New Parent Information

Top Seven List

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1. Band Handbook: READ IT.  The Handbook is THE LAW! It should be your first source of information about the band program. Much of what you need to know is explained in detail in the handbook.  You and your student will both sign a “Statement of Responsibility” acknowledging that you have read and understand the band requirements and obligations. The handbook includes contact information for staff and booster board members for when you do have a question.
    

2. Communication:  Provide the band room and the band boosters with correct and complete contact information for you and your band student.  PLEASE GIVE US AN E-MAIL ADDRESS!  With over 150 students involved, e-mail is the most efficient and effective way of communicating information from the director and the boosters.  We do not send “spam!”  We verify and/or correct and/or add to the band calendar, which can change at a moment’s notice.  Be sure to visit our website frequently at cariobands.org, which will be our primary source for publishing band information during the school year and summer months.  Also check with your student --- the director communicates calendar and schedule changes during class time.
    

3. Create a “Band In-box”:  Start with the Band Handbook and add to it as you receive event flyers, instruction sheets, fundraising information, student account statements, and weekly emails from the president, which will come to you with the subject line “From the Band Room” – aka FTBR.  Do not delete them --- print them and keep them! Return requested forms and payments promptly. Volunteers spend too much time tracking down forms and payments that are overdue.
    

4. Homework Requirement:  Students must submit a practice chart each Monday detailing what they have practiced for the week, including scales, music book selections and concert material - make sure that your child’s name is on the practice chart and you have signed it. Pass offs are selections from their music book. Students can arrange to pass off assignments with the director or do them at home with SmartMusic, . Information about submitting SmartMusic assignments will be sent home in the fall. 
    

5. Rehearsals and Concerts ~ NOT Optional: They are part of the school year, part of the band program, and part of your student’s grade.  Athletic practices and events are not excused absences. Concert dates are published with the tentative master calendar in September and do not change except in extreme circumstances.  Before and after school rehearsals for the concerts are also noted on the master schedule, but are changed and added as needed.  These rehearsals are limited to what is absolutely necessary and attendance is required.  This is why the monthly calendars and weekly announcements are so critical.  The band schedule is not static ~ it changes!
    

6. Get Involved:  Volunteer! Find out what’s going on and where we’re going next --- give us your ideas and your feedback on ours!  Please volunteer when we put out the call.  With so many band families, we should have people coming out of the woodwork to assist whenever needed. But, the fact of the matter is, getting help is like pulling teeth.  When it comes to concert events, auditions and competitions, and delivery of fundraisers, we need help.  We are so grateful when parents step forward --- we get to know you, and you get to know us.  So sign up!  It’s relatively painless, you’ll meet some great people, you’ll learn tons about the band program, and, most importantly, you’ll be supporting your band student! Please note: a significant portion of administering the band program is performed by volunteers at the request of the director. Please be respectful of these parents’ time and effort while they work to make the band program a success for all of our students.
    

7. Support the Band Fundraisers:  Band is expensive and we must fundraise so that we can keep our band costs at a reasonable level and address the equipment needs of our rapidly growing program.  Other than director staffing and a very limited budget for instruments and equipment, Duval County does not fund our program --- WE DO!  When we don’t support our own fundraising efforts, our program and our students suffer the consequences, because band is about the full ensemble of students and instruments.  It’s not enough that Stevie Student has his piece of equipment --- in order to maintain the quality of our program, every student needs to have the right equipment and every section of the band must have full instrumentation.  This is a team effort, and we need your help --- FUNDRAISING MATTERS --- LET’S MAKE IT A PRIORITY!