Announcements: Week of August 29 - Sept. 2

Please see the announcements below:

VERY IMPORTANT: A number of band members have not turned in Health and Indemnification Forms. It is imperative that these forms are submitted before the student can travel out of town on a school bus. PLEASE TURN IN ALL FORMS NO LATER THAN WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31. Once I receive them, I have to give them to Nurse Ford to verify some of the information. Please remember, that we need copies of insurance cards as well. We can make copies of the cards in the band office.

Rehearsal Attendance: I hate to mention this matter, but we are having excessive absences at rehearsals. One of the reasons that we do not rehearse on Wednesdays is so that other matters can be attended to on that day. Unlike athletics, we have no bench to pull substitute players from. Every band member is a starter! When students miss rehearsals, it requires us to spend a significant amount of time at the next rehearsal to catch them up. Please let band rehearsals be a priority. If a student is going to miss a rehearsal, please notify a director or staff member. Please do not send messages by other band members, etc. 

Band Fees: Band fees are due. If you have not taken care of paying them, please do so.

Football Game This Week: On Friday, we will travel to Valley, AL for our first away football game. Students will need to be at the band room no later than 4:15 to prepare for departure. Band members will need to wear their new band t-shirts under their uniforms. Please remember back socks. Auxiliary members ill need items per their instructor's directions.

Band Shoes: Please ensure that your child is wearing the proper band shoes. There are numerous pairs in the band room. The shoes need to be as uniform as the other items in the band uniform. If you need to order a pair, you can do so through Southern Performances. (https://www.southernperformances.com/). We wear the DSI Patent Showstopper.

September Band Booster Club Meeting: We will have our second band booster club meeting on Monday, September 12, 2022 at 6:00 in the V.E.S.P.A.

Thank You - Parking: Thank  you to each parent/supporter who assisted with parking these past two home games. We will need additional assistance with the upcoming home football game with Tallassee on Friday, September 9, 2022. Tallassee generally travels well to away games. There is construction in progress at the elementary school. The storage of materials and the parking of equipment has disrupted our normal parking procedures. Please look for a sign-up form to be posted later this week. If you have not helped this year, please signup for this next game.

Please Keep The Capps/Martin Family In Your Thoughts And Prayers: While at Band O Rama Thursday, Our Band Booster Club President Jamie Capps received a call that her oldest son Alex needed to be taken to Children's Hospital at UAB in Birmingham immediately. Jamie left the event to go get Alex from home and make the trip. Her son Alex (and brother of drum major Matt Martin) has been diagnosed with State 4 Cancer. They will know more details after some tests are completed today (Monday, Aug. 29). We do know that Alex will begin his first series of treatments this week. Please keep this wonderful family in your thoughts and prayers. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful week. Please contact me if you need anything. Thank you, Mr. Hillsman

First Band Booster Club Meeting

of the

2022-2023 School Year

Scrimmage Game and Rehearsal Friday, August 5

Band members will rehearse at 4:00 on Friday, August 5. We will rehearse on the practice field from 4:00 until 5:00. We will rehearse inside from 5:00 until approximately 5:45.

At 5:45 or so, we will eat dinner. We will go to the stadium at 6:40.

The scrimmage is a scripted game. It will not follow the format of a regular game.

Reminder and Change:

Thursday: All band members should report for rehearsal at 6:00 today.

Friday Rehearsal: We will only have full band in the morning from 8:00-12:00. There will be no practice after lunch. We are slightly ahead. Enjoy the Friday afternoon!

Fuel Cost and Bus Driver Increase

Attention Boosters/Parents:

This post is a "For Your Information" post.

I was informed this morning that the per mile cost for buses this year is increasing from $1.35 per mile to $1.85 per mile effective August 1, 2022. This increase represents a 50 cent per mile increase that we will have to absorb just to travel to football games and Band-O-Rama. This amount does not include any other travel other than the five away football games and Band-O-Rama. Two years ago, the cost per mile was $1.20. These increases are significant.

Just based on mileage calculations, the increase for buses alone will be approximately $530.00, which will in all reality likely be closer to $650.00 over what we would have paid last year. The actual mileage always seems to increase over the estimated mileage. Also, our football trip travel mileage totals are significantly higher than last year.

The amount stated above does not include driver expenses. The per hour cost for bus drivers has also increased from $10.00 per hour plus 19% to $15.00 per hour plus 20%. It is anticipated that the percent surcharge for benefits will rise again in October.  This amount represents a 50% increase over what we have been paying for driver services. We also have to pay the drivers an additional hour, which includes 30 minutes prior to the trip and 30 minutes following the trip. This additional time covers the time involved in pre-trip and post-trip inspections that are required. To put this cost in perspective, if we leave school at 4:00 and return at 11:00 (which is common), the cost for a driver per bus will be $144.00. Some trips are longer while some constitute fewer hours. I think this cost would be a reasonable average. Please keep in mind that I generally drive a bus to eliminate the expense of one driver. On longer trips, I almost hesitate to drive considering the length of the school day paired with the late night returns from those football games. We have two significantly longer trips this year. Shorter trips are not an issue.

I am sharing this information with you so that you will be informed that our cost of just doing the minimum for our band members, like everything else, is rising. However, our revenues over the past few years have dropped significantly. Parking receipts have significantly decreased over the past four years. They were up slightly this past fall.  Additionally, revenue sources that we once had have disappeared, such as the parking for two AU football games that used to generate approximately $4,000.00 per year for us. When Berney Office Solutions closed their Auburn office, we lost that revenue. Unfortunately, we have never replaced it.

We need to explore new revenue sources. I suspect that doing so will require some creativity on our part. We are also going to need every parent involved and none just sitting on the sidelines so to say. Last year, we could barely staff parking. Parking is our main revenue source for the Band Booster Club. We need 12 parents 5 times per football season and possibly more if we host playoff games. It does not need to be the same parents every game. If we cannot staff the parking, we will lose that revenue or end up sharing it with another group. We do not want this situation to occur. It would be detrimental to our band program financially. In addition, we literally only average about half of the band members participating in fund-raising activities. This level of participation must increase. To put it in perspective, half of the band members are carrying the load for 100% of the band members.

Our band members should have the same opportunities as those in programs that surround us. It is not currently happening. In order for us to be able to provide opportunities for our students in the same manner as other programs surrounding us, we need to increase our revenues significantly. Primarily due to COVID-19, our students have not had a band trip in a number of years. I have also hesitated to plan one due to the fact that we financially operate on a shoestring. To take a trip, we need a financial cushion. We honestly have not had one since we took the trip to Washington D.C. years ago.

In saying all of this, please be thinking of ways that we can raise money. We are limited to a degree by what others are doing (just as they are with what we commonly do). There are also some things that may not be approved. We must be creative. If something is not approved, we need to smile and go to plan B. We also need to realize that we do not have the same level of support available to us as the band programs in our county that are located within city centers. Auburn supports the Auburn Band Program. Opelika (and especially the city of Opelika and the Lions Club) supports the Opelika Band Program. Smiths Station has a city center that we do not. However, we use the services and purchase significantly from businesses, etc. that are located in these communities. We do not need to hesitate to solicit support from those that we support.

I am not saying the above to be critical or to even sound remotely critical. I just want you to all know exactly what we are facing and to also know that our revenues have significantly decreased for various reasons over the past five years. I urge you to start attending Booster Club Meetings and to become an active member if you are not currently. More minds and more people helping will make a positive difference.

Go BAND!!!

Announcements: Week of July 18-22 (1)

Please be aware that multiple announcements may be posted during a week. The number in parenthesis indicates that the announcements were the first, second, etc. for the week.

Definition of Groups: (Terminology to define the various groups/sections within the band.)

• Full Band: All band members
• Winds: All brass and woodwinds (If you blow wind into the instrument)
• Percussion: All drummers and mallet players, etc.
• Auxiliary: All color guard and majorettes
• Majorettes: All majorettes
• Color Guard: All color guard members
• Officers: Durm majors, captains, section leaders     

Rehearsals this Week:

• Monday: No rehearsals
• Tuesday: Rookies 8:00-Noon / Winds and Percussion 6:00-8:00
• Wednesday: Rookies: 8:00-Noon
• Thursday: Rookies 8:00-Noon / Winds and Percussion 6:00-8:00
• Friday: Full Band 8:00-Noon and 1:00-5:00 (All members)

Full Day Rehearsals / Camp Information:

• Leaving Campus: Students are only allowed to leave campus during the lunch hour on rehearsal/camp (full) days if the appropriate permission is granted by the parent or guardian. A permission form will be given to the students. It must be completed, signed, and returned by the parent or guardian. The parent or guardian will either need to return the form to Mr. Hillsman directly or return it by the band member and then email Mr. Hillsman confirming that it was the parent or guardian that signed it. Please complete the form in its entirety. You will need to indicate that your child may drive and/or who he/she may be allowed to leave with (including other parents), etc. Students will sign-in and out when leaving for lunch. If a student is late returning from lunch, the privilege to leave will be suspended.
• Lunch: In the past, the summer lunch program provided meals for band members. Meals WILL NOT be provided this year. Please send a sack lunch with your child if your child is not allowed to leave for lunch. 
• Dress: Students need to dress appropriately for rehearsals. Please wear shorts (it is very hot for long pants or jeans, etc.), appropriate shirt (no skin showing), and some type of athletic or closed toe shoe appropriate for marching.
• Water Jugs: All band members should have a large water jug/container. We have ice available in the band room. These water containers should be taken to the field every time we are outside. We will take a lot of short water breaks. Students need their own water containers, etc.
• Covid-19 Protocols: Currently, there are no Covid-19 protocols in place and we want to keep it this way. As you are aware, Covid cases are again on the rise; therefore, we will take basic precautions. Students should not drink after one another, play each other's instruments, etc. Please wash hands, etc. It will probably be best to keep some distance between band members when possible.

General and Upcoming:

• Next Week: Please be aware of next week's rehearsal/camp schedule. Due to the New Teacher Orientation being held at Beauregard High School, the normal camp schedule had to be altered on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. On those days, we will rehearse 4:00-9:00. We will have a snack break at some point in the middle of the rehearsal. Monday and Friday will follow the normal 8:00-Noon and 1:00-5:00 schedule.
• Band Fees: Please begin to pay band fees. They are again $150.00 for the year. PayPams should be availaible soon. I understand that there are currently some access issues. We are working on them. If you pay the fees by PayPams, please send a screenshot of the receipt to Mr. Hillsman so that you will be credited.
• Remind: If you have not joined the appropriate Remind group, please do so. Parents of all band members should join the Band Booster Remind Group. Please do not join the Members group. Anything sent to members will also be copied to the booster group. Students do not necessarily receive everything sent to parents. Color guard and majorette parents should join the majorette and color guard groups as well as the members. All color guard members and majorettes should join the Auxiliary Group. You will receive Remind messages via text. You are encouraged to use the Remind app.
  • Class Codes:
    • Parents: @bhsbandboo
    • All Band Members: @bhsbandmem
    • Percussion: @bhsbandper
    • Color Guard: @bhsbandcol
    • Majorette: @bhsbandmaj
    • Auxiliary: @bhsbandaux
• FaceBook: Please join the band's FaceBook group page: Beauregard High School Hornet Band. Be sure to answer the questions when requesting membership.

Please watch for additional announcements throughout the week! Go BAND!!!

I encourage you to make application to participate in the 2022 Auburn University Marching Honor Band. The application deadline is early this year. It is August 1, 2022. The students who have participated in the marching honor band in the past have had a wonderful experience.

Link: BAND.AUBURN.EDU

Announcements: Week of July 11-15 (1)

I hope everyone had a nice and restful weekend.

Rehearsals This Week:

Please remember that the rehearsal scheduled for Tuesday, July 12 was cancelled due to the Beauregard Incorporation Meeting scheduled to be held in the VESPA. After we cancelled, the other meeting was cancelled; however, I was not going to make a second change.

Our first rehearsal will be Thursday, July 14 beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the band room. The rehearsal will end at 8:00 p.m. Please be sure to have your instruments and any auxiliary equipment. This rehearsal is for all percussionists, winds (woodwinds and brass), and auxiliaries (color guard and majorettes). If you are out of town, please let Mr. HIllsman know. Majorettes can let Mrs. Belich know.

New Percussion Instructor:

Mr. Alex Rochowski will be joining us as our percussion instructor this year. Mr. Rochowski will be teaching social studies at Sanford Middle School. Alex was a member of the Auburn University Marching Band. He was also a two-year member of the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps, which is one of the premier corps in DCI. We welcome Mr. Rochowski.

Band Fees:

Beginning today, Monday, July 11, you can pay band fees for 2022-2023 on PayPams. The fees will remain at $150.00. Please take care of paying your band fees or even a portion of them as soon as possible.