry into our more advanced bands like Wind Symphony and Jazz Ensemble I. Some even go on to earn college scholarships, even if they are not majoring in music!
Below is a link to a list of local private teachers. This list is not exhaustive, and there may be other individuals who are not on the list. If you are a private teacher who would like to be added to our list (or deleted), or know a private teacher who should be added, please contact Mr. Clemente at michael.clemente@ocps.net.
UPCOMING EVENTS
July 21 - 25: Band Camp Week 1, at Glenridge MS, required for all 2025-2026 students
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July 28 - 31: Band Camp Week 2, at Glenridge MS, required for all 2025-2026 students
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July 31: Mandatory Band Booster Meeting, 6 - 7 PM, Glenridge MS
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July 31: 2025 SOTW Premiere Show, 7:15 PM, Glenridge MS
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August 5: Marching Band Rehearsal, 6 - 8 PM
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August 11: First Day of School
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August 12: Marching Band Rehearsal, 3:15 - 6:30 PM
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August 15: Marching Band Rehearsal, 2:45 - 4 PM/Football Game, 5 - 10 PM
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August 21: "Meet the 'Cats" Pep Rally, 6 - 8 PM, Location TBD
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August 22: Marching Band Rehearsal, 2:45 - 4 PM/Football Game, 5 - 10 PM
Band Calendar
Since the Cut Time software has been updated, the synced calendar link has changed. Copy the link below to subscribe to the Band public events calendar in Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, Outlook, or other calendar app:
FINANCES AND CUT TIME
UPCOMING BAND PAYMENTS
- WOODWINDS, BRASS, PERCUSSION
- Thursday, July 31, 2025
- Fair Share Payment - $225 OR Fair Share Payment 1 - $100.00
- Marching Band Shoe (new students and if needed) - $45.00
- Extra Show Shirt (optional) - $15.00
- COLOR GUARD
- Thursday, July 31, 2025
- Fall Fair Share Payment - $325 OR Fair Share Payment 1 - $100
- Marching Band Shoe (if needed) - $45.00
- Extra Show Shirt (optional) - $15.00
WPHS Band Social Media
We've been posting lots of photos our social media platforms, and we will continue to post updates, photos, video, and other media to those pages throughout the year. Follow the Band!
- Facebook: @winterparkhsband
- Instagram: @winterparkhsband @wphs_flutes @wphsclarinets @wpsaxes @wphs_trumpets @wphs.trombones @wphstubas @winterparkhspercussion @winterparkcolorguard @wphs.drumajors
- YouTube: @winterparkhsband
- Twitter: @wphs_bands
- Tik Tok: @winterparkhsband
Winter Park High School Band
Email: michael.clemente@ocps.net
Website: www.winterparkhsband.com
Location: 2100 Summerfield Road, Winter Park, FL, USA
Phone: 4076223200
Facebook: www.facebook.com/winterparkhsband