Keeping on Beat: November 2025

Happy November! We have lots going on and look forward to the Turkey Concert. We need volunteers all 3 nights, so please check out this sign up genius to donate your time. Thank you!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508054FAEAE2AA7FB6-60135954-2025#/

8th Grade Night @ SMHS

Monday November 10 from 5-8pm (See more info below!)

Gig Jazz Performing
Tuesday November 11 Gig Jazz to perform at Helen Bougher Park at 10am

Poinsettia Sale Kickoff

Wednesday November 12

Parent Band Rehearsal (For beginning band parents!)

Thursday November 13 at 6pm

Disneyland Scales Due

Friday November 14

Turkey Concerts

Tuesday November 18: Turkey Concert #1
Cafe Jazz, Period 7 Beginning Band, Concert Band & Parent Band

Wednesday November 19: Turkey Concert #2
Gig Jazz & Period 5 Beginning Band & Golden Eagle Band

Thursday November 20: Turkey Concert #3
House Jazz, Period 2 Beginning Band, Wind Symphony & Parent Band

Cafe Jazz Performance
Friday November 21: Cafe Jazz performing at Veteran's Day Friday Flag @ LCM 8-10am

Our 8th graders are invited to join the SMHS Knight Regiment for the Community Showcase! Students will rehearse and then perform Land of 1000 Dances on the field before KR’s final show of Arachnid. Parents, please plan to attend this event as well and to learn more about the program!

Schedule

• 5:00 Check-in

• 5:15 Rehearsal & sectionals

• 6:00 Pizza dinner (Quad)

• 6:45 Meet with Mr. Radant for performance instructions

• 7:00 Performance with KR

• 7:10 Knight Regiment performs Arachnid

• 7:20 Event ends

What to Wear: SEMS Band shirt/sweatshirt + jeans or warm pants and closed-toed shoes (sneakers recommended).

We look forward to a fun night of music and community! 🎶

Poinsettia Fundraiser Info

Our biggest fundraiser of the year is just around the corner! The 2025 SEMS Music Program Holiday Fundraiser will run from November 12th to December 9th. Look for the flyer to come home with your student. Our goal is to raise $50,000! We have an amazing music program with almost 335 students involved, and together we can achieve this goal.

Our music students will be selling poinsettias to the community to help raise funds used to support program costs including purchasing music and supplies, acquiring and repairing instruments and equipment, sponsorships, festivals, concerts, and more.

We’re excited to announce that our band is now fundraising through Raise Right—a simple, passive way to support our program! With Raise Right, everyday purchases turn into earnings for our music department at no extra cost to you.

Click below for more information and to start supporting today.

Website: https://www.raiseright.com/

Organization Code: AFL187887L449

Thank you for helping us keep the music playing!

Starting December 1st, all field trip chaperones must be Level A. This is a District-wide policy which I have provided below.

New SMUSD Policy

Because volunteers who are chaperoning field trips have unsupervised contact with students, effective December 1, any volunteer interested in chaperoning a field trip must have Level A Clearance.

SMUSD is continuing to cover the cost of the LiveScan process for Level A volunteers. Additionally, to make LiveScan appointments more accessible, SMUSD has finalized a contract with three Postal Annex locations. These sites will now offer LiveScan services to volunteers on a walk-in basis, with evening and weekend hours available. Please see the flyer below.

All new Level A volunteer applicants will receive an email with the details of the three participating Postal Annex locations, including their addresses and operating hours.

Please let us know if you have any questions. Level B volunteers will be allowed through November. If you plan to volunteer for a field trip after Thanksgiving, please start this process by applying for Level A now. Here is the District website with the link- https://www.smusd.org/144243_3

Meet our 2025-2026 Concertmasters!

• Wednesday December 3: Booster Meeting in SEMS PAC 6pm

• Wednesday December 10: SEMS Choir Winter Concert 6:30pm

• Thursday December 11: Gig Jazz playing at SEES Festival of Lights 4:30pm

• Friday December 12: Jazz playing at Carrillo Festival of Lights 6pm

• Tuesday December 16: Poinsettias delivered to SEMS

Looking for an easy way to make a difference? Our directors have created an Amazon Wish List filled with items that directly benefit our students in band and choir. Every donation helps provide the tools and supplies needed to keep our music program strong and thriving.

Click here to view the list and support: Amazon Wish List

Thank you for helping us create more opportunities for our young musicians!

September 2025

October 2025

The Music Boosters are a nonprofit that supports the San Elijo Middle School Band and Choir programs. We help fund, organize, and support our 400+ student musicians in class and at events.

Booster meetings are held monthly in the SEMS PAC — all are welcome! Check the calendar for dates. Please click here to read our Organizational Bylaws.

President(s): Sally Schifman & Laura Dassrath

Treasurer: Ashley Cornes

Assistant Treasurer: Indira Rocha-Ventura

Secretary: Janna Massoth

Fundraising Coordinator: Katie Stapko

Hospitality Coordinator: Stephanie Bussen & Tony Bussen

Media Master(s): Chelsea Lewis & Quyen Nicol

Volunteer Coordinator: Wendy Garafalo

Student Activities Coordinator: Rachel Boyle

Jazz Coordinator(s): Erene Mina & Deanna Petrochilos

Boosters At Large: Katie Marroquin, Christina Marroquin, Andrea Dunning, Priscilla Nuno

Band Booster Meeting Minutes

September 2025