BAND CAMP STARTS ON MONDAY!
We hope you’re having a wonderful summer! This past Saturday, we had over 120 students, parents, and alumni attend Drum Corps at the Rose Bowl – and it was an amazing show. Our 2025-26 Student Leadership Team recently wrapped up the Pacific Crest Leadership Camp, and we can’t wait to see them in action. We would like to congratulate Mr. Lopez on getting married this past weekend!
PLEASE DO THIS RIGHT NOW >> All NEW AND RETURNING members of the Gahr Marching Gladiators must fill out the 2025-26 Band Registration & Participation Form. This must be filled out BEFORE Band Camp on Monday. Please have a parent or guardian fill this out with your student. This takes about 10 minutes to complete and is crucial to get off to a good start.
IT’S ALMOST THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!! Band Camp for everyone is Monday, July 21st through Wednesday, August 6th, at Gahr High School! We will learn new music, drill, and choreography for our 2025 field show production, “And Sew It Goes.” All students MUST attend Band Camp to be admitted into the field show for the fall semester. We perform before school starts, and it is very difficult to catch up after missing 75+ hours of instruction.
Students will begin each day by checking in and meeting at the Band Room. Always eat a big breakfast/lunch and arrive at least 15-20 minutes early each day. Students must wear athletic clothing, athletic shoes, a hat, and bring a 1-gallon water jug and $5 each day for a meal. Go outside and start getting used to the heat – ride a bike or go for a jog.
Most days of Band Camp run from 1:00PM-9:00PM with a dinner break from 4:30-5:30PM. Please note that the battery section has rehearsal from 9:00AM-5:00PM the first week of Band Camp with a lunch break from 12:00-1:00PM. On Friday, July 25th, all students rehearse from 9:00AM-4:00PM because we’ll be stopping early for our Family Beach Bonfire.
PLEASE DOWNLOAD AND READ THROUGH ALL THE INFORMATION IN THE BAND CAMP NEWSLETTER. This contains important information so we can get off to a great start.
SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER AND DONATE
We’re looking for parent and family volunteers to help out during Band Camp with areas like uniform fitting and meals! Please click here to sign up to volunteer for any time slots that fit your schedule. Your help - even just an hour, makes a huge difference!
Help us kick off the year strong by donating an item on our Gahr Band Wishlist. We will update this wishlist throughout the year. Donations can be dropped off in the band room. We appreciate your support!
This is a Google doc that has all the dates for the fall semester. Please bookmark this link!
7LEAVES CAFE THURSDAY!
Go to 7Leaves Cafe this Thursday, July 17th anytime from 7AM-11PM! Make sure to show the attached flyer when you order and 20% of your purchase will be donated back to the Gahr Instrumental Music Program. It’s a great way to help our students while enjoying your favorite drinks! Please help spread the word, and we hope to see you there!
2ND DONATION DUE MONDAY 7/21
The 2nd Donation of $175 is due this Monday, July 21st. All students should already be caught up with the 1st donation that was due on June 2nd. This is crucial for us to be able to pay for instructors, production costs, registration fees, and uniforms/costumes. Missing any part of the summer or Band Camp does NOT exclude you from this donation.
Because our boosters are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, your donation may be tax-deductible! We accept cash, checks made payable to “Gahr Band Boosters,” or pay with a credit card on our website: https://www.gahrband.org/store/p/marching-band-donation
MANDATORY PARENT MEETING 7/22
There is a MANDATORY PARENT MEETING on Tuesday, July 22nd at 7:30PM in the Gahr High School Band Room. We scheduled this meeting later in the evening to make it more convenient for you to pick up your student after Band Camp. We will be going through important information including the rehearsal and competition schedule, upcoming fundraisers, and areas where we need parent support.
ATHLETIC CLEARANCE UPDATE
All students participating in the program are required to complete an athletic physical. UPDATE: Gahr is transitioning to a new website platform called "Home Campus" for athletic clearance. Please hold on to your athletic physical paperwork – DO NOT THROW IT AWAY! You do not need to worry about the original deadline, and we will update you when the new system is up and running.
If you have already uploaded your paperwork through FamilyID, please note that you will most likely need to resubmit it on the new platform. Thank you for your flexibility, and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
✅ 2025 PROGRAM DONATIONS – MARCHING BAND
The student contribution for the 2025 Gahr High School Marching Band is $675. This donation helps cover essential program expenses, including instructional staff, equipment and instruments, music, production costs, costumes, and food throughout the season.
Your support ensures our students receive the high-level, specialized instruction that motivates them to grow – both as performers and as individuals. These skills translate beyond the field and into the classroom, promoting discipline, confidence, and teamwork.
Donations can be paid in full or broken into the following payment schedule:
$175 – 1st Donation – Due June 2, 2025
$175 – 2nd Donation – Due July 21, 2025
$175 – 3rd Donation – Due August 29, 2025
$150 – 4th Donation – Due September 26, 2025
Click here to make your donation online.
If you would like to get a head start on fundraising, click here to download the 2025 sponsorship letter.
If you are in a position to do so, we highly encourage families to pay the entire donation to help us with upfront costs – such as props, equipment, and instruments. Please note that missing any part of the Mini Camp, Band Camp, or rehearsals does not excuse you from a donation. Thank you for supporting our incredible students and making another unforgettable season possible!
📲 IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS THROUGH REMIND
We use the Remind app for announcements. Sign up based on what grade you’re in:
THIS WEEK:
MONDAY 7/21
Band Camp Week 1 – Arrive early to check in each day
2nd Donation of $175 Due
8:00AM Band Room open
8:00-9:00AM Check-in and Band Uniform Measuring
9:00AM-5:00PM Battery Only (bring $5 for lunch)
12:00-1:00PM Check-in and Band Uniform Measuring
1:00PM-9:00PM Winds, Front Ensemble, and Color Guard (bring $5 for dinner)
TUESDAY 7/22
8:15AM Band Room open
9:00AM-5:00PM Battery Only (bring $5 for lunch)
1:00PM-9:00PM Winds, Front Ensemble, and Color Guard (bring $5 for dinner)
7:30PM MANDATORY PARENT MEETING IN BAND ROOM
WEDNESDAY 7/23
8:15AM Band Room open
9:00AM-5:00PM Battery Only (bring $5 for lunch)
9:00-10:45AM 10th Grade Band Uniform Fitting
10:45-12:00PM 12th Grade Band Uniform Fitting & Senior Banner Photos
1:00PM-9:00PM Winds, Front Ensemble, and Color Guard (bring $5 for dinner)
THURSDAY 7/24
8:15AM Band Room open
9:00AM-5:00PM Battery Only (bring $5 for lunch)
9:00-10:45AM 9th Grade Band Uniform Fitting
10:45-12:00PM 11th Grade Band Uniform Fitting
1:00PM-9:00PM Winds, Front Ensemble, and Color Guard (bring $5 for dinner)
FRIDAY 7/25
8:15AM Band Room open (last chance to drop off bonfire items)
9:00AM-12:00PM EVERYONE – Block 1
12:00-1:00PM Lunch (bring $5)
1:00-4:00PM EVERYONE – Block 2
6:00-9:00PM Family Beach Bonfire at Bolsa Chica State Beach
📆 IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES
7/16 Athletic Physical at Gahr HS from 10AM-1PM
7/16 Percussion Rehearsal from 1PM-9PM
7/17 7Leaves Fundraiser 7AM-11PM
7/21 Donation #2 of $175 due
7/21-8/6 Band Camp
7/22 Mandatory Parent Meeting at 7:30PM
7/23 10th Grade Band Uniform Fitting 9:00AM-10:45AM
7/23 12th Grade Uniform Fitting & Senior Band & Guard Photos 10:45AM-12:00PM
7/24 9th Grade Band Uniform Fitting 9:00AM-10:45AM
7/24 11th Grade Band Uniform Fitting 10:45AM-12:00PM / Battery 4:30-5:00PM
7/25 Family Beach Bonfire at Bolsa Chica State Beach 6-9PM
7/30 Early Bird Booster Membership Due
8/2 “Gahr” Wash 9AM-2PM
8/6 Band Camp Sneak Preview – Dinner 6:00PM / Performance 7:00PM
8/7 DCI Big, Loud & Live! (optional)
8/13 School Starts
8/15 Band & Guard Orders Due / Popcornopolis Starts!
8/16 Saturday Rehearsal 8:30AM-5PM / Uniform & Prop Party
STAY IN CONTACT
WEBSITE: www.gahrband.org
INSTAGRAM: Follow us @gahrband
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/gahrband
REMIND: Text "@gahr2029” to “81010”
SLACK (STUDENTS ONLY): http://tinyurl.com/gahr-slack
EMAIL: darren.loney@abcusd.us
