WBA CHAMPIONSHIPS!
Congratulations on another great week for the Gahr Instrumental Music Program! Thank you to everyone who came out to support us at BJ’s Restaurant on Wednesday night. We also had an amazing turnout for Friday’s Middle School Band and Color Guard Night and want to thank Ross, Haskell, and Tetzlaff for attending. Thank you to all of the parents who helped this week – we truly could not do this without you!
We have a MANDATORY PARENT WBA TRIP MEETING this Tuesday, November 18th at 7:00PM in the Band Room. We will be going through important information, the final itinerary, and all rules and guidelines for the trip. A parent or guardian must be present at this meeting for your student to attend the trip. After the meeting, you are welcome to head to the stadium to watch the end of rehearsal and our full run-through of the show. PARENTS PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER THIS WEEKEND AT WBA CHAMPIONSHIPS!
We are continuing to max out our 2025 production this week as we prepare to head up to Fresno for WBA Class Finals & Grand Championships this weekend! Because of the rain and losing the performances on Friday and Saturday, we are adding a rehearsal this Wednesday from 3:30-5:30PM. This is looking like the driest day and will give us valuable time for a full run-through on the stadium field. We will also be doing the run-through for seniors on Wednesday. Thank you for your flexibility as we try to make sure the students are as confident and prepared as possible going into WBA Championships.
FINAL CHAMPIONSHIPS REHEARSAL SCHEDULE:
Monday 3:30-5:30PM (everyone, indoors due to rain)
Tuesday 5:30-8:45PM (stadium)
Wednesday 3:30-5:30PM (stadium, run-through for seniors)
Thursday 5:30-8:45PM (stadium rehearsal, send-off run-through, loading)
Please note that we will be pushing Wednesday’s Senior Dinner Celebration at the Portuguese Hall to 7:00PM to give everyone more time to change and get ready.
Make sure you’re hydrating, getting plenty of rest, washing your hands frequently, and wearing a mask if you have the sniffles. We need 100% attendance and for everyone to stay healthy so we can be successful.
FINAL SEND-OFF PERFORMANCE — THURSDAY @ 7:45PM
We invite all family, friends, and alumni to come out and cheer on the students before we head to Fresno! We would also like all parents who are planning to help with the push on/off to attend as well.
Because we lost significant rehearsal time due to rain, we will be doing Thursday’s rehearsal and run-through in warm rehearsal clothes. This gives students more time to clean and improve the show, keeps our uniforms and costumes dry, and also gives them more time afterwards to load, pack, and get to bed.
SENIOR DINNER CELEBRATION – THIS WEDNESDAY @ 7PM!
We are excited to celebrate our incredible senior class this Wednesday evening at the Artesia D.E.S. Portuguese Hall! Please note that we are pushing the start time to 7:00PM so students have more time to change and get ready after rehearsal ends.
📍 Artesia D.E.S. Portuguese Hall
11903 Ashworth Street., Artesia, CA 90701
This event is PRE-PAID ONLY. RSVPs and payments were already due in advance.
We can’t wait to recognize the hard work and dedication of our amazing band and color guard seniors!
ALL OUTSTANDING DONATIONS PAST DUE
ALL DONATIONS PAST DUE – AT THIS POINT, ALL DONATIONS ARE PAST DUE – INCLUDING PAYING FOR THE WBA CHAMPIONSHIPS TRIP. We will not be able to hold your hotel room if we do not receive your payment. Please pay with cash, a check made payable to “Gahr Band Boosters,” or click here to make a payment online with a credit card.
SEE’S CANDY FUNDRAISER!
Our See’s Candy 2025 Winter Fundraiser is now underway! This is a great way to spread some holiday cheer while supporting the Gahr Instrumental Music and Color Guard Program. The fundraiser runs until Tuesday, December 2nd. Please click here to see the product list.
Band and Color Guard members (and their parents) should have received an email with a personalized Yum-Raising link to share with family and friends. Each link will automatically credit your student’s account with any profits earned. You’ll know it’s your link if you see the first few letters of your name in the URL.
This fundraiser helps students raise money directly for their individual accounts and gives families and friends the chance to order delicious See’s Candies just in time for the holidays! Students can earn 15–50% profit, depending on the item purchased. All profits go directly toward the participating student’s account.
All orders are placed online and shipped directly to the customer as soon as the order is processed—no pickup required! The last day to order is Tuesday, December 2nd, ensuring delivery before the holidays.
If you have any questions or need help with your fundraising link, please contact Vickie Gonzales at wvw3@ymail.com. Please share your link with friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors!
WBA CLASS FINALS & GRAND CHAMPIONSHIPS!
It’s finally here!! The Gahr Marching Gladiators will be traveling to compete at the Western Band Association (WBA) Championships this Friday, November 21st through Sunday, November 23rd. The cost for each student is $275 and should have already been turned in. Students must be caught up with all outstanding donations to participate in the trip.
We will be using a “live” Google doc for our working itinerary throughout the weekend. This will be updated in real time as we receive new performance times or any changes from WBA. We are still waiting for our Class Championships performance time for Saturday.
Please click below for important links for this weekend:
Please note that the charter buses will be returning late Sunday night/early Monday morning. Students will be able to take their luggage and get picked up to go straight home at that time. However, on Monday, November 24th, we will meet back at Gahr at 3:30PM to unload the U-Haul and trailer, and to take home instruments and equipment. This should take approximately one hour.
The Gahr Marching Gladiators will be traveling to Fresno to compete at the Western Band Association (WBA) Championships from Friday, November 21st through Sunday, November 23rd. The cost for each student is $275.00 due this Monday, November 3rd, 2025.
Students will be traveling on charter buses and staying at Spring Hill Suites by Marriott. Most meals will be covered (breakfast, lunches, and two dinners).
The address for the student hotel is:
Spring Hill Suites by Marriott
6844 North Fresno Street
Fresno, CA 93710
If this is your first overnight trip, please know that it is standard to have students stay four to a room, typically with two queen-sized beds. Students can select who they would like to have in their room and we will do our best to accommodate their requests if possible. As with all trips for the Gahr Instrumental Music Program, students must stay in the hotel with other students. A block of rooms has already been reserved and we are able to keep the trip cost low based on the students staying together.
We have a mandatory meeting on Tuesday, November 18th, 2025 at 7:00PM in the Band Room where we will go over all the details for the trip. Please note, this meeting is after the date to reserve your room so don’t wait until this meeting to make your reservation. Feel free to reach out to Deanna Varney at (562) 413-3068 or email her at dvarney15@gmail.com if you have any questions or concerns.
We ask that students stay together as a group for the entire weekend. Please do not pull your child away from the rest of the group.This is a school trip, and students will need to stay with the rest of the group for the duration of the weekend.
Thank you for your support and helping to create such an amazing experience for the students!
ATTENDANCE COMMUNICATION UPDATE
Over the past several weeks, we’ve received a number of last-minute messages about absences from rehearsals, and even performances – sometimes just a day or two before the event. While we absolutely understand that legitimate emergencies happen, last-minute communication hurts the entire team and makes it difficult to plan rehearsals and teach drill spots, music, and choreography. It impacts not just the staff, but the success of every student in the ensemble.
To ensure fairness, responsibility, and consistency moving forward, the following Attendance Communication Policy will now be enforced, effective immediately:
Excused Absences require a minimum of 2 weeks advance notice.
Medical appointments, school events, and family commitments must be scheduled outside rehearsals and performances whenever possible.
Same-day or last-minute messages are not acceptable and will be considered unexcused unless it is a verifiable emergency.
Emergency absences must be communicated by a parent/guardian in writing or an email before the rehearsal begins.
Unexcused absences may result in loss of set drill spot, alternate status, or performance ineligibility.
Excused Absences (with documentation & 2 weeks notice)
Illness (with parent/guardian communication)
Family wedding (immediate family only)
Religious holidays
School-sponsored, graded event (conflicting class performance/competition)
Unexcused Absences
Work
Studying or homework
Babysitting
Driver’s training
Routine doctor/dentist appointments scheduled during rehearsal
Last-minute messages without prior communication
“Not feeling well” without parental communication
Transportation issues
Thank you to the many students and families who already communicate responsibly and plan ahead. These expectations are not a punishment – but rather are about respect for each other and the work we are doing together. Consistent effort and communication are part of what makes this program so successful.
If you have any questions about this policy, please feel free to contact me directly. Thank you.
THIS WEEK:
MONDAY 11/17
PROGRESS REPORTS DUE
GET FIELD TRIP FORM SIGNED
6:55AM Band Room open
7:17AM Jazz I & II attendance – RHYTHM SECTION ONLY
7:20AM Jazz I & II downbeat – RHYTHM SECTION ONLY
2nd/3rd – Split brass/woodwinds
3:35-5:30PM Rehearsal – EVERYONE (including battery)
TUESDAY 11/18
6:55AM Band Room open
7:17AM Jazz I & II attendance – EVERYONE (including rhythm section)
7:20AM Jazz I & II downbeat – EVERYONE (including rhythm section)
2nd/3rd/6th – Study Hall / WBA Trip Rules & Expectations
5:00PM Set up for rehearsal at stadium with props
5:30PM Warm up / Rehearsal
7:00PM MANDATORY PARENT WBA TRIP MEETING IN BAND ROOM
8:30PM Full run-through
8:45PM Clean up (stack props at stadium)
WEDNESDAY 11/19
7:30AM Band Room open for practice
6th – Battery, Front Ensemble, Color Guard set up
3:30-5:30PM Rehearsal / Run-through / Run through for seniors
5:30PM Non-seniors clean up ASAP (stack props at stadium)
7:00PM Senior Dinner Celebration at the Artesia D.E.S. Portuguese Hall!
ADDRESS: 11903 Ashworth Street., Artesia, CA 90701
THURSDAY 11/20
NO JAZZ BAND
2nd/3rd – Clarinets with Humberto
6th – Battery, Front Ensemble, Color Guard
5:00PM Set up at stadium with props
5:30PM Warm up / Final rehearsal
7:30PM Set up for full push on/off
7:45PM Final send-off performance (timed push on/off)
8:00PM LOAD EVERYTHING (all props, all guard equipment, battery & front ensemble, all wind instruments, and all uniform racks into the trailer and U-Hauls)
9:00PM Approximate dismissal time once everything is loaded. Hydrate, pack, and go to bed early.
FRIDAY 11/21
5:59AM CALL TIME – DO NOT BE LATE
7:00AM DEPART FOR WBA CHAMPIONSHIPS!
ITINERARY LIVE DOC: https://tinyurl.com/wba-champs
WE WILL BE MEETING AT GAHR ON MONDAY AT 3:30PM TO UNLOAD ALL PROPS AND EQUIPMENT