Freshman / New Parent Guide to Fuquay-Varina Band (2007-2008)

Welcome to the fun and fast paced world of the Fuquay-Varina High School Band Program. The FVHS Band Booster Club provides the following explanations so that you, as a new student and freshman parent, can be in the know and keep up with life in the Band Program.

The Band Booster Club is a non-profit organization that exists to support the band and its activities. The duties of the booster club are as follows:

Financial support	Maintaining equipment
Chaperoning all games, exhibitions, and trips	Assisting band directors
Loading/unloading trucks and equipment	Capital improvements
Organizing and hosting band parties/events	Upgrading/Setup of practice field
Uniform checkout	Band spirit
Water during games, exhibitions, and rehearsals	Posting/sending information

Meetings are held on the 3rd Thursday of each month from August to May. Each meeting is approximately one hour in length. When you attend a booster club meeting, you are taking the necessary steps to remain informed. Although this website attempts provide you with all of the relevant information, the booster club meetings provide you with the ability to interact with other parents, share ideas, and basically have a fun time. Some of the benefits of these meetings are:

Being introduced to and hearing from band directors and officers

Being able to purchase a booster club shirt

Signing up to chaperone games, exhibitions, and trips

Signing up for other volunteer opportunities for the year

Getting answers to your questions

During the football season, the Marching Band attends all home games to play stand tunes and perform their show at halftime. The marching band will also participate in 3-4 competitions in the fall. Special note: students are required to attend all games and competitions. Their attendance is part of their grade (see the band program handbook for more details). In addition to home football games and competitions, the marching band participates in various city sponsored Christmas parades.

The band program also provides students with an avenue for regional band tryouts, solo & ensemble, and jazz band. Every 3 or 4 years, all band students have the opportunity to perform in a spring weekend competition/exhibition trip as a part of our concert ensembles. Please contact the band director for more details and scheduling.

The website for the band is www.fvbb.com and is maintained by Bob Van Gorder. Information on this site includes:

Student and parent information	Activities
Contact directory	Booster information
Marching information	Concert information

Parents may leave messages for the band director on the Band Room Phone (557-2531) or via email at mfedwards@wcpss.net.

The Band Handbook is given to each student no later than the first of the school year, and a copy of it can be found on the Band Booster website. The handbook includes a calendar, grading policies, rules, uniform information, rehearsal requirements, equipment requirements, etc. The last page of the band handbook must be signed by a parent or guardian and their child and returned to the band director.

At all marching practices, including after-school practices, the directors allow for several short (less than 2 minutes) water breaks. It is crucial that your student bring a water jug or bottle of water to every practice.

August Band Camp: This camp is to review marching fundamentals and begin to learn the marching show. Mornings will be marching outdoors; afternoons will be playing indoors. Wear comfortable, decent clothing, socks, running shoes (not sandals or flip-flops), sunscreen, and a hat. Students are encouraged to bring their own water.  The Band Boosters will provide water to drink and/or refills. Times and locations will vary, especially the second week, depending upon teacher schedules. Percussion and color guard have different schedules. During the lunch break the students are on their own. During band camp and/or after school rehearsals, your student will be required to attend section rehearsals to learn, perfect, and play as a cohesive team. The section leader for your child's group will pass along their sectional schedules.

Rookie Auction: This is a fun event that takes place during band camp. On a designated evening returning marching band members have the opportunity to bid on the rookie band members. Although the majority of the available rookies tend to be Freshman, anyone that is new to the band becomes part of this traditional process. It is a lot of fun and a  fund raiser for the band. The rookies perform safe and non-hazing type activities, as directed by their purchaser, for the next day. It is a great way for the members to interact and cut loose.

After school marching rehearsals: Although subject to change, the band director typically reserves every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00pm to 8:00pm for rehearsals. The band booster website will post the exact dates once they are available. The rehearsals begin in the Band Room and will normally progress to the practice or football field (depending upon the weather).

Uniforms are signed out to students, who are responsible for them, just as they are for textbooks or any other school property.  The student will need to buy a band T-shirt that is worn for pep rallies and under the uniform, black socks, black band shoes, and a towel to sit on in case of rain. It is a good idea to get at least two (2) t-shirts because they get a lot of use. The black shoes are special marching shoes and are to be purchased from a vendor who will take orders one day after band camp. The band boosters make every attempt to keep second hand shoes on hand, and although the sizes will vary, they can be purchased at a reduced price. The marching shoes will also be worn with the uniform for concert season. Students are never allowed to eat while in full dress uniform. They may drink only water or Sprite. The Band Boosters will host a sewing day to insure all band students will have the correct leg length. Detailed instructions are given in the Band Handbook. regarding the appropriate uniform and when it is to be worn.

Football games: students will meet at the specified time for participation in home football games. Since the uniforms are kept at the school, students will need to arrive early to dress before the game. Home football games are held at the Fuquay-Varina High School Football Field. All students meet at a designated time for preparations and formation prior to marching onto the field and into their assigned seating locations. At the conclusion of the game, the students will march back to the Band Room in formation. Once the band has reached the school, it is up to the directories to release the students. Students may not leave the game early without prior approval by the band director. Remember, participation in home football games is a graded event.

Festival of Bands (FOB): this is one of the premiere marching band competitions in the Wake County School District. The Fuquay-Varina Band Program hosts the FOB event each year and will extend invitations to all of the schools in the district. The FOB competition is a great place to videotape the band’s marching show, see our band perform locally in a graded event, raise money for the band program, and just generally support our kids.

Finances: the Fuquay-Varina Band Boosters make great efforts to raise money for the band program. For every dollar that is raised, one less dollar is asked of the Marching Band students for their participation in the program. Affectionately referred to as "assessments", each Marching Band student is required to pay their portion of the money necessary to support the band. The Band Boosters are proud of their efforts to keep these costs down, as each year it seem to be less and less. Understanding that times may be difficult for some people, the Band Booster Treasurer or the band director can be approached privately to arrange for payment options to accommodate most situations.

Student accounts: each student has an account within the Fuquay-Varina Band Program to accumulate funds. Several fund raisers will be held. Checks for this account are to be made out to BBFV, with the student’s full name on the memo line. Please do not make payments in cash.

Volunteering: every event on the band calendar is a volunteer opportunity and our organization is only as good as the parents who volunteer within it! There are jobs for everyone and help is always needed. Step up and sign up! Sign-up sheets will be at all booster club meetings and on the website for bus chaperones, BBQ help (many hands needed), maintenance/repair crew, capital improvements, assigning uniforms, student parties, etc. Volunteering is a super way to get to know the students and other parents. We hope this information is helpful. As you can see, the Fuquay-Varina Band and Booster Club are very active. Please share your time, talents and money for the good of the Band. If you have any questions regarding the Booster Club and any of its activities, please do not hesitate to contact any board member. You can also contact us via the website.