Fruit delivery time confirmed

Our fruit delivery time has been confirmed.  Students who sold fruit (or a representative) should arrive at the Middle School on Thursday 12/12 at 4:30 PM to help set up and the truck should be there at 5 PM.

Fruit Delivery on 12/12

The fruit delivery for those who sold during the fundraiser is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, 12/12, at 5 PM at the middle school.  Students who sold fruit must either be present to help unload the truck or send a representative that did not sell fruit themselves.  We will have a firm time early next week.

Uniform Collection

All remaining uniforms should be turned in on Thursday, 11/14. Remaining students should be in the Band Room from 7:30 to 8:00 AM in the large practice room.

Uniform Collection Wrap-Up

Uniform collection will continue on Wednesday, 11/13, for those who forgot or were not in school.  Be in the Band Room from 7:30 to 8:00 AM in the large practice room.

Uniform Collection 11/12

After a fantastic football season. marching band uniform collection will be held this Tuesday, 11/12, from 7:30 to 8:40 AM in the Multi-Purpose Room.  Be sure to have all parts of the uniform that you were issued with you (hats, raincoats, pants, suspenders, jackets, and braids).  We will be using a smaller space than normal and will also be pressed for time, so please be sure to wipe down rain jackets, empty all pockets, and note any repairs that are needed before coming to the drop-off.  Come early and be prepared to be patient and flexible, as well as polite to the volunteers who will helping with this enormous task.

Playoffs are here!!!

For the first time since 2005, “The Pride of Shaker Heights” will be cheering on the Raider football team in a playoff game this Saturday night! Have your flip folder with you for the stands because any tune is fair game as we work to get the crowd and the team fired up.  We will play whenever we get the chance.  The team needs to know the whole Raider Nation is behind them!

Call time is 4:45 PM in full uniform on the main field.  Come ready for a good rehearsal and to board the buses quickly.  The game starts at 7 PM at First Federal Lakewood Stadium.  We expect to return home sometime around 10 PM.

Playoff Game This Saturday

Playoff game this Saturday, 11/9, at St. Ed's in Lakewood.  Call time is 4:45 PM on the Main Field in full uniform.  We will be marching the Band Camp show.  The game starts at 7 PM, return time somewhere around 10 PM.

Playoffs This Weekend!

Thanks to a hard fought season from the team and some help with other wins/losses this weekend, Shaker Heights is the 16th seed in the OHSAA Division I Region 1 football playoffs that start this Saturday! The full band will be joining them at First Federal Stadium in Lakewood as they take on the 1st seed, St. Ed's, Saturday, 11/9, at 7 PM. Call time for the band will be 4:45 PM on the main field at SHHS, for a short rehearsal and then board the buses. We will be rehearsing inside in concert bands all this week during 1st period.

Call Time and Info for Game #10

Our final regular season game is Friday, 11/1, at Mayfield.  This is a big game for Raider Football, win, and we go to the playoffs!  Call time is 5:45 PM on the main field in full uniform, including hat, gloves, and black shoes and socks.  We plan to return some time between 9:30 PM and 10:00 PM.

We will be outside on the main field for rehearsal in the morning.

This Week's Schedule

The schedule for first period rehearsals this week is as follows.

Wednesday: Marching Band on the Main Field, including all Raiderettes

Thursday: Concert Bands for all band students

Friday: Marching Band on Main Field, Raiderettes indoors

Information regarding Friday night's game at Mayfield will be available on Thursday.

GAme #9 and Senior Escort Info

Call time for our final home game of the season this Saturday, 10/26, is 11 AM on the practice field in full uniform with raincoats.  We will be performing our Senior Show, with music selected by and drills written by members of the Class of 2014.

Senior escorts should be in the band stands at 12 noon for pictures to avoid taking them during halftime itself.  Any students or escorts who cannot be there at noon can have their picture taken during the third quarter of the game.

Shaker Hospitality For All!

The Band Boosters would like to try something new:  to provide a snack for both the visiting band (North Royalton) as well as our own Pride of Shaker Heights Marching Band. In order to accomplish this we need 1200 cookies baked, bagged and delivered to the High School by noon this Friday, October, 25.

  

Please send me a quick email to say you will provide cookies or to ask questions:

Terrisjohnson@aol.com. We need 50 families to donate two dozen each.

Thank you.

Here are the details:

·         -Any variety is appreciated but NO peanuts, peanut butter or tree nuts

·         -Homemade or store-bought are welcome

·         -Please package two each in a Ziploc bag

·         -Deliver through your student to the band room on Thursday. Remember there are no classes on Friday (Conference Day).

·         -Deliver to the high school office on Thursday or Friday. 

Homecoming Game & Notes to Leave Following Halftime

The SHHS Homecoming Game is this Saturday, 10/12, against Medina.  Call time is 11 AM on the practice field in full uniform, without hats.  Alumni/Community Band members should also meet on the practice field at 11 AM for rehearsal.  We will rehearse for approximately an hour, then break for lunch before meeting up again for pre-game at 12:45 PM.  Music for Alumni/Community band members can be found in the post below.

Notes or emails excusing band members following halftime to get ready for the dance are due to the band office before 4 PM on Friday.  Attendance will be taken during the 4th quarter and only those students who turned in notes on time will be excused.

Alumni/Community Band Info and Music

This weekend "The Pride of Shaker Heights" will be hosting the Alumni/Community Band for our Homecoming Game on Saturday, 10/12, vs. Medina.  Any adults are welcome to participate, as well as younger siblings or friends of current high school band members.  Any younger players should be sponsored by a current high school band member or have an adult participating with them.  We will be performing "Let's Groove" from Earth, Wind, and Fire and "Sir Duke" by Stevie Wonder, as well as an optional (and easy) marching drill during a percussion section feature.

We will have a rehearsal at 11 AM on Saturday to prepare for the halftime show.  Music is available below and can also be picked up in the band office.  If you have any questions, please call the band office at 295-4233.

Flute

Clarinet

Alto Sax

Tenor Sax

Trumpet

French Horn

Trombone

Baritone

Tuba

Snare

Game #6 at Mentor

"The Pride of Shaker Heights" is once again on the road this week, travelling to Mentor on Friday, 10/4.  Call time will be 4:45 PM on the practice field in full uniform with our issued raincoats, since rain has crept into the forecast.  Percussion will be given ponchos when they arrive.

Jazz Ensemble Audition Music

Jazz Ensemble audition music is only available through this blog post.  You can find all information about the auditions in the audition letter below.  CD's for the combo audition are available through the band office.  Auditions begin October 7.  Please direct all Jazz Ensemble audition questions to Mr. Hughes.

Audition Letter
Alto Sax
Tenor Sax
Bari Sax
Trumpet
Trombone
Drum Set
Guitar
Bass
Piano
Combo Alto/Bari Sax
Combo Trumpet/Tenor Sax
Combo Trombone

Symphonic Band Audition Music

The Symphonic Band Audition music is only available here on this blog post.  You can find all audition information in the audition letter.  Auditions begin on October 14.  Please direct all audition questions to Mr. Crain or the band office.

Audition Letter
Flute
Oboe
Bassoon
Clarinet
Bass Clarinet
Saxophones
Trumpet
French Horn
Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Percussion

Game #5, 9/27 at Stow

This week's Game #5 is away at Stow.  Call time will be 4:45 PM, field TBA, in full uniform.  Our return time is uncertain, probably between 10 and 11 PM.  Please avoid parking on the South Side of the oval to ease traffic concerns with the busses when we return.

Game #4, Mass Band vs. Normandy

Rain or shine, "The Pride of Shaker Heights" returns home and is joined by this year's 8th Graders, the class of 2018, on Saturday, Sept. 21 vs. Normandy.  Call time for 8th Graders is 10:45 AM in the choir room, please enter through the South Doors to the Band Room steps.  Call time for the High School band is 11 AM on the practice field.  The game begins at 1 PM with halftime around 2 to 2:30.  8th Graders should wear white shirts and khaki pants, plus bring rain gear.  High School band members should wear summer uniform (band polo, white pants, black shoes, belt, and socks) and also bring rain gear.

We will meet, rain or shine, and make decisions about performing based on the weather.  We plan on performing, unless weather makes that impossible.

Here is a list of high school band members who will be performing this game's music from memory!

Game #3 at Cleveland Central Catholic

This weekend's Game #3 is at Cleveland Central Catholic on Saturday, 9/14. Call time for all band members is 11 AM on the Main Field at SHHS in full uniform (jacket, pants, hat, gloves, and all black shoes).  Click here for instructions on wearing the uniform, and here for care and maintenance.

Also, you can see a list of the over 220 students who will be performing the halftime show from memory.

Honors Credit Info

The information packet and forms to sign up are available here.  Completed forms are due by October 18.  Everyone who plans on taking band for Honors Credit should turn in a form.

Wind Ensemble Audition Sign-ups

Students auditioning for Wind Ensemble need to sign-up at the back of the band room as soon as possible.  Required excerpts can be found in an earlier blog post below.  Auditions must be performed on concert instruments, not marching instrument (French horns instead of mellophones, etc.).  Concert instruments can be signed out in the band office before 7:45 AM or after school.  Auditions begin the week of 9/16.

Letter from Michael Griffith

Click here to read a letter from SHHS Principal Michael Griffith regarding the scheduling conflict between next weekend's game and Yom Kippur.  Remember, notes excusing students from the game for religious observances are due as soon as possible.

Game #2 on Saturday, 9/7

"The Pride of Shaker Heights" will take their home field for the first time this season in Game #2 this Saturday, 9/7, against JFK at Shaker Heights High School.  Call time is 11:00 AM on the practice field in summer uniform (band polo, white pants, black shoes, black socks and black belt).  The game starts at 1:00 PM with halftime falling around 2:00 PM.

Click here to see a list of our fantastic student leaders who have memorized all seven pieces that will be played on the field on Saturday!

Game 3 on Yom Kippur notes

We have been made aware that Game 3 at Cleveland Central Catholic on September 14 conflicts with Yom Kippur.  Any students with religious observances on that day are excused from the performance, but notes or emails are due immediately so that we can judge how many students will be participating and plan accordingly. Please contact the band office if you have any further questions.

Game #1 at U.S. and Yom Kippur Notes

Our first game of the season is a Pep Band game at U.S.  Click here to see the list of those assigned to go.  Some students may still be listed even though they turned excuse notes.  The uniform for the performance is summer uniform (Band polo, white pants, black shoes, black socks, black belt).  Call time is 11:30 AM in the band room.

Wind Ensemble Audition Music

The Wind Ensemble Audition music is only available here on this blog post.  You can find all audition information in the audition letter.  All parts, except for percussion, have two pages of required excerpts.  Auditions begin on September 16.

Audition Letter
Flute Page 1, Page 2
Oboe Page 1, Page 2
Bassoon Page 1, Page 2
Clarinet Page 1, Page 2
Bass Clarinet Page 1, Page 2
Saxophones Page 1, Page 2
Trumpet Page 1, Page 2
French Horn Page 1, Page 2
Trombone Page 1, Page 2
Euphonium Page 1, Page 2
Tuba Page 1, Page 2
Percussion Only One Page

Friday's Call Time and Preview Show

Call time on Friday morning is 10:00 AM on the practice field.  Be sure not to miss the Preview Show in the stadium at 11:30 AM (note the time change).

This Week's Schedule/Location Changes

Due to our newly added performance at the Opening Convocation for district staff, there have been several changes made to this week's schedule.

Tuesday: Band Camp from 8:30 AM to 3 PM at the MS as normal
Wednesday: Band Camp from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM at the MS, Percussion and Tubas will load equipment and go to the High School for unloading around 2 PM.
Thursday: Call time is 8 AM at the HS. The Convocation performance will begin at 8:30, and we will remain at the High School for the rest of the day until 3 PM.
Friday: Call time will be decided on Thursday, the Preview Show begins at 11:30.

Also, uniform fittings run from 3 PM to 6 PM on Tuesday for Juniors and Wednesday for Seniors.  Freshmen fittings on Thursday will run from 3 PM to 7 PM.

Band Camp begins Monday

Band camp begins Monday, 8/19 at SMS.  All band students should be in the Middle School Auditorium by 8:30 AM. Bring a lunch, water, sunscreen, instrument, flip folder and good shoes, NO FLIP FLOPS!! Camp will end at 3 PM.

Updated Medical Form and Preview Show Time Change

Due to a mistake on the medical form included in the original information packet, all band members will need to fill out an updated version that is being mailed home and should be arriving in the next few days.  If you did not receive an updated version, or have not yet filled out a medical form, you can find the new version here.

Also, to better accommodate the Freshmen orientation at the high school, the Preview Show on Friday, August 23 has been moved to 11:30 AM at the high school stadium.

Information Packet Forms Due Friday

The forms that were included in the 2013-2014 Information Packet are due on Friday, July 26.  Even if you are paying online through Pay-For-It, we still need the hard copies of the forms for our records.  Please mail-in or drop off forms in the HS office.  If you did not receive a packet or need extra copies of the forms, they can be found on the Forms Page.

Memorial Day 2013 Information

Our final performance of the year will be this Monday, May 27, for the Memorial Day Parade.  The call time is 8:30 AM in the City Hall Parking lot.  Dress for this performance is summer uniform: band polo, white pants, black belt, black shoes, and black socks.  The ceremony and parade will begin at 9:00 AM, and the band should arrive in Thornton Park parking lot at 10:30 AM where the boosters will be waiting with water.

The High School will be open from 8:00 AM to 8:25 AM and again from 10:45 AM to 11:15 AM for those students who need to drop off and pick up instruments.

We would also like to congratulate the 264 students who will be marching this parade with their music completely memorized.  Click here to see a list of these hard working students, and be sure to thank them for their dedication to "The Pride of Shaker Heights."

Senior Banquet RSVP

All senior families are reminded to RSVP for the Senior Banquet on April 22 as soon as possible.  If you did not receive an invitation, please contact the band office.

Band Uniform Collction

All remaining Band Uniforms will be collected in the South Gym between 7:45 and 8:45 AM on Tuesday, April 9. (This is intentionally before first period on a Tuesday late start day). This includes uniforms from trip participants, as well as from any students who were originally on the trip list and therefore did not hand in their uniform in the fall, and any other students who for some reason still have their uniform or part of a uniform.  Students should enter the South Gym from the Band Room parking lot so as not to disturb the Tuesday morning teacher meetings.

 

Any parents who are available to help with this effort between 7:30 and 9:00 AM on Tuesday, April 9, please email Mary Hundert at maryhundert@aol.com.

Severance Hall Photos

Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band Students/Families:


Remember to place your order for photographs from the Tenth Annual Northeast Ohio Band Invitational concert at Severance Hall on January 27, 2013. Clifford Norton Studio will donate 5% of the profits from all SHHS Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band photograph orders to the Shaker Band Boosters.

Go to:
www.cliffordnorton.com
(follow these prompts)
-View Your Session & Event Images
-Events
-Music at Severance Hall
-Tenth Annual Northeast Ohio Band Invitational January 27, 2013
-Concert Images are online
-Shaker Heights High School

Questions: 440-519-9800 Michael Lichterman

Lakeland Jazz Fest Friday, 2/22

The High School Jazz groups will be performing at the Lakeland Jazz Fest at Lakeland Community College on Friday, February 22.  Performance times are:

Jazz Ensemble- 11:00 AM
Jazz Band- 12:30 PM
Jazz Combo- 1:00 PM

Call time for all students is 8:30 AM in the band room.  Students will board the buses at 9:00 AM and return to Shaker some time around 3:45 PM.  The concert is free and open to the public.

Shaker Alumni Musicians Return for Concert

The Shaker Schools Foundation will present a special percussion concert at Shaker Heights High School on March 5 featuring music for the keyboard-percussion instruments, marimba and vibraphone. Professional musician and Shaker graduate, Luke Rinderknecht, is organizing a performance of pieces for one, two, three, and four percussionists. It will benefit the Charlotte Braverman Music Enrichment Fund of the Shaker Schools Foundation.  Please see the flyer for soloist and ticket information.

Trip Update from Michael Griffith

The following is an update on the Turkey trip from SHHS Principal Michael Griffith.
--------------------------------------------
Dear Shaker Band Tour Participants and Parents:


Recent events in Turkey have raised questions about safety and security on the band trip. As principal, (and as a trip chaperone and parent of a band member who will be on the tour), I share those concerns. Nothing is more important to me than the safety of our students, staff, and other tour participants.

I want to bring you up to date on the status of the trip, the information we have gathered, and the measures we are taking.

At Superintendent Freeman’s direction, the staff is continuing to monitor and research the advisability of going forward with the trip. Based on what we have learned to date through considerable research, we believe the trip should proceed. We are consulting frequently with the tour operators in the U.S. and in Turkey, with the U.S. State Department, and with the headmaster of Robert College, the school we will be visiting in Turkey. (He is a U.S. citizen.) We have spoken with staff members at a private school in New York that has decided, after doing its own research, to proceed with sending students and faculty members on a similar itinerary later this month. We are also reaching out to U.S. universities that have students currently in the Istanbul area.

The band trip and shadow trip are concentrated along the Bosporus and the Aegean Sea, more than 200 miles from Ankara and more than 500 miles from the Syrian border. At this point, all indications from multiple sources are that tourism is proceeding normally in the areas we will visit. The State Department has not found it necessary to change its recommendations with respect to travel in Turkey. On February 1, the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey issued a statement about the attack on the embassy that read, in part: “All of us feel we are among friends in a country that is safe for Americans, and stable.” There has been no announced change in that position.

Local governments have issued permits for the performances and will have a police presence. If there are safety concerns, the authorities will cancel the performance or change the venue.

If the situation in Turkey changes for the worse, or we receive new information leading us to conclude that the trip should be canceled for safety reasons, families will be notified immediately so that they can make alternate plans for spring break.

We understand that there will be disappointment if the trip must be canceled. That is always a risk with travel. As with all international trips, the School District and tour operator were very clear up front that there could be a cancellation and that families could incur some financial loss. Arranging an alternate trip with this many people is not feasible.

The District believes firmly in the value of international travel, particularly travel that exposes students to cultures that are very different from our own. There is always some risk, whether we are traveling overseas or across town. But I assure you that the safety of our students, staff, and other travelers is our first priority. This is why we are undertaking a thorough, ongoing assessment of the situation.

I recognize that some of you may still have misgivings. Each family must make its own decision. At the District’s request, the tour operator has offered to modify its refund policy. If you wish to withdraw from the trip and receive a partial refund, you have until February 14 to notify the school and tour company. Rather than forfeit the entire amount, you will get all but $1,000 of your money back if you withdraw by the 14th. (The $1,000 will cover expenses that have already been incurred by the tour operator, including air and land portions of the program.) After the 14th, the tour operator will have to complete the purchase of airline tickets and make final payments for all services, so a refund will not be possible for anyone withdrawing after that date. If you withdraw, you will not be able to rejoin the tour, because your airline seats and hotel reservations will be released.

If your decision is to withdraw, please send an e-mail to Lisa Gibson (gibson_l@shaker.org), Tom Deep (deep_t@shaker.org), and Jeff Goldsmith (jgoldsmith@grandtoursinc.com). This will ensure that the proper arrangements can be made expeditiously.

I continue to believe that this trip will be a wonderful experience. We have capable and experienced staff members and chaperones on the trip to supervise students. The band staff and Dr. Stokes’s office will keep you apprised of trip preparations, meetings, packing reminders, etc. Safety and security issues are being handled by the administration, so please contact me directly with any related questions or concerns.

Thank you for your cooperation and patience as we all work toward a safe, educational, and enjoyable tour. I look forward to traveling with you.

Sincerely,

Michael D. Griffith
Principal
216-295-4201
griffith_m@shaker.org

Severance Hall Concert and Ticket Information

Both the Shaker Heights High School Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band will be performing at the prestigious Severance Hall this Sunday, January 27.  Both groups will be rehearsing Friday morning, January 25, from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. 

Plans for January 27 are as follows:

Wind Ensemble
-Rehearsal: 12:15-1:00 p.m. at SHHS
-Call time: 3:30 p.m. at Severance Hall
-Perform: around 7:00 p.m.
-Dismiss following performance, around 8:00 p.m.

Symphonic Band
-Call Time and Rehearsal: 2:00 p.m. at SHHS
-Board busses to Severance Hall, arrive 3:30 p.m.
-Perform: around 6:30 p.m.
-Make arrangements for rides home following the concert (around 8:00 p.m.)

We have sold our allotted 300 tickets. Additional tickets will be available at the concert at the box office.  Students should be sure to plan accordingly for meals, no food should be taken into Severance Hall.