Band Camp/New Season Reminders/New Parent Meet and Greet

BAND CAMP PREPAREDNESS
With BAND CAMP upon us, the DSMA would like to remind everyone of the following, just like the Scouts it is always best to BE PREPARED! Here is a list of things to bring while at camp:
 
Plenty of WATER
A hat to shield the sun
Sidewalk chalk to mark your spacing dots on the parking lot
Please RETURN your shorts!
Food and HEALTHY snacks, limit sugary items
 
UNIFORMS
Marching Band and Percussion Students MUST bring in the following uniform items:
ALL Uniform parts including Shako, green and white pants, jacket, gauntlet and plume!
 
Sue Benoit will be at the practice the following days/times to review uniforms, please make every effort to have your student meet with Sue during the following times:
1 hour before each practice:  11:00 – 12:00  and at each break:  1:00-2:00 and 5:00-6:00
Seniors:  Monday
Sophomores/Juniors: Tuesday
Freshman/Sophomores:  Wednesday
NEW Members: Thursday (and the following Monday if needed)
For NEW members without uniforms, uniform sign outs will take place at the upcoming BBQ.
 
Sue needs help at any/all of these times so if you are interested in pitching in please contact Sue and let her know – she will greatly appreciate any assistance and it’s a great chance to meet some of the kids and other parents.  She can be contacted at suebenoitdsma@gmail.com
 
PROPS
Tim Enos is heading up Prop Construction once again this year and anyone with an interest in assisting him are welcome to join him next Saturday, August 18th between 9-5 on the side of the high school. People with any skill level can assist as there are many things to do that help make the props the success they have always been. Any questions can be sent to Tim at timenosdsma@gmail.com
 
GILLETTE CONCESSION
Please consider signing up for a Gillette spot for August 16th. We are currently in need of 9 more people to fill out our roster.  This important program is responsible for raising over $30,000 every year, money that directly supports the Marching Band program at the school, it is also a great way for families to offset the various costs involved in participation. Tracy can be reached at tracynapertdsma@gmail.com
 
NEW PARENT MEET AND GREET
The DSMA would like to welcome the parents of our new band students and give them a chance to meet each other in an informal setting over light refreshments. This will give everyone a chance to say hello, ask questions about the program and put names to faces of the DSMA board, committee people and other new parents. The meet and greet will be this Monday, 7:30 at the High School. Feel free to stop in any time after 7:30, before picking your child up from camp.
 
That about covers it for now, thank you for your help making the upcoming Marching Band another success! 
 
-Greg Jones, Corresponding Secretary gregjones@dsmahome.org 

August updates – Madeira Parade, car wash, and band camp!

Madeira Parade

Our marching band and color guard will be performing in the Madeira Parade on Sunday, August 5. Students will report to Dartmouth High School at 12 noon, and will be bussed to the beginning of the parade route. Step off is at 2pm, and students will return to the high school by bus once they are done marching. 

All students have been provided with their summer uniform (white band t-shirt and green shorts) for the parade. If your child did not receive their summer uniform during mini band camp, please contact Lisa Perry as soon as possible.

Car Wash

We will be holding a car wash at Town Hall on August 19 from 9am-1pm. Tickets are $5, and we are asking all families to sell 5 tickets. Ticket money is due by August 13, the first day of band camp. Students will have the opportunity to sign up for a shift to help wash cars, and we encourage everyone to tell family and friends about our first fundraiser! We will be posting a Facebook event for the car wash, so be sure to look out for that to help share it. If you have any questions about the car wash fundraiser, or need more tickets to sell, please contact Tim Enos.

Band Camp

Full camp for all marching band and color guard members begins on August 13, and will run Monday – Thursday for 2 weeks. Camp begins at 2pm and ends at 9pm, with a one hour dinner break that will usually run from 5pm-6pm. Percussion students (drumline and front ensemble) have a 12pm report time during camp. All band camp dates and times can be found on our online calendar, as well as within the BAND app. Students are encouraged to bring a large water jug/thermos that they can drink from throughout the day to stay hydrated. 

All returning students will be re-fit for their uniforms the first week of band camp, and once that is complete all new students will be fit for their uniforms. Returning students should bring in their full uniforms (jacket, white pants, green pants, gauntlets, and shako) on the following days:

Monday, August 13 – seniors
Tuesday, August 14 – seniors, juniors
Wednesday, August 15 – juniors, sophomores
Thursday, August 16 – sophomores, freshmen

Band camp will conclude on Thursday August 23 with the annual family BBQ at the high school, which will begin at 6:30pm. Please be sure not to arrive before 6:30, as DSMA staff and volunteers need to clean up from feeding the kids first! Families will have the opportunity to sign up for volunteer shifts and chaperone opportunities during the competition season as well as Gillette shifts during the BBQ. If you would like to volunteer to help serve the students and families at the end of camp BBQ, please contact Lisa Perry or Russ Benoit.