Dear Band Families,
Welcome back! We hope you enjoyed the holidays and snow days. Please forgive us for any delays in getting back to communications and activities updates while we snap out of our holiday hibernation. Congratulations to students who were selected to perform in the cast for the spring musical, Anything Goes! Pit Orchestra selections are pending. The show is sure to be spectacular, and we hope you’ll support the band, orchestra, theatre, and choir students who are working hard to bring the show to life. The show will be performed during the first week of April and tickets go fast, so make sure you keep an eye out for ticket sales at https://www.yhstheatre.org/tickets-shows.
We have some important reminders below, especially about the impending A-Thons, so please read through the announcements and reminders.
TL;DR:
- January 17: Spring trip second payment ($250) due – Trip details
- January 21-30: Bands Practice-A-Thon fundraiser
- January 25: Drum-A-Thon and Spin-A-Thon fundraisers
- Volunteers needed: Time to start preparing for the next school year!
- Communications Update: Coming soon – New platform for weekly emails and payments
January 17: Spring trip second payment due and forms
All band members are welcome to sign up for the spring trip to Norfolk, VA! This will be a combined trip with W-L. We have an exciting itinerary planned, with the main feature being attendance at the Virginia International Tattoo. Please note that the itinerary is subject to change, if weather or other circumstances necessitate. The first deposit of $200 was due on December 17th, and the second payment of $250 is due on January 17th. Checks payable to Yorktown Band Boosters are always accepted, and we will let you know if/when an online payment option becomes available. If you haven’t done so already, please go to the spring trip page and complete any necessary forms.
January 21-30 and January 25: A-Thon Fundraisers
It’s A-Thon time! Fundraisers are critical to supporting the various band programs at Yorktown, and we need your help! Students will participate in A-Thons, and we are asking students and families to start getting the word out to friends, neighbors, extended family, and anyone else who might be willing to donate. Even though per-session donations won’t be counted outside of the dates/times of the respective A-Thons and until the fundraisers conclude, flat-rate donations can start being made and count now! Besides funding program needs, there are prizes up for grabs for the students, too!
Students will only participate in one A-Thon. Students in Winterguard will participate in Spin-A-Thon (January 25th). Students in Arlington Indoor Percussion will participate in Drum-A-Thon (January 25th). Students not in those programs but involved in any other band program will participate in Practice-A-Thon (January 21-30). Note: Practice-A-Thon sessions only count for rehearsals and practice outside of regular school hours. Practice during class doesn’t count. Please bear with us as we update the FAQs and Yorktown Band page with this year’s information (although most of last year’s information can still be helpful until updates are made).
Volunteers needed: Time to get ready for next year!
Boosters need your help! It may seem like the end of the school year is still far off, but it’s important to backfill volunteer positions in advance of departures so new volunteers can learn the ropes. We have A LOT of volunteer positions that will be vacated by senior parents (or are already vacant), so please reach out if you are interested in taking on a role next year. Information on each position can be provided, and we will put you in contact with the current volunteer in order to ensure a smooth transition.
Vacancies for next year include:
Executive Board Positions: President, Vice President, Fundraising Chairperson, Uniform Chairperson, Guard Coordinator, Assistant Guard Coordinator
Non-Board Positions: Assistant Equipment and Transportation Manager, PTA Communications Liaison, Concert Attire, Concert Concessions, Props Designer/Builder, Middle School Events Liaison, Practice-A-Thon Co-Coordinator, Winterguard Parent Coordinator, Co-Marching Band Uniform ManagerIf you are interested or would like more information, please send an email to yorktownbandarlington@gmail.com.
Communications Update: Coming soon – New platform for weekly emails and payments
Weekly email distribution will continue to come out via Parent Square while we switch from My Music Office to Cut Time for band communications. Once Cut Time is in place for YHS bands, communications will be distributed through that platform. We also anticipate that it will offer an easy online payment method for both curriculum-related fees and activities, such as the spring trip. Keep an eye out for the release!
Go Band!!
Email: YorktownBandArlington@gmail.com
Handy Resources:
Yorktown Band Apparel Store: https://teamlocker.squadlocker.com/#/lockers/yorktown-band
Yorktown Band Website: https://yorktownband.org/
Yorktown Band Calendar: https://yorktownband.org/calendar/
Yorktown Band Booster Page: https://yorktownband.org/boosters/
Yorktown Band Booster List: https://yorktownband.org/boosters/meet-the-boosters/
Please also check out and follow YHS bands through social media! https://www.instagram.com/yorktownbands/
https://www.instagram.com/yorktowncolorguard/
Know any alumni and their families? Encourage them to join the Yorktown Band Alumni Facebook page! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1215700699077431
