Wow, another great week of parent teamwork and student success!!  The leadership of Amy and Robbie, along with a great team of parents in the concession stands this past Friday, hit a home run!! Thank you to the field crew, uniform moms, and dancer moms for your work behind the scenes to get them ready for their first game.  I am certainly proud of the band for two “A” level rehearsals last week which led to a solid first performance.  We have a J.V. game this Thursday and we will need help in the concession stand.  Please sign up for your station on the band website (Yellowjacketsband.com).  Please remember that all profits from the concession stand go towards the band to off-set student cost and help pay for marching season.    
        Please keep working on the World’s Finest Chocolate sale so we can hit our goal of 440 boxes sold.  Students can apply $30 per box sold towards their band fees.  This will help mom and dad from spending money out of pocket.  We have ordered the 2nd delivery of chocolate anticipating the success of this fundraiser.  Students can turn in what they have sold but only when they have sold an entire box. Then they will be issued more chocolate.    
        Please see the schedule below.  We do not have a game this Friday, but please make sure we have perfect attendance at both rehearsals.  Remember, students with perfect attendance at all rehearsals will receive a reward at the end of the year.
Thank you for all that you do to support the Bartow High School Band! 
             
Monday: Open
 
Tuesday: Band Practice 5:30pm-8:30pm (if it is raining, we will practice in the auditorium).  Practice is never canceled unless it is on the news J  If we have rain we will practice inside.  
 
Wednesday:  Open.  Jazz Band auditions from 2:30-4:00.  
 
Thursday: Band Practice 3:00pm-5:30pm (if it is raining, we will practice in the auditorium).  J.V. Football game at home.  We will need volunteers for the concession stand.  Go to www.yellowjacketsband.com to sign up for your stations.  Students cannot sign up for window or cooking stations but can sign up for all other stations.
 
Friday: Open.  Enjoy your weekend and PRACTICE!!!!!
 
Parents:
Please remember: if your student does not have a ride to practice, they are welcome to stay after school.  Many of the students will stay in the building and study or do homework.  Some of them also walk down to Palace Pizza to get something to eat prior to Tuesday evening practice. Students may not bring in outside food or drink in to the band building.   
 
Please consider donating a ream of paper to the band office.
 
Pepsi Wars is still going… The section that donates the most cans of soda and bottle water will get to choose their bus first. Only donate: regular Pepsi, diet Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Serra Mist, small bottles of Gator Aid, water (16oz), and Dr. Pepper.  The goal is to collect enough Pepsi to supply the concession stand for the entire season.  We need to see soda coming in this week!  Thank you!!  
 
www.Charmsoffice.com is our band organization website.  On this site you can view the calendar for the entire year, student fundraisers, download the show music, and much more.  It is imperative that students update their information page so parents receive the weekly information emails.  How to get on Charms:  go to the above link, click Student/Parent login, enter yellowjacketband (no spaces), and then enter your 6 digit student ID number as the password.  
 
Thank you for dedication and support to the Bartow Yellow Jacket Band!!
 
Sincerely,
Jon Eckman
Director of Bands        
​

Dear Parents and Students,
Please remember that we have our Band Parent Night tomorrow evening starting at 7:00pm. Because we will be short on time, we will provide pizza for the band at no cost.  As soon as we finish eating we will start getting into uniform.  Winds and percussion will need to wear black socks and the old band shirt if you have one.  If not just bring athletic shorts that will be comfortable under the uniform and a t-shirt.  
Parents, it is really important that you attend Band Parent Night!  You will gain needed insight on the program that will help you and your student succeed in the BHS Band.

See you then,
Jon Eckman 

Dear Students and Parents,
DON’T FORGET!!!! 
Our Pepsi Wars have begun for this year! Our first official game is THIS FRIDAY and we need to have sodas for the fans to purchase! Every student needs to bring in one or more of the following Pepsi products ASAP:


-Pepsi
-Diet Pepsi
-Sierra Mist
-Mountain Dew
-Dr. Pepper
-16 oz. bottles of water
 
These are the products we will be selling in our concession stand to help raise money for the program and keep your fees lower!
The section that brings in the most products will get to choose their bus FIRST!!!! Low Brass won last year and are ready to defend their bus choice! Who will defeat them???????
FYI- Here are the sales for this week in stores on Pepsi products:
Publix- Buy 2 get 1 free
Target-4/$12
Walgreens- 3/$10 (with reward card)
Winn-Dixie-3/$11 (with reward card)


Again, please turn in the drinks as soon as possible! 
Thank you in advance for your support with this effort. 


Sincerely,
Jon Eckman
Director of Bands

Wow! What a great job everyone did last week!  The Concession stand operation was amazing and the drum-line did a great job in the stands at the game.  Please be aware of the events this week.  We have a tremendous amount to accomplish to be ready for Friday. Our calendar for the year is posted on the Charms website (see information below to log in).  At the high school level, it is the student’s responsibility to keep Mom and Dad plugged in but I will do everything possible to keep you informed.       
 
Monday: Open
 
Tuesday: Band Practice 5:30pm-8:30pm (if it is raining, we will practice in the auditorium).  Practice is never canceled unless it is on the news J  If we have rain we will practice inside.  
Students who have perfect attendance will be rewarded at the end of the year with incentives to be announced.
 
Wednesday:  Open.  Watch for information pertaining to concession stand preparation. 
 
Thursday: Band Practice 3:00pm-5:30pm (if it is raining, we will practice in the auditorium). Band Parent night:  Band Parent Night will be held in the BHS auditorium.  We will be going over everything you need to know about beginning in the Bartow High School Band.  The Band Booster Executive board has been working very hard and has some very exciting changes to share with you. It is very important that all of our parents are in attendance.  We will begin the presentation at 7:00pm and we will debut the half time show with the full marching band.   
 
Friday: Football Home game verses Osceola.  Band will be in full uniform.
Hopefully we will have our practice shirts in and we will use them in substitute for the Sprit Shirts.  The Spirt Shirts will be in for the next game.  Winds and percussion must bring tall black socks. If you have ankle socks or white socks you will be sent home. Dancers will wear all black (absolutely no lettering or designs on clothing…plain black).  Dancers will be sent home who do not have the correct outfit. Students may bring $3.00 for pizza that will be served at 4:00pm.  Pizza money must be turned in before the school day is out or prior to 2:30pm.  Percussion and loading crew report time is 4:00pm and Band report time is 4:30pm at the band room.
 
Parents:
Please remember: if your student does not have a ride to practice, they are welcome to stay after school.  Many of the students will stay in the building and study or do homework.  Some of them also walk down to Palace Pizza to get something to eat prior to Tuesday evening practice. Students may not bring in outside food or drink in to the band building.   
 
Be on the look-out for the concession stand sign up and equipment crew sign-up. We will need lots of help this Friday.  
 
Please consider donating a ream of paper to the band office.
 
Pepsi Wars begins this week… The section that donates the most cans of soda and bottle water will get to choose their bus first. Only donate: regular Pepsi, diet Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Serra Mist, small bottles of Gator Aid, water (16oz), and Dr. Pepper.  The goal is to collect enough Pepsi to supply the concession stand for the entire season.  We need to see soda coming in this week!  Thank you!!  
 
www.Charmsoffice.com is our band organization website.  On this site you can view the calendar for the entire year, student fundraisers, download the show music, and much more.  It is imperative that students update their information page so parents receive the weekly information emails.  How to get on Charms:  go to the above link, click Student/Parent login, enter yellowjacketband (no spaces), and then enter your 6 digit student ID number as the password.  
 
Please be aware of the below dates.    
 
Sincerely,
Jon Eckman
Director of Bands        


8/23/2016 - 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Marching Band Rehearsal
Football Stadium

8/24/2016 - 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM
New Uniform Filling For Winds and Percussion
Band Room
Students will be sized by the company that is making the uniforms during band class. If you do not have a band class this day, you will need to come during your lunch period or after school. All students must be fitted for the new uniform.

8/25/16
Marching Band Rehearsal
Marching Band Field
3:00 PM - 5:30 PM

8/25/2016 - 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Band Parent Night
BHS Cafeteria
Band will perform at this event. Parents will receive all "you need to know" about the high school band.

8/26/2016 - 5:00:00 PM
Varsity Football Game vs. Kissimmee, Osceola - Home
Band Room
Report time - 5:00 pm in the Band Room.
Game starts at 7:30 pm.
Full Marching Band. Make sure to bring or wear black socks.
Students staying after school can order pizza for $3.00.

8/27/2016 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Free All-State Help Session
Fl Southern College, Branscomb Aud.
Pre-registration is required. See Mr. Eckman to register.
What will you learn at this free clinic? 
 - How to prepare for the 2016 Florida Bandmasters Association All-State Concert Bands - grades: 7-8, 9-10 and 11-12. 
 - FSC instrumental faculty will offer clinics on each of the music grade levels. 
 - Faculty will focus on scales, tone production, exercise preparation, sight-reading and audition readiness. 
 - What to bring? Instruments and all-state music. Percussionist will not need to bring instruments, just sticks, mallets and music. 
Schedule :
Grades 9-10: 10:00-10:50 Individual All-State clinics for 9-10 grades with FSC faculty 
Grades 11-12: 11:00-11:50 Individual All-State clinics for 11-12 grades with FSC faculty

8/30/2016 - 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Marching Band Rehearsal
Football Stadium