Keeping on Beat: December 2025

Hello families,

We hope you had a restful Thanksgiving break and are ready for a fun month ahead. December is always a busy and exciting time for our program, with poinsettia sales in full swing and the Winter Choir Concert just around the corner. Thank you for staying connected and supporting all the amazing things our musicians are doing. We have included the volunteer link below if you are able to help at the concert. Your time and energy make such a difference.

Winter Choir Concert Volunteers!

Before we jump into the December events, we want to take a moment to celebrate our incredible Turkey Concert series. Check out the highlight video below! Our students performed with so much spirit, teamwork, and joy, and it was a wonderful way to kick off the holiday season. Thank you to everyone who attended, supported, or helped make these concerts special. Our musicians truly shined.

We are looking forward to a wonderful month together!

No Corners Cut Photography has finished editing and uploading all of the picture day photos! Please visit this site https://nocornerscutphotography.squarespace.com/sems-hsreth4asdf4q7hm to view ​and purchase your child's photo(s).

We’re hoping to have a few decorative doorstops made for our band and choir events. They’ll help keep doors open during performances while adding a festive touch. If you’re interested in creating one, please reach out to our Band Presidents at: semsbandpresident@gmail.com

SEMS Choir Winter Concert

Wednesday December 10 6:30pm in the SEMS PAC

Jazz playing at LCM Winter Story Time
House Jazz, Cafe members and LCM Alumni are invited to perform

Wednesday December 10 4:00pm

Gig Jazz playing at SEES Festival of Lights
Gig Jazz, Cafe members and SEES Alumni are invited to perform
Thursday December 11 4:30pm

Jazz playing at Carrillo Festival of Lights
House Jazz, Cafe members and Carrillo Alumni are invited to perform

Friday December 12 6pm

Poinsettias delivered to SEMS for Student Pick Up
Tuesday December 16

All Late Work Due for the Semester

Wednesday December 17

Poinsettia Fundraiser Update!

So far, we’ve tallied online sales through 12/3, and we’ve sold 539 poinsettias — that’s about 35% of our goal of 1,550 plants!

Our current leaders are:

• Prolific Plant Seller:
  • Choir: 68 plants
  • Band: 26 plants (Golden Eagle Band)

• Dynamic Donator (most flat donations):
  • Choir: $100
  • Band: $700 (Wind Symphony)

Thank you to everyone who has been selling poinsettias. Even if your student sells just one or two, it truly helps!

A reminder that envelopes are due back by Tuesday, December 9, but students are welcome to turn them in early if they’re finished selling.

Remember, 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! Order your poinsettias and/or donate here!

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

• Tuesday January 13: Back to School, Prelude Jazz Starts for Beginning Students 7am

• Wednesday January 14: Booster Meeting in SEMS PAC 6pm

• Friday January 23: 8th Grade Band Students to Disneyland Soundtrack Session

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!

November 2025
October 2025
September 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

October 2025

November 2025