FIND OUT WHAT YOU ARE MISSING

​REMINDER -- BANDS OF AMERICA REGIONAL COMPETITION, DELAWARE, OCTOBER 7 - The $35 student fee is due Friday, September 8th. Please make payment by check payable to WHS Music. Please note your student's name in the memo section. Drum Majors will collect the checks.  If you would like to use money from your child's Charms account, please let Mr. Vitale or Mr. Sindorf know.  More details to follow.
 
NEW -- PRACTICE SCHEDULE PICK-UP - After school practices begin Wednesday, September 6th from 3:30-6:30 at EIS practice field. There will also be a practice held that Thursday and Friday, same place and time. You can visit the calendar on the WHS Bands web site if you have practice schedule questions.  TRAFFIC NOTE: We are 135 strong! Though it is more convenient to pick up your student in the back parking lot, please consider getting a few extra FitBit steps in and park in the side parking lot or on an adjacent street.
 
You can visit the calendar on the WHS Bands web site if you have practice schedule questions.
 
NEW - CHAPERONES NEEDED - This is your backstage ticket to a competition and away games. You get free transportation and entrance to watch our Marching Blue Devils compete and perform. Your responsibilities are riding with the students to and from the competition/game, assisting with water/snack distribution, giving a helping hand to students with their uniforms. Our first away game is Friday, September 15th, and our first competition is Saturday, September 16th.   CLICK HERE TO VOLUNTEER
 
NEW - HURRICANE HARVEY DONATIONS - Donations are being sought for victims of Hurricane Harvey.  Donations can be brought to practice Sat., 9/9.  FOR MORE DETAILS AND A LIST OF ITEMS BEING COLLECTED CLICK HERE.
 
NEW - Pom Poms are a great way to show your support for the WHS Marching Blue Devils! If you are interested in purchasing them, see Seth Brown at rehearsals this week; or Jenn Useloff or Seth Brown at the Parent Social; $5.00 for 2.  Parents can contact Seth with Pom Pom, Shako day or other fundraising questions at whsnjbpa@gmail.com
 
FIRST GAME - The first Blue Devils football game will be held 9/9.  Rehearsal will be held from 10 am - noon at the EIS practice field.  Students should pack a bag lunch.  The football game will be held from 1 - 4 pm.  GO BLUE DEVILS!!  The BPA will provide pizza dinner in the EIS cafeteria (students only), followed by rehearsal from 5 - 7 pm at the EIS practice field.  Students should wear their royal blue show shirt and khaki colored shorts and sneakers for the game.  Uniforms will not be worn for this performance.
 
NEW- FIRST AWAY GAME - The first away game will be held 9/15 at Ridge HS.  See Mr. Vitale's 9/3 weekly update email for details. Chaperones still needed.   
 
SCOTCH PLAINS COMPETITION on 9/16 - Please see Mr. Vitale's 9/3 weekly update email for a tentative itinerary of the day.  Chaperones still needed.
 
PARKING for Scotch Plains competition: Address is 667 Westfield Road, Scotch Plains, 07076.  Expect on-street parking only.  This is a well-attended competition so give yourself plenty of time to park and walk to the field which is a distance behind the school.
 
WHAT IS A CANDY OR AIR GRAM?  At competitions, there is often an opportunity to purchase candy or air grams for your child.  They usually cost in the range of $2-3.  A candy gram is a small bag of candy delivered to your student some time during the competition.  An air gram is an announcement of your words that is broadcast over the PA system before our Blue Devils come on.  This is a personalized gesture for your child.  
 
GYM EXEMPTIONS - Forms are not available until school starts.

FUNDRAISING
MANDATORY -- SHAKO DAY - Saturday, September 16 - This is our largest annual fundraiser.  Students are grouped and given a two-hour time slot and business location, and are asked to politely solicit donations from the public. Donations are placed in shakos (marching band hats). Hence, Shako Day! Details to follow. VOLUNTEERS are needed to check in on the kids and gather money for their safety.  If you would like to help and did not sign up via the Google form, contact Jenn Useloff (jlu624@yahoo.com) and Seth Brown (seth.brown@alliedbeverage.com) directly.  Students will be receiving their assignments this week.  Parent assignments will be given out about a week in advance.
 
SPIRITWEAR - The spiritwear online sale through Varsity Central ends September 9th.  These items should be delivered around September 25. CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT OUR WHS BPA MERCHANDISE STORE!   We are also selling a compression shirt, track jacket and Westfield Marching Band flags via a paper order form.  See the attachment for the order form.  Ordering for these items is open through September 22 and will be delivered around October 6.  Forms can be dropped off in the BPA mailbox in the WHS band room or at 1365 Grandview Ave.  If you have any merchandise questions, please contact Heather Bryant at hlbryant@comcast.net
Please note - this is the only time we will be selling merchandise this season, so don't miss out!
 
Want to make a donation to WHS Bands?  Visit http://www.westfieldhsbands.org/  and scroll down to the DONATE button.  A PayPal account has been set up to accept donations.  The WHS Band Parent Association is a 501-C3 non-profit organization and donations are tax deductible.  Check with your employer to see if they match donations.
 
INDIVIDUAL FUNDRAISERS - Looking to put more money in your student's CHARMs account? You can purchase grocery store gift cards from Shop Rite, Stop and Shop, ACME and Kings.  For every $100 gift card purchased, $5 goes into the student's account.  You can resell the card to friends/family or use it for your everyday shopping.  Gift cards can be purchased anytime throughout the year.  Contact Mary Beyert (mbeyert@comcast.net) or Sarah McGrail (s_mcgrail@hotmail.com) for more information about grocery cards and how your every day shopping can put money in your pocket!

HOSPITALITY
PARENT SOCIAL - Friday, September 8th hosted by The Cooks.  CLICK TO SEE DETAILS FOR THIS FUN EVENT!!
 
The Hospitality Committee will be hosting the first 3rd quarter snack of the season on Saturday, Sept. 9th.  The Front Ensemble and Color Guard will be providing 3rd quarter snacks for the Marching Blue Devils and Linden High School marching band.  An email for snack sign up will be sent out by the BPA a few days before the game.

VOLUNTEERING
Looking for volunteers! Check out the links below and donate time where you can. Thank you!!
 
PIT CREW - Thank you to all those who volunteered to be a part of the pit crew!  It truly does take a village.  We appreciate their help unloading the truck after the band returned from Lake Owego!!
 
BUS CHAPERONES - This is your backstage ticket to a competition. You get free transportation and entrance to watch our Marching Blue Devils compete. Your responsibilities are riding with the students to and from the competition, assisting with water/snack distribution, giving a helping hand to students with their uniforms. Now seeking volunteers for Friday, 9/15 - Ridge FB; Sat., 9/16 Scotch Plains Competition; Sat., 10/14 Rutgers football game/Hillsborough Competition; Sat., 10/21 East Brunswick Competition; Sat., 10/28 NJ States Competition. CLICK HERE TO VOLUNTEER
 
IN OTHER NEWS
Marching Band Calendar - Can't remember what time practice is?  Where or when the next game or competition will be?  Subscribe to our google calendar located on the homepage of the website: www.westfieldhsbands.org  Click the subscribe button in the lower right-hand corner of the calendar.
 
NEW - Follow the WHS Bands on Social Media and the Web!  FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM @WHSBANDSFRIENDSFAMILYANDALUMNI  Check the Band Website for regularly updated information:  www.westfieldhsbands.org  

QUESTIONS??
Though we try, we couldn't possible think of everything.   Feel free to email us at whsbandparents@gmail.com with your questions. We will get right back to you!