WINTER PARK BAND Weekly Newsletter
July 10, 2023
From Mr. Clemente
Dear Winter Park Band families,
Congratulations to the Sound of the Wildcats on an outstanding Band Camp! We had a ton of fun, accomplished a ton of things on our to-do list, and certainly started off the year on the left foot! (iykyk) Unfortunately the weather didn't cooperate at the end of the day on Thursday, but the Band can't wait to perform again at our upcoming pep rally on Thursday, 8/15 and first football game on 8/23!
I'd like to say thank you to our 2024 Band Camp staff for their work over the last two weeks. This awesome crew gave so much time and outstanding examples for our students to emulate: Emma Spencer, Colin Anderson, Leon Edge, Charlie Schmitt, Ms. Luciano, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Dekle, Mr. Cross, Ms. Perez, Gabby Batas, Ms. Young, and Marissa Bierbrodt. Also, congratulations to Mrs. Deane on her first Band Camp with the SOTW!
Thank you to Mr. Brannock, Mr. Dekle, and the entire Glenridge Middle School Administration Team, especially Dr. Bispott, for allowing us to use their campus the past two weeks. They were extremely accommodating to our needs and helped us with everything they could for our camp to go successfully. We're also thankful for the City of Orlando for allowing us to use the field next to GMS for our outdoor rehearsals.
Thank you to our Band Booster Board lead by Dana Adkinson for putting together an outstanding Band Booster Meeting. Our program doesn't go anywhere or do anything - literally and figuratively - without our Band Boosters. Your help will make this the best year yet for our program!
Another enormous thank you to Ellen DeLoach and her team of volunteers who have come in each day to feed a bunch of hungry teenagers! It was great to see both new and veteran band parents helping out each day - we couldn't do it without you.
This week, the Sound of the Wildcats have rehearsal on Tuesday, August 6 from 6 - 8:30 PM at the WPHS Main Campus. Please be sure this is a part of your family's calendar as it is our only rehearsal between Band Camp and the start of school. I also ask that all of our families help their students arrive at rehearsals at the appropriate time. Students should be in the Band room no later than 5:50 PM on Tuesday so we can begin rehearsal right at 6 PM. Thank you in advance for helping us stay on time!
Our regular after school marching band rehearsals begin on Tuesday, 8/13. Tuesday evenings will take place from 6 - 8:30 PM and Thursday afternoons from after school - 5 PM.
I'd also like to note the "Meet the Cats" pep rally on Thursday, 8/15. We will have a slightly shortened Thursday rehearsal beforehand and then feed the entire band dinner before the rally. We will wear the Summer Uniform for this performance.
Let's make it a great week!
Mr. Clemente
From our Fundraising Chair, Mrs. Robyn Fodor
Dear Band Parents,
I hope this message finds you well and excited for the upcoming marching season! My name is Robyn Fodor, and I am thrilled to introduce myself as the new Fundraiser Chairperson for our band program. Many of you know me as the Volunteer Coordinator, a role I’ve held for the last four years. Laura Cambridge, who has a senior and a freshman, is stepping into that role.
As we gear up for an exciting year of performances, practices, and fun, I want to extend a warm welcome to all of you. Our band has always thrived thanks to the incredible support from our dedicated parents, and I look forward to working with each of you to make this year even more successful.
This year, we have an exciting opportunity ahead: our band will be traveling to Chicago in March! To ensure that all our students can participate in this memorable trip, we have several fundraising activities planned. Your involvement and support will be crucial in making these efforts successful. Here's an overview of the fundraising opportunities we have lined up to help you financially plan and prepare.
1. July-September 27: Sponsorship and Student Dedication Sales. I highly recommend your student gets out and sells ads. 60% of the cost of the ad goes directly into your student’s band account. That means your student can earn the cost of their entire Chicago trip from this fundraiser alone.
2. August- September: Widdy-Up: this is a replacement fundraiser for Instaraise that uses a pitch video we will make together as a band and a special video for donors as a thank you. The rest of the structure is like Instaraise except for the profits. Widdy-Up returns 90-95% of our fundraised proceeds, instead of approximately 75-80% that Instaraise returns.
3. October: Butter Braid sales. This is an extremely popular (and delicious!) item for family and friends to buy to receive in time for the holidays. The students receive $6 per Butter Braid sold into their band account and $0 goes to the band. It is ALL for your student to help cover their own band fees.
4. February 1, 2025: Door2Door. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year and is mandatory for all students. We have been doing this fundraiser for decades and typically earns the band around $26,000 in a single day. Part of that goes into your student’s account and the rest goes to the band to help pay for the high cost of running a band program.
Your participation in these fundraisers will help reduce your costs of the Chicago trip and provide our students with an unforgettable experience. More details about each event will be shared as we get closer to the dates.
If you have any questions or suggestions, or if you would like to volunteer to help with any of these fundraisers, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at robynfodor@gmail.com.
From our Chaperone Coordinator, Mrs. Laura Cambridge
Hello volunteers!
We are jumping right in to Marching Season with lots of volunteer opportunities. The Uniform Team is looking for volunteers on Tuesdays to help fit the students in their marching and concert uniforms. The sign up for football games and parades are up; please remember to limit yourself to 2 games at a time so everyone who wants to can have a chance to volunteer.
Both Sign Up Genius links are here: http://www.winterparkhsband.com/quick-links.html
Feel free to reach out with any questions, wphsbandvolunteers@gmail.com
BAND SPONSORSHIP & STUDENT DEDICATION FUNDRAISER
Hello Winter Park Band Families,
Each year, students can participate in multiple band-led fundraisers that raise funds for the band AND earn participating students credit toward personal band expenses, including the fair share payment and travel costs for the band’s March trip to Chicago.
This week we are excited to launch the first fundraiser of the season: The Winter Park Band Sponsorship and Student Dedication Program. This is a fresh take on what previously known as the Winter Park Ad Program.
With this new program, students can sell multi-level Sponsorships that will deliver local businesses additional brand amplification beyond running a singular ad in the concert program. Depending upon the level of sponsorship purchase, companies will be able to have their logo and website shared on social media, in the weekly band newsletter and even on game night signage at Showalter Field. Students can earn up to 60% credit or $1000 max from each sponsorship they sell. There is no limit on the number of sponsorships a student can sell. Attached is a packet that provides further details on this new program.
Band families still have the option of purchasing an ad in the band program as a Student Dedication. This is an easy way to earn credit for your student. For example, a parent who purchases a full-page Student Dedication will earn enough credit back to their student’s account to cover their annual fair share payment of $255, minus $15.
Similar to last year, we will hold a raffle drawing for gift cards on the last day of band camp for any student who turns in a completed purchase form for either a Sponsorship or Student Dedication by the last day of camp.
Click on this link to find the information packet and sample programs from past years: http://www.winterparkhsband.com/band-boosters.html
Additional information will be shared with students on the first day of band camp, and parents will receive similar information at the first parent meeting. If you have any questions, contact Julie Capps at wpbandprogram@gmail.com or 704-258-3306.
Thank you for your partnership in supporting the Winter Park High Band!
Sincerely,
Robyn Fodor, Vice President of Fundraising
Julie Capps, Sponsor Coordinator
UPCOMING EVENTS
August 6: Marching Band Rehearsal, 6 - 8:30 PM @ WPHS
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August 12: First Day of School
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August 13: Begin regular Tuesday evening MB rehearsals, 6 - 8:30 PM
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August 15: Begin regular Thursday afternoon MB rehearsals, 2:45 - 5 PM
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August 15: "Meet the Cats" Pep Rally, 6:30 - 8 PM, Auditorium
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August 23: Away Football Game, 5 - 10 PM
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August 29: Home Football Game, 5 - 10 PM
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September 2: No School, Labor Day Holiday
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September 13: Middle School Night Home Football Game, 4:30 - 10 PM
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September 21: All-State Auditions, Ocoee HS, 9 AM - 4 PM
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September 27: Away Football Game, 5 - 10 PM
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October 1: Away Football Game, 5 - 8 PM
FINANCES AND CUT TIME
UPCOMING BAND PAYMENTS
- BAND
- Wednesday, July 31, 2024
- Fair Share Payment - $225 OR Fair Share Payment 1 - $100
- Marching Band Shoe (if needed) - $45
- COLOR GUARD
- Wednesday, July 31, 2024
- Fall Fair Share Payment - $325 OR Fair Share Payment 1 - $100
- Marching Band Shoe (if needed) - $45
Private Lessons
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.
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