WINTER PARK BAND Weekly Newsletter

Dear Winter Park Band families,

Congratulations to the SOTW on a great performance and first home game performance in full uniform! It was also fun to have a pep band of friends from Creekside join us and get the chance to meet some fellow band students from north Florida.

Congratulations to our 15 students who went above and beyond and performed an audition for this year's FBA All-State Ensembles! We know that you did your best and prepared well.Those students were Eli Castro (trumpet, jazz band), Liam Clisby (trombone, symphonic band & jazz band), Kyle Hannnon (bassoon, symphonic band), Joel Lippert (trumpet, concert band), Jhayden Mejia (clarinet, concert band), Isaac Mitchell (trumpet, concert band), Jhayla Mitchell (trombone, symphonic band & jazz band), Jacob Owens (clarinet, concert band), Gabriella Paradiso (clarinet, symphonic band), Santiago Rojas (clarinet, symphonic band), Anderson Smith (trumpet, symphonic band & jazz band), Conlen Smith (trombone, concert band & jazz band), Clayton Stevens (euphonium, concert band), Ryan Strickland (alto saxophone, symphonic band & jazz band), Isaiah Van Dyne (drumset, jazz band).

This is a big week for our WP Band community at large as we are excited to welcome students and parents from Arbor Ridge School, Audubon Park School, Glenridge Middle School, and Maitland Middle School to our campus for our annual Middle School Night Football Game. This event is a ton of fun every year, and gives our Future Wildcats a chance to experience firsthand an "evening in the life" of the SOTW. Hopefully the rain stays away! Please note that our arrival time for this Friday is earlier to accommodate our extra activities with the Future Wildcat students. Find the itinerary here: http://www.winterparkhsband.com/itineraries.html.

A couple highlights from me for the week ahead:

• MIDDLE SCHOOL NIGHT - THIS FRIDAY, 9/26 we welcome our Future 'Cats to WPHS and Showalter Field to join the Sound of the Wildcats for the evening. This is a vital, community event and we can't wait to spend the evening together!
• Chris Gaines Photography will be on campus on this Thursday 9/25 - Friday, 9/26 taking Student Portraits taken for our Band Composite.
• Next week is HOMECOMING WEEK! the SOTW will perform at the Homecoming parade on Tuesday, 9/30 and at the Homecoming football game on Friday, 10/3. We're also excited to welcome back the Winter Park Alumni Band to join us for the national anthem on the field and in the stands throughout the game.
• Last, but certainly not least, please read all the thank-yous and important updates from our Band Booster Board below in this newsletter. Thank you Band Booster Board for your time and dedication to the Band program!!

Let's make it a great week!

Mr. Clemente

Hello band families! As a reminder, it is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT that you do not park in the bus loop by the band doors after games. The students need the area clear in order to safely bring their instruments inside. The correct pickup location is "A Lot." If you can see the band room doors from your car you are TOO CLOSE and endangering the safety of our students, staff, and volunteers. Thank you.

This week we have the Middle School Night game and our optional zoom Q&A. Middle School Night is a great time to showcase the fun of being in the Sound of the Wildcats! We know our students will bring their best and help guide the future Wildcats.

Q&A zoom is Wednesday 9/24 at 7pm. We will discuss Middle School Night, the Homecoming Parade, and any other questions you may have. The link is here: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89047837348?pwd=nKbiHsy4LmUTsYNebM3FyR6TzCN0FB.1

wphsbandboosterpresident@gmail.com

Laura Cambridge

Red: Do not park or drive near the band room doors when picking up your student after a football game.

Orange: Do park in "A Lot" and wait for your student to change and clean up after a football game.

Yellow: Do enter campus through the gate off of Bellwood Dr., not Summerfield Rd.

Green: Walking path for students, parents, chaperones, and directors to get to and from the Band room after a football game.

CONCESSION PRE-ORDER INFORMATION FOR SHOWALTER FIELD HOME GAME “MIDDLE SCHOOL NIGHT” 9/26

This week, City Barbeque @ Showalter Field Concessions is offering the following menu items for preorder, served post halftime:

• Pulled Chicken Sandwich: $8
• Pulled Pork Sandwich: $8
• Hamburger: $8
• Cheeseburger: $8
• Hot Dog: $6

Additionally, the WPHS Athletic Department Concessions is offering the following drinks and snacks available for preorder, served post halftime:

• Sodas: Dr. Pepper, Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite ($2)
• Gatorade: Glacier Cherry (white), Glacier Freeze (blue), Arctic Blitz (green) ($3),
• Bottled water ($1),
• Candy: Sour Patch, Skittles, Starburst, Twix, Kit Kat, Reese's Cups ($2)
• Chips: All varieties, preferred offered by availability ($1)

Cash collection for ALL STUDENT PREORDERS will start on Monday, September 22nd by Mr. Clemente and Ms. O'Rourke, and will conclude on Wednesday, September 24th, end of day.

Can’t wait to see you at the game!

Respectfully,

Christina Armendariz, Provisions Coordinator
wphsbandprovisions@gmail.com

🎶🥳Hey Volunteers!🥳🎶

It’s your volunteer coordinator here with a quick shoutout—THANK YOU to everyone who’s been pitching in! Your time and energy mean so much, and we couldn’t do it without you.💕

We’ve got some fun opportunities coming up, and we’d love your help. Don’t forget, all volunteers need to be registered with OCPS ADDitions first: https://ocps.samaritan.com/custom/503/opp_details/112867

Here’s what’s ahead:

🏈Football Games – Cheer on the Wildcats while helping the band and colorguard.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080A49A8AE22A02-57686523-football#/

💃🕺Homecoming Parade – Be part of this exciting community tradition.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080A49A8AE22A02-58062723-homecoming#/

🎸Westside Showcase (Pre-MPAs) – Support our students as they shine alongside local bands.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080A49A8AE22A02-58063562-west#/

Thank you for being such an awesome part of our band and colorguard family!🖤🧡

Jennifer Mullins

WPHS Band Volunteer Coordinator

The colorguard has been working hard on learning the choreography and field drill. This past week they put on a great performance as part of The Sound of The Wildcats show. The new costumes, teamwork, extra practice time, dedication, and even some laughs are helping this group really build a strong foundation. We would like to introduce our leadership team!

Taina Echevarria is a senior captain. She absolutely loves the ridiculous and fun memories she has made with the team. Her favorite piece of equipment is the flag. BTW - she hates chicken! She is planning on studying child therapy in college(which she hopes is in California)!

Abbey Cowan is a senior captain. Her favorite aspect of colorguard is spending time with the team and her favorite piece of equipment is the rifle. She would like to get a scuba certification in the future. She plans on attending college to obtain a BFA in theater/theatrical production.

Ellie Tasker is the junior apprentice captain. An aspect of guard she loves is simply having fun with her teammates. She loves using the sabre! Did you know she used to do competitive rock climbing?! In the future she plans on attending college to become a helicopter pilot.

Do you know any middle school students, that participate in performing arts, that may be interested in learning more about colorguard? If so, check out the flyer for information on joining the team for a night under the lights!

Kristin Cowan

Color Guard Liaison

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.

http://www.winterparkhsband.com/private-teachers.html

September 26: Gameday Rehearsal, 2:45 - 3:45 PM/Middle School Night Football Game, 4 - 10 PM

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September 30: MB Rehearsal, 2:45 - 4 PM/Homecoming Parade, 5 - 7 PM

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October 3: Gameday Rehearsal, 2:45 - 4 PM/Homecoming Football Game, 5 - 10 PM

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October 9: Orchestra Fall Concert w/ Edgewater HS, Orch. Winds and Percussion only, Edgewater HS

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October 10: Gameday Rehearsal, 2:45 - 4 PM/Football Game, 5 - 10 PM

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October 11: Jazz Ensemble I @ WP Autumn Art Festival, 9 - 11 AM

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October 13: No School/Teacher Workday

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October 17: Gameday Rehearsal, 2:45 - 4 PM/Football Game, 5 - 10 PM

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October 18: WEST SIDE SHOWCASE, Itinerary TBA, West Orange HS

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October 24: Gameday Rehearsal, 2:45 - 4 PM/Football Game, 5 - 10 PM

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October 30: Gameday Rehearsal, 2:45 - 4 PM/Senior Night Football Game, 5 - 10 PM

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November 1: MARCHING MPA, Itinerary TBA, Boone HS

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November 5 FALL FESTIVAL OF BANDS

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November 17: All-County Auditions, as scheduled

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November 24 - 28: Thanksgiving Break

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December 6: Winter Park Christmas Parade (morning) & Baldwin Park Winter Wonderland Extravaganza Parade (evening)

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December 11: BAND WINTER CONCERT, 6:30 PM call time

http://www.winterparkhsband.com/calendar.html

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:

• https://app.gocuttime.com/program/calendar/c308b229-e7ac-4762-93ef-6112f6f8daf3/ics
  

PAST DUE 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

For questions concerning general Band inquiries, Band financial obligations, or to request a payment plan, contact Mr. Clemente, at Michael.Clemente@ocps.net. For questions regarding your CutTime account or statement, contact the Band Booster Treasurer, Kim Somers, at wphsbandtreasurer@gmail.com.

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

Email: michael.clemente@ocps.net
Website: www.winterparkhsband.com
Location: 2100 Summerfield Road, Winter Park, FL, USA
Phone: 4076223200
Facebook: www.facebook.com/winterparkhsband