hhs band weekly newsletter August 7-11, 2023

Things We Like

A gorgeous sunset and a full moon capped off the last night of practice before the first day of school. Three days of school behind us and we are ready to roll into the first full week of school. Onward and upward!

Band Pictures

The pictures taken August 1st can be viewed and purchased online. Ask your student for the form sent home with them that day. It contains the website and access code. Contact Kelly Parrish ([email protected]) if you need your student's access code. A big thanks to everyone for making this day a priority. Every single marching band student showed up!! 

Next year's Band Boosters Board openings:
Start your wheels turning about next year's openings on the Band Boosters Board. If you even remotely think you might be interested in filling one of these positions next year, please let Kelly Parrish know ([email protected]). What a great opportunity to go ahead and get hooked up with the current board members and get a jump start on learning the ropes. It's such a fun way to get involved and meet other likeminded, crazy about band, parents. Next year we will have vacancies in the following positions:
VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR-There is a big need here to go ahead and get someone on board to learn the process while we are still in marching season. So go ahead and reach out to Kelly ([email protected]) if you think this is an area that you would like to volunteer your time and talents. We need you!!  
Media-two vacancies
Transportation Coordinator
Program Maker-"work from home"
Newsletter-"work from home"
Uniform coordinator-one vacancy 

HHS Band's website for pictures and videos

Don't miss the flood of pictures to come once we get to the first football game! Visit the band's smugmug website often to see all the excitement. Every event/game will have it's own folder.
​2023-2024 - Huntsville High School Band (smugmug.com)

Schedule for the week

Monday- Off
Tuesday- Marching Band rehearsal 4-6   Guard Sectional 6-7.
Wednesday-Off
Thursday- Marching band rehearsal 4-6 pm
Friday- Off

Running of the Bulls 5k - Drumline
Running of the Bulls is Saturday, August 26th at the greenway right across the street from Hampton Cove.   We usually meet very early! 7:15 ish....and play off and on for an hour or so once the race kicks off.  Exact details as we get closer!

1st Football Games - Marching Band students
The first couple of games we will wear polo shirts and khaki shorts with athletic shoes (no sandals, crocs, converse, etc) and ankle length (just not really long) socks.  Hair should be pulled back out of your face (including guys with long hair) and no jewelry.  

Our first football game is September 1st.  

London Sponsorship
If your child is not attending the London Trip due to a financial constraint and would like to be considered for a scholarship please email [email protected] by Sunday, August 13th at 11:59 PM.

Community pep rally
The school announced that there will be an evening pep rally on Thursday, August 31st at 7:00 pm.  This is the night before the first game.  Please add this to your calendar.  More information as we get closer.

London Connection! (updated 7/29)
Next payment of $800 is due by September 1st (do not use Venmo for this payment - it will overload our account!)  Easiest way to pay is by check to the band box!  September 1st is the last day you can be added to be guaranteed the current price of the trip.  It is also the deadline for declaring full program or land only.  

If you do not have your passport in hand or have not submitted your papers for your passport, do it now!  If you do not have your passport in time, this is not covered by insurance and you will not be able to go! 

You may have seen in recent news that the European Union has passed an additional tax for visitors starting in 2024.  This will not impact our standard trip since we are traveling into London in 2023 and England is not part of the EU.  However, if you are doing the land only option and extending your trip to other locations beyond the scheduled date, you may need to additional research and paperwork on this.   See this website:  https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en

Important Forms and Deadlines:
Passport/Traveler information form (to be filled out separately by each traveler) - Due September 1.  Please have your passport before you fill out this form!
Roommate request and supervision form (to be filled out separately by each traveler) - Due September 15th
Instrument Information form (to be filled out by students only with the assistance of family.  Color Guard does not need to fill this out) - Due October 1st.  


Click here to access the London google drive with information on the trip.  
Click here to see an updated list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). (updated 7/22)

BIG LONDON TRIP MEETING
The London trip meeting will be Thursday, November 16th at 6:00 pm in the HHS Band room or auditorium.  Plan for a 2 hour+ meeting and we need EVERY traveler going on the trip at this meeting.  We will discuss everything you need to know!  Attendance includes extended family going on the trip!
Parent Coordinator
Our parent trip coordinator for London is Karen Hansberger.  She has an amazing team of parents helping her.   If you have specific questions about the trip as we get closer, she will be a great resource.  She will also be helping collect rooming lists, passport copies, bus lists, shipping documents, and more.   Her email is [email protected]

What do I need to do right now?

1.  Get a passport.  If you are not a US citizen you need to look at if you are required to have a visa.  
2.  If you have a passport, fill out the first google form!
3.  Think about what student(s) you may want to "adopt" into your family in London (if you are going).  
4. Be researching London and think about things you may want to do in your scheduled leisure time in London.  Please do not book anything yet!