The students made great improvement this past week and had an excellent week of rehearsals! Thank you to everyone for continuing to work hard and push forward to put “Jungle Boogie” on the field. We will be performing this Friday at the Homecoming Pep Rally during school and the Homecoming Football Game in the evening! We will only have one rehearsal block on Saturday from 9AM-1PM so students have the afternoon off to get ready for the Homecoming Dance.

PARENTS: Please click here to sign up to help this Friday with concessions, merchandise, and pit crew! Parents who sign up to volunteer for at least one shift and wear their Jungle Boogie shirt will receive FREE admission to the game. Please sign up by Thursday so your name can be added to the volunteer list at the gate.

A HUGE shout-out to all of our parents who helped on Saturday with the clothing drive, preparing and serving lunch, uniforms, and building and painting props. We had parents helping in so many different areas throughout the day, and we truly appreciate all of your time and support!

Please join us for our monthly Booster Meeting this Wednesday at 6:30PM in the Band Room! We will also be officially kicking off planning for the Gahr Invitational with Mrs. Varney and Mrs. Barcelos, so we would love to have everyone who plans to help attend the meeting. See you there!

CBS MORNING NEWS – LIVE AT GAHR TODAY 9/14

CBS is bringing its “Class Act” series to Gahr High School today, Monday, September 14th! CBS will be broadcasting LIVE from campus throughout the morning, showcasing the students, programs, and activities that make Gahr special. The Gahr Marching Gladiators will help kick off the morning and will be featured in several live segments!

Everyone in the program will be included, including Color Guard and Front Ensemble. All students will be excused from Zero Period and 1st Period.

MONDAY MORNING ITINERARY:
6:00AM – WINDS & BATTERY CALL TIME – DO NOT BE LATE!
Report to the Band Room and change into FULL UNIFORM.
6:30AM FRONT ENSEMBLE & COLOR GUARD CALL TIME
6:35AM WARM-UP
6:50AM READY TO GO!
Students should be ready to move to the Rally Platform.
Beginning around 7:00AM – LIVE SEGMENTS
Approximately 8:45AM – CHANGE OUT OF UNIFORM
Approximately 9:15AM – RETURN TO CLASS

BAND: Wear your sleeveless black compression shirt, black compression shorts, long black socks, and black marching shoes. Don’t forget to bring a change of clothes/shoes and your flip folder & lyre!
COLOR GUARD: Wear your Jungle Boogie show shirt & jeans.

We are excited for this opportunity to showcase our students, our program, and Gahr High School on CBS!!

REHEARSAL & HEAT SAFETY

Our students have been working incredibly hard, and we are very proud of the effort they continue to bring to every rehearsal! As we continue rehearsing during warm weather, student safety remains a priority.

We will continue to monitor weather and heat conditions and adjust rehearsal activities as needed. E-Z UPs are available at every rehearsal for shade, ice water is provided to refill water jugs, and students are given frequent water breaks.

The administration is aware of the ongoing issues with the Band Room and Jazz/Guard Room air conditioning and is working with the district on resolving it.

Always hydrate 24 hours before rehearsal and continue drinking water throughout the day. Students must arrive with a one-gallon water jug, hat, sunscreen, athletic clothing, and athletic shoes. These items are essential for student safety, and students will not be permitted to participate until they are properly prepared.

Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and productive rehearsal environment.

HOMECOMING RALLY & FOOTBALL GAME THIS FRIDAY 9/18

This Friday, September 18th is our Homecoming Pep Rally and Football Game! Wear your Jungle Boogie field show shirt and jeans to school and bring everything you need for full uniform at the game. Please make sure your flip folder is organized with all the pep tunes.

All band and color guard students will be excused from Periods 3 and 4 to set up and prepare for the Pep Rally performance. For the pep rally, students will wear their field show shirt and jeans. Please do not wear baggy jeans or jeans with ripped holes.

STUDENTS: PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN DINNER OR MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO EAT AFTER SCHOOL. AT 5:00PM, EVERYONE will change into FULL UNIFORM, so make sure you bring your black sleeveless compression top, black compression shorts, LONG BLACK SOCKS, and black marching shoes.

PARENTS: We need your help at Friday’s football game with concessions, merchandise, and helping to move front ensemble equipment and props. Parents who sign up and volunteer for at least one shift will receive FREE admission to the game!

SIGN UP LINK >> https://tinyurl.com/gahr-home-football-game

We have also updated our Booster Wishlist with items we currently need. If you are able to purchase or donate an item, every contribution helps. Thank you for your continued support!

SATURDAY REHEARSAL 9AM-1PM

This Saturday’s rehearsal is SUPER IMPORTANT! Due to the Homecoming Dance, we only have one rehearsal block from 9AM–1PM, and we will be learning a significant amount of Movement 2 music and drill. Eat a good breakfast and ARRIVE EARLY so we can begin rehearsal on time and make the most of our shortened day. We’re only ONE WEEK away from our first competition!

CLOTHING DRIVE DROP-OFF THROUGH FRIDAY 9/18

Thank you so much to everyone who donated to our Clothing Drive! We especially appreciate all of the parents who helped run the event and collect donations throughout the day.

Congratulations to Kaylee De Hoop, who brought in the most donations with an incredible 38 bags and won a $40 Amazon Gift Card! AND congratulations also to our raffle winners: Elyssa Buenaventura (1st Place), Andrew Ocampo (2nd Place), and Steven Rodriguez (3rd Place).

If you still have bags of clothing/donations, they can still be dropped off in the Band Room up until this Friday, September 18th. Thank you again for your generosity and support! 💙💛

GAHR INVITATIONAL FIELD SHOW KICK-OFF MEETING!

We’re excited to kick off planning for the Gahr Invitational Field Show this Wednesday at 6:30PM during our monthly Booster Meeting! This is our biggest and most important fundraiser of the year, and we need your help to make it a success. Come join us for cookies, prizes, and good vibes as we get everything started. We’d love to see you there!

FAN-PLEDGE FUNDRAISER!

We are excited to launch our annual Fan-Pledge Fundraiser to support the Gahr Instrumental Music Program!

This year, we are raising money for additional Marching Band uniforms, as well as new parade costumes and flags for our Color Guard as we prepare to represent Gahr at Walt Disney World this Spring!!

WE NEED 20 CONTACTS FROM EVERY STUDENT!

Every student should submit at least 20 contacts — phone numbers for family members, friends, and other potential supporters who may be willing to donate to our program.

Students who have 20 contacts submitted will be entered into raffles for prizes AND get to be part of an Ice Cream Party after practice this Thursday, September 17!

Fan-Pledge keeps all contact information private and protected. It is never sold or shared. Please DO NOT use classmates, teachers, administrators, or other Gahr students.

Need ideas for contacts? Think about:

Family • Family Friends • Neighbors • Parents’ Friends & Coworkers • Former Teachers • Coaches • Doctors • Dentists • Local Business Owners • Anyone who would be excited to support YOU and the program!

Our goal is to have everyone’s contact list READY TO GO before we officially launch Fan-Pledge at our MANDATORY KICK-OFF EVENT on Friday, September 25!

FAN-PLEDGE KICK-OFF — FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 FROM 3:30-5:00PM

We’re going BIG for our Fan-Pledge Kick-Off! There will be gift cards, raffles, individual prizes, section prizes, including a new pair of Apple AirPods!

🍕 The SECTION that raises the most money will win a PIZZA OR CANE’S PARTY!

👨‍🍳 The INDIVIDUAL STUDENT who raises the most money will win DINNER COOKED BY MR. LONEY! You pick the meal, and Mr. Loney will cook it from scratch.

⚠️ IMPORTANT: Please enter only real contacts of people you actually know. Fake contacts will be deleted, and students who submit fake contacts will not be eligible for raffles or prizes.

PLEASE NOTE: Fan-Pledge is a program-wide fundraiser that benefits all of our students by providing essential equipment, uniforms, and resources. Donations are not tied to individual student accounts. Every dollar raised goes directly toward improving and supporting the Gahr Instrumental Music Program as a whole.

If everyone does their part, we can make sure the Gahr Band & Color Guard look as incredible as they sound when we represent our school at Walt Disney World! 💙💛

SENIOR PARENTS – BABY PHOTOS REQUEST

We have a special tradition at the Gahr Invitational Field Show: creating a picture spread in the middle of the program featuring baby and toddler photos of our seniors! Please take a moment to dig through those photo albums, scroll through your cloud storage, or check that shoebox under the bed to find the perfect picture of your senior.

Deadline: Submit photos by Friday, October 9, 2026

How to Submit: Please email your son/daughter’s baby photo to dvarney15@gmail.com or you can text it directly to (562) 413-3068

Thank you, and way to go Class of 2027!! 🎓💙💛

WBA CHAMPIONSHIPS – PARENT HOTEL FILLING UP FAST!

Planning to travel to Fresno for the WBA Championships November 21-22? Our discounted Parent Hotel block is filling up FAST!

This year, the band will travel up early Saturday morning and stay one night, returning home late Sunday evening after WBA Grand Championships. We have a discounted parent room block at the Homewood Suites Fresno, located right across from where our students will be staying!

November 21-22 | $179 + tax
Complimentary Breakfast & Parking

The official booking deadline is October 22, but availability is limited. If you’re planning to attend, we strongly recommend reserving your room ASAP!

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.

Let’s make this the biggest and best Gahr Invitational yet! 💙💛

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 Due July 20, 2026
$175 – 3rd Donation – Past 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, regardless of 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!

FIELD SHOW PROGRAM ADS FUNDRAISER!

Advertise in our program for the Gahr Invitational Field Tournament! THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST INDIVIDUAL STUDENT FUNDRAISER OF THE ENTIRE YEAR! Students earn 90% of the profit from all ads sold. Please click here to download the form. The deadline for all advertisements is Friday, October 16, 2026. We cannot accept late ads once the program is sent to the printer.

This is a great way for local businesses to advertise to the community! The Gahr Invitational Field Tournament typically has over 5,000 people in attendance, and we usually sell around 500 programs. This is also a great opportunity to put in a "shout-out" for your son/daughter in the program! Best of all, students still earn 90% of profit!

You can also purchase a program ad directly through our website! Please make sure you email your artwork to Mr. Loney at darren.loney@abcusd.us.

ATHLETIC CLEARANCE – COMPLETE ASAP

If you have not yet completed your 2026-27 Athletic Clearance, this must be completed ASAP. Students who are not fully cleared will NOT be able to ride the bus to our first competition next week.

All Marching Band & Color Guard students are required to complete athletic clearance each year and have a current athletic physical on file. Parents should complete the clearance process through Home Campus:
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 also complete their athletic physical at Anderson Chiropractic Clinic in Los Alamitos for $20 cash. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment at (562) 594-6538.

FREE BAND & COLOR GUARD PHOTOS!

A huge thank you to Mr. Madison for generously offering to take professional photos of our Band & Color Guard students free of charge! He has been doing some incredible “media day” style photography with athletes and has offered to photograph any of our Band & Guard students who are interested during lunch.

Be sure to check out and support his photography on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/1md_photography/

Interested in getting photos taken? Just talk to Mr. Madison and he can set up a day and time for you. We are incredibly grateful to Mr. Madison for donating his time and talent to give our students these awesome photos!

ASB CARD & TRANSPORTATION

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.

📆 IMPORTANT DATES

9/14 CBS Live “Class Act”
9/16 Monthly Parent Booster & Invitational 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 3:45-5:00PM
9/26 CSBC MAX! Preview of Champions Show
10/2 Home Football Game vs. Paramount
10/3 CSBC South Coast Invitational @ Costa Mesa HS
10/10 Ayala Music in Motion Tournament @ Ayala HS

THIS WEEK:

MONDAY 9/14
1ST QUARTER GRADES
No Jazz Band
6:00AM CBS LIVE! - Full Uniform - DON’T BE LATE
6th Period – Color Guard, Battery, Front Ensemble rehearsal
3:30-6:00PM Marching Band rehearsal (Mvt. 1 top-D)

TUESDAY 9/15
6:50AM Band Room open
7:17AM Jazz I & II attendance – DO NOT BE LATE!
Study Hall during periods 4/5/6
After School – Homework/Dinner/Change
5:00PM Set up for rehearsal
5:30-8:45PM Marching Band rehearsal (ALL OF MVT. 1)

WEDNESDAY 9/16
7:30AM Band Room open
3:30-4:30PM Wind Sectionals
6:30PM Booster Parent/Invitational Meeting in Band Room!

THURSDAY 9/17
6:50AM Band Room open
7:17AM Jazz I & II attendance – DO NOT BE LATE!
6th Period – Color Guard, Battery, Front Ensemble rehearsal
3:30-6:00PM Marching Band rehearsal
6:00PM Students with 20+ contacts for Fan Pledge get an ICE CREAM PARTY!!

FRIDAY 9/18
BOOSTER MEMBERSHIP DEADLINE
WEAR YOUR FIELD SHOW T-SHIRT TO SCHOOL. BRING BLACK SLEEVELESS COMPRESSION SHIRT, COMPRESSION SHORTS, LONG BLACK SOCKS, MARCHING SHOES, AND WATER JUG.
6:50AM Band Room open
7:17AM Jazz I & II attendance – DO NOT BE LATE!
PERIODS 3 & 4 – Band & Color Guard excused to set up for Homecoming Rally
Homecoming Rally! Wear field show t-shirt & jeans.
After school – Hydrate and eat dinner (not provided)

HOMECOMING FOOTBALL GAME VS. OCEAN VIEW HS
5:00PM Call time to change into full uniform
5:30PM Warm up / Run pep tunes in Band Room
6:25PM Walk to stadium
6:45PM Star-Spangled Banner
8:00PM Half-time performance (approximate)
9:30PM Approximate game end time*
9:45PM Walk back to Band Room
10:00PM Change out of uniform and HANG CORRECTLY!
10:30PM Approximate dismissal*
HYDRATE AND GO TO BED!

*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.

SATURDAY 9/19
Eat a good breakfast. Bring hat, water jug, and dot book.
8:15AM Band Room open
9:00AM-1:00PM Marching Band rehearsal (Mvt. 2)
PROP PAINTING PARTY
Have fun at the Homecoming Dance!

NEXT WEEK:

MONDAY 9/21
6:50AM Band Room open
7:17AM Jazz I & II attendance – DO NOT BE LATE!
6th Period – Color Guard, Battery, Front Ensemble rehearsal
3:30-6:00PM Marching Band rehearsal (Mvt. 2)

TUESDAY 9/22
6:50AM Band Room open
7:17AM Jazz I & II attendance – DO NOT BE LATE!
Study Hall during periods 4/5/6
After School – Homework/Dinner/Change
5:00PM Set up for rehearsal
5:30-8:45PM Marching Band rehearsal (Mvt. 1 & 2)

WEDNESDAY 9/23
7:30AM Band Room open
Memorization Test: Movement 2
3:30-4:30PM Wind Sectionals

THURSDAY 9/24
6:50AM Band Room open
7:17AM Jazz I & II attendance – DO NOT BE LATE!
6th Period – Color Guard, Battery, Front Ensemble rehearsal
3:30-6:00PM Marching Band rehearsal

FRIDAY 9/25
6:50AM Band Room open
7:17AM Jazz I & II attendance – DO NOT BE LATE!
3:30PM-5:00PM Mandatory Fan Pledge Kick-Off & PRIZES!!

SATURDAY 9/26
MAX! Preview of Champions (CSBC)

Location: Chaffey High School
Address: 1245 N Euclid Ave, Ontario, CA 91762
General Admission: $15 (children 5 and under free)
Parking: $10 in the Fourth St. Parking Lot (on map)
Schedule: https://schedules.competitionsuite.com/42465357-6295-4baa-907b-43e4af2b9e0a_standard.htm
More Info: https://calstatebandchamps.org/events/max-preview-of-champions/

Go to bed early and hydrate. Eat a good breakfast before you arrive. Bring water jug and everything you need for rehearsal and full uniform/costume.

8:30AM Call time – Set up for rehearsal at Stadium – DO NOT BE LATE

8:53PM Gahr Performance Time
9:20PM RCC Marching Tigers