1ST HOME FOOTBALL GAME THIS FRIDAY!
Congratulations to everyone on an amazing first week of rehearsals and our first Saturday practice! The students are working incredibly hard, and we’re off to a fantastic start. We have an important week of rehearsals as we gear up for our first Home Football Game this Friday! ALL STUDENTS: Wear your 2026 “Jungle Boogie” field show shirt to school on Friday.
Please note that the 3rd Donation of $175 is due this Friday, August 21st.
Students should hydrate 24 hours before each rehearsal and eat throughout the day so they have the energy necessary for safe and effective participation. Please do not come to rehearsal without eating or properly hydrating.
Please bring to every rehearsal:
Instrument/equipment
1-gallon water jug
Hat (no visors)
Athletic shoes (no Vans or Converse)
Athletic clothing (no jeans or baggy pants/shorts)
Music binder
Dot book (Winds, Battery, and Color Guard)
Please make sure all personal items are labeled with the student’s name. Students may keep their rehearsal items in their Band Room locker so they have everything they need when rehearsal begins.
THANK YOU PARENTS!
Thank you to all the parents who helped this past week with uniforms, lunch, and props! We really appreciate everyone who has volunteered to help support our students and the program. If you haven’t volunteered yet, you’re missing out on all the fun!
PARENTS: We need your help at Friday’s football game with concessions, merchandise, and pushing front ensemble equipment. Parents who sign up and volunteer for at least one shift get into the game for FREE!
SIGN UP LINK >> https://tinyurl.com/gahr-home-football-game
We have updated our Booster Wishlist with some of the items we currently need for the season. If you are able to help purchase or donate an item, every contribution helps!
BOOSTER PARENT KICK-OFF MEETING – WEDNESDAY!
We look forward to seeing all parents at our first Booster Meeting of the year this Wednesday, August 19th at 6:30PM in the Band Room! Booster Meetings are a great way to stay connected, learn what’s coming up, meet other parents, and find ways to get involved and support our students throughout the season.
It’s not too late to become an official Gahr Band Booster Member! Membership is just $30 per person and is a great way to support the Gahr Band & Color Guard program. Your 2026 Booster Membership also includes a “Jungle Boogie” Field Show T-Shirt and Gahr Marching Gladiators clear cinch bag!
LAST CHANCE TO JOIN GAHR JAZZ!
Thank you to everyone who came out for Jazz Band last week! We had a great turnout and are off to an exciting start with Jazz I & II. We’re also excited to welcome Mr. Sisil to the team!
We will rehearse Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings this week as we finalize instrumentation and split into Jazz I & II beginning next week.
6:55AM Band Room open / Set up ASAP
7:17AM In your seat playing!
It’s still not too late to join! We are especially looking for a few more experienced saxophone players to round out our instrumentation. If you’ve played jazz before or are an experienced musician interested in giving it a try, come check it out this week before the bands are finalized!
Interested? See Mr. Loney or come to the Band Room Monday morning!
3RD DONATION OF $175 DUE THIS FRIDAY
The 3rd Donation of $175 is due this Friday, August 21st. This is critical for us to cover costs for instructors, production costs, competition registration fees, and so much more. Color Guard students must be caught up with all donations in order for us to purchase their costume.
We accept cash, checks made payable to “Gahr Band Boosters,” or credit card payments through our website.
We highly encourage families to pay the entire donation if they are able. Thank you for supporting our incredible students and helping us make another unforgettable season possible!
MANDATORY POPCORNOPOLIS FUNDRAISER
Our annual Popcornopolis Fundraiser is now underway! Each family is required to sell a minimum of eight (8) bags of popcorn. All profit from bags sold thereafter (50% of the cost) will be credited to students’ accounts. This is a great way to raise money for Marching Band, or to get ahead on Winter Guard or Indoor Percussion donations.
🎁 BONUS: The student who sells the most Popcornopolis will win a $50 Visa Gift Card!
ALL ORDER FORMS AND MONEY ARE DUE TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH.
🍿 Students were sent home with a fundraising brochure and order form.
Sell a minimum of eight (8) bags or $80 in sales.
Write your name clearly on the top of your order form.
Collect money at the time of the order.
Promote to family, friends, coworkers, and social media to maximize sales. You can also text it out to make things easier.
Make all checks payable to “Gahr Band Boosters” (please ensure your name is written in the memo line).
Popcornopolis orders typically take about 2-3 weeks to arrive. Students are responsible for distributing orders to the customers they sold to once the shipment is received.
❌ Prefer to opt-out? You may turn in the $40 profit instead.
1ST HOME FOOTBALL GAME THIS FRIDAY 8/21
Our 1st Home Football Game is this Friday, August 21st against Valley Christian High School! We’re excited for the Gahr Marching Gladiators to take the field for the first time this season and perform part of our 2026 production, “Jungle Boogie!”
After 6th period, students will have a break to eat dinner and change. DINNER IS NOT PROVIDED, so please make sure students eat before call time. Students will wear their 2026 “Jungle Boogie” field show t-shirt and athletic shoes. Band members wear blue jeans and guard members wear show blacks.
STUDENT CALL TIME: 5:15PM IN THE BAND ROOM
The band will perform the Star-Spangled Banner at approximately 6:45PM, followed by pep tunes and drumline cadences throughout the game. At halftime, the entire Gahr Marching Gladiators will perform part of “Jungle Boogie” for the home crowd! Attendance at all rehearsals this week is extremely important so everyone is prepared for Friday’s performance.
WIND STUDENTS: All wind students are required to have a flip folder and music lyre to perform pep tunes in the stands. These can be purchased directly from Mr. Loney for approximately $10-$20.
The Gahr Marching Gladiators stay after halftime through the end of the game to support our school and football team.
MARCHING BAND & COLOR GUARD ORDER FORMS PAST DUE
Marching Band and Color Guard order forms and money are past due.
There are three payment options for both forms:
1. Cash – Turn in with the physical order form
2. Check – Made payable to “Gahr Band Boosters” and turned in with the physical order form
3. Online Payment – Pay through the Gahr Band website and still turn in the physical order form
https://www.gahrband.org/store/p/make-a-donation
When paying online, please enter the grand total as the quantity amount.
ADDITIONAL REQUIRED ITEMS
In addition to the black hoodie and marching band shoes on the order form, all wind and percussion students will need a black sleeveless compression shirt, black compression shorts, and long black athletic socks. You might be able to find these items cheaper at Big 5 Sporting Goods or Walmart.
OPTIONAL BAND JACKET
Get your official Gahr Marching Gladiators Band Jacket! Jackets are $145 and come fully embroidered. We accept checks to “Gahr Band Boosters” or cash. Please complete a separate order form for each jacket you order.
ORDER DEADLINE: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11TH
MARCHING BAND WEEKLY REHEARSAL SCHEDULE
For the fall Marching Band season, all sections rehearse on the same days and times. Rehearsals begin and end at the scheduled times. Please allow an additional 15-20 minutes after rehearsal for students to help put away equipment and props before leaving.
MONDAYS
3:30-6:00PM
TUESDAYS
5:30-8:45PM
Students should use the time after school to complete homework and eat dinner.
WEDNESDAYS
3:30-4:30PM Wind Sectionals
THURSDAYS
3:30-6:00PM
SOME SATURDAYS*
8:30AM-5:00PM
*Click here for the full calendar
SENIOR BANNER MONEY DUE THIS THURSDAY
Band and Color Guard seniors will be honored with a custom banner that will be displayed during the football/marching band season. Vinyl banners are $40 by cash/check/online, due this Thursday, August 20th.
Pay for the Senior Banner online OR turn in this order form along with $40 cash.
GAHR INVITATIONAL FIELD TOURNAMENT – SIGN UPS
We are excited to announce that the Gahr Invitational Field Tournament will take place on Saturday, November 7th, right here at Gahr High School! This year, we are proud to welcome over 30 bands from across Southern California for an incredible day of marching band!
This is the one competition you should NOT be sitting in the stands watching. The Gahr Invitational is our biggest event of the year, and it takes a huge team of volunteers to make it happen. We need ALL HANDS ON DECK!
From concessions and parking to tickets, hospitality, merchandise, and more, there are many ways to help throughout the day. We will have thousands of students, families, and spectators in attendance and cannot do it without your support.
If you haven’t signed up for a shift yet, please click here to sign up to volunteer! You can also sign up in person at this Wednesday’s Booster Meeting.
Let’s make this the biggest and best Gahr Invitational yet! 💙💛
ORLANDO PERFORMANCE TRIP DEADLINE – AUGUST 24TH
If you are interested in traveling with the Gahr High School Band & Color Guard to perform at Walt Disney World during Spring Break 2027, this is your last chance! The deadline to register is Monday, August 24th.
We already have approximately 100 students signed up, and this trip is shaping up to be something truly special. We still have room for additional performers and would love for even more students to be part of this unforgettable experience.
✨ WHY THIS TRIP IS SPECIAL
This is a once-in-a-lifetime high school experience. Our full marching band will perform and march down Main Street at Walt Disney World — an incredible opportunity that very few programs get to enjoy. Students will also participate in a Disney Imagination Campus Workshop, working with Disney professionals in a behind-the-scenes learning experience.
Performance at Walt Disney World
3 days at Walt Disney World
2 days at Universal Studios, including Epic Universe
Airfare, hotels, meals, and transportation included
Travel with Gahr staff, a professional tour manager, and hotel security
📋 Click here to download the full trip itinerary.
✅ HOW TO REGISTER
1. Visit www.etadventures.com
2. Click Login
3. Enter Trip Code: gahr27
4. Create an account
5. Submit your deposit
🔁 TO MODIFY YOUR MONTHLY PAYMENT SCHEDULE
1. Click Payments
2. Select View/Modify Recurring Payments
3. Adjust your remaining payments as needed
⚠️ IMPORTANT NOTES:
This trip is open to all members of the 2026–27 Gahr High School Band & Color Guard, including current freshmen.
Students are required to register in quad rooms (4 students per room) for safety purposes and to help keep costs affordable.
This is a student performer trip only. Parents and family members are absolutely welcome to travel to Orlando independently to attend performances and enjoy the parks, but all parent travel arrangements must be made separately.
If your account was previously cancelled due to missed payments, don’t worry! Contact the tour company and they can reinstate your account and help spread any past-due balance across the remaining payment schedule.
We typically take a major trip like this only once every four years. Especially for incoming freshmen, this may be your only opportunity to participate in an experience like this during high school.
This trip will be filled with incredible performances, lifelong friendships, and memories that students will remember forever. We hope you’ll consider being part of this amazing experience!
For questions, please contact:
Dee Dee Varney
dvarney15@gmail.com
(562) 413-3068
PROGRAM DONATIONS – MARCHING BAND
The Gahr High School Band & Color Guard program is largely self-funded. Student donations make it possible for us to provide the outstanding educational and performance opportunities that define our program each year.
The 2026 Marching Band Program Donation is $775 per student. This donation directly supports essential program expenses, including instructional staff, music, equipment and instruments, uniforms and costumes, props, production materials, transportation, and more. This year’s donation also includes our trip to the Western Band Association Championships.
Families may submit the donation in full or according to the following payment schedule:
$250 – 1st Donation – Past Due June 1, 2026
$175 – 2nd Donation – Past July 20, 2026
$175 – 3rd Donation – Due August 21, 2026
$175 – 4th Donation – Due October 2, 2026
➡️ Click here to make a donation online
If your family is able to, we strongly encourage paying the full donation at the start of the season. Early donations help us purchase materials and cover significant upfront expenses such as props, equipment, instruments, registration fees, and other program needs.
Your support helps provide students with exceptional educational experiences while developing discipline, confidence, responsibility, teamwork, and leadership – skills that extend far beyond the marching field.
Please Note: Program expenses are based on each student’s participation in the season and are incurred regardless of individual attendance at rehearsals, camps, or performances. Missing any portion of the season does not reduce the program’s expenses associated with that student.
Thank you for your continued support of the Gahr High School Band & Color Guard!
ATHLETIC CLEARANCE THROUGH HOME CAMPUS
All students participating in the 2026–27 Gahr High School Marching Band & Color Guard are required to complete athletic clearance each year and must have a current athletic physical on file.
Parents should create an account and complete the clearance process through the following website: https://www.homecampus.com/login
After completing a physical exam, families will need to scan or take photos of both pages of the form and upload them to Home Campus as part of the athletic clearance process.
Click here to download the required physical evaluation form.
Students may still complete their athletic physical through Anderson Chiropractic Clinic in Los Alamitos. They are continuing to offer athletic physicals for just $20 cash. Call ahead to schedule an appointment at (562) 594-6538.
BAND & COLOR GUARD REGISTRATION FORM
ACTION REQUIRED >> All NEW and RETURNING members of the Gahr Marching Gladiators must complete the 2026-27 Band Registration & Participation Form. Please have a parent or guardian complete this form together with your student. The form takes about 10 minutes to complete.
ASB CARD & TRANSPORTATION
Please make sure you have paid for your student’s Gahr High School ASB Card ($85) and Transportation Fee ($90). These school fees are paid directly to Gahr High School at the Finance Office during school hours.
Students who choose not to purchase an ASB Card will instead be required to pay the $225 Transportation Fee.
TWO GREAT WAYS TO RAISE MONEY
Use the fundraisers below to raise money for your marching band donations! This can also go towards Winter Guard and Indoor Percussion. This is the BEST TIME to do it before we get busy with school starting.
Field Show Program Ads - Earn 90% of the profit from all field show ad sales. Ads range from $25 to $175. Many local businesses are looking for ways to advertise to the community. See Mr. Loney to get a past field show program that you can use as an example when selling ads.
Student Sponsorship Letter - 100% of the money from sponsorships goes directly to your student account. These take a few hours to complete and mail out, but the return on investment is HUGE if you can make $400-500! This is a great way for family and friends to help support your student.
📆 IMPORTANT DATES
8/19 Booster Meeting Kick-Off @ 6:30PM!
8/21 3rd Donation – $175 Due / Home Football Game!
8/24 ORLANDO TRIP DEADLINE
8/28 Pep Rally Performance / Away Football Game vs. Cerritos
8/29 Saturday Rehearsal 8:30AM-5PM / Uniform Party!
9/1 Rehearsal 2:00-4:30PM / Back to School Night!
9/3 Frantone’s Fundraiser 5-10PM
9/8 Popcornopolis Order & Payment Deadline
9/11 Band Jacket Order Form Deadline
9/12 Saturday Rehearsal 8:30AM-5PM / Clothing Drive
9/16 Monthly Parent Booster Meeting @ 6:30PM
9/18 Homecoming Rally / Homecoming Football Game
9/19 Saturday Rehearsal 9AM-1PM / Homecoming Dance
9/25 Mandatory Fan Pledge Kick-Off 3:45-5PM
9/26 CSBC MAX! Preview of Champions Show
THIS WEEK:
MONDAY 8/17
POPCORNOPOLIS FUNDRAISER!
6:55AM Band Room open
7:17AM Jazz Band attendance – DO NOT BE LATE!
4th Period – Concert Band with Mr. Loney & Mr. Miller
5th Period – Wind Ensemble with Mr. Loney & Mr. Miller
6th Period – Color Guard, Battery, Front Ensemble rehearsal
3:30-6:00PM Marching Band rehearsal (everyone)
Hat, 1-gallon water jug, athletic shoes, athletic clothes, dot book
TUESDAY 8/18
6:55AM Band Room open
7:17AM Jazz Band attendance – DO NOT BE LATE!
Study Hall during periods 4/5/6
FRANTONE’S FUNDRAISER POSTER CONTEST!
After School – Homework/Dinner/Change
5:00PM Set up for rehearsal
5:30-8:45PM Tuesday night practice in stadium (Mvt. 1)
WEDNESDAY 8/19
7:30AM Band Room open
3:30-4:30PM Wind Sectionals (Memorize Star-Spangled Banner & Mvt. 1)
6:30-7:30PM Booster Parent Kick-Off Meeting in Band Room
Booster Meetings are warm, welcoming, and fun! All parents are strongly encouraged to attend for important info and to be in the loop of what is going on.
THURSDAY 8/20
SENIOR BANNER MONEY DUE
6:55AM Band Room open
7:17AM Jazz Band attendance – DO NOT BE LATE!
6th Period – Color Guard, Battery, Front Ensemble rehearsal
3:30-6:00PM Marching Band rehearsal (everyone)
FRIDAY 8/21
3RD DONATION DUE OF $175.00
WEAR YOUR FIELD SHOW T-SHIRT TO SCHOOL!
6:55AM Band Room open
7:17AM Jazz Band attendance – DO NOT BE LATE!
Period 4/5/6 – Review for football game performance
HOME FOOTBALL GAME VS VALLEY CHRISTIAN HS
AFTER SCHOOL — Students should eat dinner (dinner is not provided).
Band: show shirt, blue jeans, and athletic shoes
Color Guard: show shirt, show blacks, and athletic shoes
5:00PM Parent volunteers needed for concessions & merchandise
PARENTS: CLICK HERE TO VOLUNTEER AT THE GAME
5:15PM STUDENT CALL TIME
Winds: Review pep tunes in the Band Room
Battery: Review cadences and Mvt. 1
Front Ensemble: Push to the stadium
Color Guard: Warm up and review
6:20PM Walk to stadium as a group. Bring your water jug, flip folder & lyre.
6:45PM Star-Spangled Banner & Fight Song (pre-game)
7:00PM Home Football Game vs. Valley Christian HS
8:00PM Approximate half-time performance
9:15PM Approximate game end time*
9:30PM Walk back to the Band Room
9:45PM Approximate dismissal*
*Football game end times vary. The Gahr Marching Gladiators stay through the end of the game to support our school and football team. Please check Remind for dismissal and updates. Students should be picked up promptly once dismissed.
