HHS BAND WEEKLY NEWSLETTER September 1 - 7, 2025

Things We Like

Our leadership team had a great time at Sonnie Hereford Elementary’s PBIS Kickoff Superhero Pep Rally! We loved cheering with the students and teachers at one of our feeder schools—their energy and Panther spirit were awesome!

Boston Butt Fundraiser

The wait is over — the HHS Band Boston Butt Fundraiser is back!
ChuckWagon BBQ is slow-cooking their famous Boston Butts, and you don’t want to miss out.
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$60 for an 8–10 lb. Boston Butt
Order deadline: October 15, 2025
Pickup: Saturday, October 25, 12–2 PM @ HHS (Billie Watkins entrance)    

​Boston Butt Order Form Here

Gameday Photos

See all the great photos from Friday's HHS vs. Mae Jemison game here

​Weekly Schedule

​Monday:  No School - Labor Day  
Tuesday:   Marching Band 4-6  Color Guard Sectional 6-7
Wednesday: Off.   
Thursday: Marching Band 4-5:15 pm.  5:30-7:00 pm Dinner/Open House.  Be on practice field at the school at 7:00 pm for outdoor pep rally.
Friday:  Game vs. Grissom (visitors - Milton Frank)
Monday (Sept 8):  Game - HCMS vs. HJHS at Milton Frank 6:30 pm.  We perform halftime and in the stands at this game.

Outdoor/Community Pep Rally - Thursday

Note the change of schedule for Thursday from our typical Thursday.  Open house starts at 6:00 pm for those interested and it will follow with a community pep rally at 7:15 pm on field next to our practice field.  All parents, family and friends are welcome.

Winds will wear dry fit shirt, percussion will wear jerseys, guard is TBA (hoping the last part of their pep rally uniform comes in on time)

Gameday Information

Schedule
5:30 pm - Meet in Northeast corner at Milton Frank.  This is on the north side like we always are, but on the visitor side.  Unload trailer and truck here. 
6:00 pm - Warm ups outside stadium
6:30 pm - Move inside stadium (visitor side-east side of the stadium).  
7:00 pm - Game Starts.  We will perform our halftime show to the home side.
~9:30 pm - Approximate end of game.  Pack and load Trucks!  Instruments (and cases) either go home with you or back on the truck/trailer.    Truck crew / percussion unloads truck at school.

Transportation
All students meet at Milton Frank.  We do not provide transportation for games at Joe Davis or Milton Frank. 
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Uniform
Band Polos and khaki shorts for Wind and Percussion.  Athletic shoes.  Normal/ankle length socks (nothing that draws attention)
Guard - see guard section of newsletter
Hair should be pulled back off of your face.  No jewelry.

Things you need
Instrument or equipment (larger instruments loaded on trailer and brough to stadium - you are responsible for making sure YOUR instrument/equipment gets loaded or placed in the proper location to get loaded)
Flip Folder (winds)
Water jug
All accessories (sticks, guard poms, mouthpieces, reeds, etc)

Things everyone should know

• Only band students and approved chaperones should be in the band section.  Students are not allowed to leave band section without permission.  
• No food or drinks (other than water) permitted in the stands.  It is recommended students eat food before arriving.  Students are not allowed to go to the concession stand during the game.
• All students stay the whole game unless they have received permission in advance to leave early.
• Instruments should always be in a student's hands in the stands (to avoid any accidents/damage that could occur).  Students who are using the restroom can leave their instrument at the front of the band in a safe location.
• Students are expected to have good sportsmanship and use appropriate language while in the stands.  
• We hope all of our students and parents will not only support us, but all the other bands we see this season!

Trumpet and Trombone Mutes

All trumpet and trombone players in the HHS Band program should own a metal straight mute.  These are easy to find at one of the local music stores (Gadsden, Hallman's, Madison Band Supply) or ordered online.   Dennis Wick, Jo Ral, Tom Crown, Yamaha, and Bach are all good straight mute companies.  

Full Marching Uniform

We plan to transition to FULL MARCHING UNIFORMS for the game against James Clemens on September 12th.

Band Banquet

The 25-26 Band Banquet has been set for Thursday night, May 14th at the Roundhouse.  It has been added to the calendar.

HCMS vs HJHS Game Schedule - Monday, Sept. 8

3:40 pm  School gets out.
5:45 pm  Meet at Milton Frank on the North home side area that we typically set up for a HOME game!  Unload trucks
6:30 pm Game Starts.  Perform in the endzone standing during the 1st half, perform our halftime show during halftime.  Students are allowed to perform with a middle school band in the stands during the second half.  After halftime we will reload the truck. 
8:30 pm - Game ends.
Uniform and additional details TBA in next newsletter

Spring Trip - Students enroll now!

We have officially been approved for the Orlando trip departing Wednesday evening March 11th and returning Monday morning, March 16th.  Full information on this trip is found in Cut Time in an announcement/email message from August 19th.

Families may enroll STUDENTS ONLY by paying your initial deposit until September 15th by using the following link:   HUNTSVILLE HS BAND in Orlando, FL, USA
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Adults are currently not able to register and should not register as a student in a room. Adults who want to chaperone should contact Kelly Parrish [email protected].  Once we have all the chaperones we need, we will open it up to everyone around September 15th.

Upcoming Dates

September 8 - HCMS vs. HJHS Game at Milton Frank (6:30 pm is game). We perform halftime!
September 12 - Game vs. James Clemens at Joe Davis
September 19th - Game at Sparkman (school buses).
September 20th - Band Competition (all day) at Bob Jones
September 27th - Band Competition (all day) at Albertville
October 3 - Football Game vs. Austin  at Milton Frank

The 25-26 Band Schedule can be found here and on the Cut Time calendar.

Questions/Concerns? Please Contact the following:

Grades, missing rehearsals/absences, conflicts, instruments, general band questions - [email protected] or [email protected]
For color guard, contact Annabelle Rizzardi at [email protected]
If you have any of the following issues, please direct your questions to [email protected]. They’ll be able to guide you to the appropriate point of contact.

• Band Student Account Balances, band fees
• Business or Individual Sponsorships
• Fundraising Questions 
• Volunteering/Chaperones 
• Cut Time, Band App, or Social Media Questions 
• Senior Night 
• Uniforms (except color guard uniforms)  
• Percussion 
• General Band Boosters Questions 

Thank you to our 2025 Sponsors!