Happy New Year!
I know there are those who think the world may end later this year, but if Marty McFly visited the year 2015 in Back to the Future, we should have nothing to worry about...
West Side Story rehearsals begin next week and continue Monday & Wednesday nights through the first of March. Be sure you check out the full details on the West Side Story page.
Jazz Band will be performing on Thursday, January 19 as a part of the Pioneer recruitment night. Time is approximately 6:15-7:15. Details are forthcoming. Please mark this on your schedule. Jazz Band also has 2 other gigs in early February. On Saturday, Saturday 4 is CMEA Santa Teresa HS- time TBA. We will also play for the Join Venture breakfast on Friday morning, February 10. We will need drivers that morning to take us from PHS to the convention center downtown from about 7:00-11:00 am, times TBA.
The 17th annual Big Band Dance is coming up Saturday, February 11 from 7-10 pm. Be sure to mark your calendar as this is the biggest fundraiser of the year for our program. I will be distributing informational letter and ticket order this week to all students in Wind Ensemble and Jazz Band. Students will be able to earn money not only through the raffle this year, but also through ticket sales- raffle tickets will earn a student 80% of sale and the event ticket, which still costs $20 will earn a student $5 per ticket. All details will be sent home this week. We are still looking for parents to help with decorations and the silent auction- there is a parent in charge, we just need you to help out and learn the ropes! If you are able to help, contact me.
Can you or your employer make a donation to our raffle or silent auction? Consider starting the 2012 tax year out right with your tax deductible donation to Pioneer Performing Arts! Great raffle and silent auction items range anywhere from sports merchandise to event tickets to dining and travel packages to technology items and more. Perhaps you or your employer could donate to support us. Donation thank-you letters will be provided, including our tax # for your records.
Speaking of fundraising- those students who participated in the first round of sales through the We Care Coffee Company should have sold all of their items and should make their payments this week. A regular grab bag (10 items) returns $130 total, of which about $50 is credited directly to the student. Those who sold the mini grab bag (4 items) will return $52 of which about $20 will go directly to the student. Didn't participate the first time, but would like to now? We will reorder items this week! Please see this form for more information and to place your order (it's the fall form, just change the due date of the order form to this Friday, January 6). We hope for delivery by the Big Band Dance.
There are some questions about our Disneyland trip this February. 1) We are going, 2) Jazz Band will be performing and doing a recording session, 3) the students from Wind Ensemble and Orchestra who are going will combine for a Symphony Orchestra performance and recording session (pending Disney approval, which shouldn't be a problem). I am disappointed that we will have a lower turnout this year, but know that this will make a great performance opportunity! We are looking for a few more chaperones! Please let me know if you are able to come- we have a great time! Even if you aren't going on our trip this year, keep in mind that we are working towards a large trip in the spring of 2013 that will be both longer and more costly. Keep raising funds and saving any money you are able!
Finally- start this semester out right! When I offer opportunities for extra credit, alternate credit or makeup credit- do the work, please. The first extra credit opportunity will be the county honor band concert Sunday, January 15 at 2:00 at Gunn HS in Palo Alto. For all band students, this is a double credit opportunity, meaning you can earn up to 100/50 points. For Jazz and Orchestra students, this is an extra credit review opportunity, meaning you can earn up to 50 extra credit review points. Mark your calendar and be sure to support Brian Hubbard, as he plays principal French Horn in the band and represents Pioneer among some of the best young musicians in the state!
