Congratulations on a successful 1st home football game!! Thank you to our amazing booster parents for running concessions and supporting us at the game. We had the BIGGEST parent volunteer turnout we’ve ever had for a football game! It was wonderful seeing so many alumni who came to visit and hang out. Thank you to the drumline for performing at Friday’s lunch rally. Finally, we would like to thank everyone who went to Yogurtland last week! We look forward to seeing everyone THIS WEDNESDAY, September 3rd for our Kick-Off Parent Meeting at 6:30PM in the Band Room!

ALL POPCORNOPOLIS ORDER FORMS & MONEY ARE DUE TOMORROW, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2ND. Please make sure you’ve sold the minimum of seven bags ($70.00 in sales) and double-check that the total amount of money matches your order form. Make all checks payable to “Gahr Band Boosters.” Popcornopolis will take approximately 2-3 weeks to arrive. If you prefer to opt out of the fundraiser, you may click here to submit $35.00 instead. Thank you!

We resume our normal practice schedule tomorrow: Tuesday 5:30-8:45PM, Thursday 3:30-6:00PM, and Saturday 8:30AM-5:00PM. This Saturday’s rehearsal is SUPER IMPORTANT and we will be learning a significant amount of new field show material. Bring $5 for teriyaki chicken bowls.

PARENTS: Please click here to help out this Saturday. In addition to lunch, we will also need help painting props for the field show! Bring out your inner “Bob Ross” and join the fun!!

Please note that NEXT Tuesday, September 9th is Back to School Night. Students will have a minimum day schedule and rehearsal will run from 1:00-4:00PM instead of the usual evening time.

ALL STUDENTS: You must come prepared with a working instrument, all necessary equipment, your music binder, dot book, athletic clothes and shoes, a hat, and a one-gallon water jug. Please continue to hydrate 24 hours in advance. These requirements are non-negotiable for safety reasons. Students who arrive unprepared will be sent home and lose participation credit.

WIND STUDENTS: The first two memorization test grades for Movement 1 and “The Star-Spangled Banner” will be entered in the gradebook this week. Please make sure you make up any missing memorization tests this week to still receive full credit. We will continue learning the field show and will focus on Movement 2 this week.

Just a reminder that the 3rd Donation of $175 was due Friday. If you haven’t turned this in yet, please get this in so we are able to pay our instructional staff and for ongoing production costs for the field show.

POPCORNOPOLIS ORDERS & MONEY DUE TOMORROW

ALL ORDER FORMS & MONEY ARE DUE TOMORROW, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2ND. Each family is required to sell a minimum of seven (7) bags of popcorn. All profit from bags sold thereafter (50% of the cost) will be credited to students’ accounts.

🎁 Bonus: The student who sells the most Popcornopolis will win a $50 Visa Gift Card AND an awesome gift basket donated by Mrs. Varney!

🍿 Click here for a PDF of the fundraising brochure that was handed out to the students.

Sell a minimum of seven (7) bags or $70 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 your social media circle to maximize sales.
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 $35 profit instead.

FUNDRIVE NEXT SATURDAY 9/13

Next Saturday, September 13th is our FUNDrive recycling event! You can drop off items anytime from 8:30AM-2:00PM. This is a great opportunity to clean out your closets and support the Gahr Marching Gladiators! We’ll be collecting gently used clothes, shoes, handbags, household textiles, bedding, towels, and more.

Please place your donations in 13-gallon kitchen bags and students will earn one raffle ticket for every three (3) filled bags they donate, with a chance to win a $40 Amazon gift card. An additional prize will be awarded to the person who donates the most bags.

BAND JACKET ORDERS DUE NEXT FRIDAY 9/12

Get your official Gahr Marching Gladiators Band Jacket! Jackets are $135.00 each. We accept checks to “Gahr Band Boosters” or cash. Please fill out a separate order form for each jacket you order. THE DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH. Click here to download the jacket order form.

ADDITIONAL REQUIRED BAND ITEMS

All band students are required to have a black sleeveless compression shirt, black compression shorts, and long black socks as part of their uniform. These are considered mandatory uniform components. Compression gear and socks can also be purchased at most sporting goods stores, such as Big 5 Sporting Goods, which often offers them at a lower cost. Wind, battery, and front ensemble members will need these items for full uniform on Friday, September 26th.

GAHR INVITATIONAL FIELD TOURNAMENT – VOLUNTEER SIGN UPS!

We are proud to host the 10th Annual Gahr Invitational Field Tournament on Saturday, November 8th right here at Gahr High School! This is one of the largest field show competitions in Southern California, and it takes an incredible team effort to make it happen.

WE EXPECT ALL FAMILIES TO VOLUNTEER FOR THE GAHR INVITATIONAL FIELD TOURNAMENT. If you haven’t signed up for a shift yet, please click here to sign up. This is the one field show competition you should NOT be watching your student perform in.

Our first Gahr Invitational Committee Meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 16th at 7:30PM in the Band Room. We would love to see everyone there as we begin planning for this exciting event.

This is a huge undertaking and we need ALL HANDS ON DECK to make it a success. From concessions to parking, tickets, hospitality, and more – every parent plays an important role.

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

3RD DONATION OF $175 PAST DUE

The 3rd Donation of $175 was due last Friday, August 29th. 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 now if they are able. Thank you for supporting our incredible students and helping us make another unforgettable season possible.

SCSBOA ALL-SOUTHERN HONOR GROUP AUDITIONS

Students are encouraged to audition for the 2026 SCSBOA All-Southern Honor Groups! These ensembles bring together the top high school musicians from across Southern California for an unforgettable musical experience. Selected students will rehearse with renowned conductors and perform in a showcase concert at the SCSBOA Conference in January.

Auditions are open to winds and percussion, and include required scales, prepared excerpts, and sight-reading. All audition information – including requirements, registration forms, and deadlines – can be found on the SCSBOA website. Students interested in auditioning should begin preparing now and speak with Mr. Loney for guidance.

SCSBOA HS All-Southern Band Music & Scales

SCSBOA HS All-Southern Jazz Audition Materials

This is an excellent opportunity to challenge yourself, meet other outstanding musicians, and represent Gahr at the regional level. In recent years, we’ve had students make the top Wind Band and the Jazz All-Star Band. Don’t miss the chance to be part of one of Southern California’s most prestigious honor groups!

ASB CARD & TRANSPORTATION FEE

All students are required to purchase an ASB Card and pay for Transportation. When purchased together, the total cost is $120 ($60 for the ASB Card and $60 for Transportation). Students who do not purchase an ASB Card will be required to pay $150 for Transportation. To avoid the higher fee, make sure you have turned in $60 for the ASB Card and $60 for Transportation directly to the school at the finance window in the front office.

ATHLETIC CLEARANCE

All students participating in the program must complete an athletic physical. Gahr is transitioning to a new platform called Home Campus for athletic clearance. Please hold on to your physical paperwork for now. If you have already uploaded paperwork through FamilyID, you will need to resubmit it once the new system is live. Thank you for your patience and flexibility!

PRIVATE MUSIC LESSONS

Private lessons are one of the best ways to grow as a musician. One-on-one instruction helps strengthen fundamentals, prepare for auditions, and reach personal goals. This applies to both concert AND jazz. If you’re interested in starting lessons and would like recommendations for local teachers, please email me and I’ll be happy to connect you.

MORE WAYS TO RAISE MONEY

Use the fundraisers below to raise money for your donations. Extra money can also go towards Winter Guard and Indoor Percussion.

Field Show Program Ads - Earn 90% of the profit from all field show ad sales. The ad prices 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 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 your family and loved ones can help support.

THIS WEEK:

TUESDAY 9/2
POPCORNOPOLIS ORDER FORMS & MONEY DUE
6:55AM Band Room open (need student help for patio gate)
7:17AM Jazz I & II attendance – EVERYONE
7:20AM Jazz I & II start time – EVERYONE
2nd/3rd Period – Playing in Class (Movement 2)
AFTER SCHOOL – Finish homework & eat dinner
5:00PM Set up for rehearsal
5:30-8:45PM Tuesday night practice in stadium (Mvt. 2)

WEDNESDAY 9/3
7:30PM Band Room open (need student help for patio gate)
3:30-4:15PM Sectionals (Mvt. 2 – beginning-M, q=140)
6:30PM Kick-Off Parent Booster Meeting in the Band Room!
DRINK A LOT OF WATER BEFORE BED

THURSDAY 9/4
6:55AM Band Room open (need student help for patio gate)
7:17AM Jazz I and II attendance – EVERYONE
7:20AM Jazz I & II start time – EVERYONE
6th Period – Color Guard, Front Ensemble, Battery rehearsal
3:30-6:00PM Marching Band rehearsal (everyone)

FRIDAY 9/5
6:55AM Band Room open (need student help for patio gate)
7:17AM Jazz I and II attendance – EVERYONE
7:20AM Jazz I & II start time – EVERYONE
3:20PM Memorization test make ups / Extra help

SATURDAY 9/6
Saturday Rehearsal 8:29AM-5:00PM
7:30AM Band Room open
Hydrate and eat a good breakfast. ARRIVE EARLY – DO NOT BE LATE.
8:29AM Block 1
12:00PM Lunch (bring $5 for teriyaki chicken bowls)
1:00PM Block 2
5:00PM Clean Up / Dismissal