Sahuaro

     Band Directors Note

       
"Success was not designed to be easy.  If it was easy, everyone would be doing it."

"To be early is to be on time.  To be on time is to be late."

BAND EXPENSES

1. Fees. A band program is expensive to run and unfortunately a lot of the expenses are placed back on the parents. Below are a list of fees associated with band.
   • AIA Fees are required by the school for any student that participates in an AIA sanctioned extra curricular event. The fee is $50 and is paid at the time the student registers.
   • Band Camp:  Leave Sahuaro HS 7:00 am on 7/14 Arriving Camp approximately 12:30pm. Leave Camp Tontozona 12:00pm on 7/19 Arriving Sahuaro approximately 6:30pm.  We will stop in Payson to have lunch, so please make sure your student has at  around $10 for lunch.  The following Band Fee information is based on a minimum of 65 students attending Band Camp.

                                    STUDENT FEE $400.00:

                                    $   67.00 (bus-per person)

                                    $ 115.00 (lodging-per person)

                                    $ 137.00 (food-per person)

                                    $   16.00 (equipment truck-per person)

                                    $   50.00 (snacks, beverages, misc-per person)

                                    $   15.00 (band camp shirts-per person)

                                    $ 400.00

                   If you would like to pay your Band Camp Fee in installments:

                        June 1, 2011 - $200.00 (Student)     $150.00 (Chaperone)

                        June 20, 2011 - $200.00 (Student)   $117.00 (Chaperone)

            After May 25th, payments should be sent to:  Sahuaro Band Parents  Association, PO BOX    32286, Tucson, AZ 85751.  The final payment MUST BE  RECEIVED          no later than June 20,   2011.  Checks should be made payable to Sahuaro BPA. 

If you would like to pay for Band Camp through tax credit, married couples filing jointly are able to make a $400 contribution per year and those filing single are able to make a $200 contribution per year.  However, please note that those  wanting to contribute the $400.00 you will need to pay $50.00 of the $400 Band Camp fee (which covers the snack/misc./Camp T-shirt) by check leaving you to use the remaining $350.00 as tax credit.  If using tax credit, be sure to designate Sahuaro Marching Band and specify your student's name.  This is imperative as it is the only way that Mr. Dunn, in the Finance Office, will be able to give your student the credit.

Please send Mr. Switzer an email letting him know the name of the person making the donation, amount and your student's name.  This will help us in bookkeeping

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION ARE BAND RELEATED EXPENSES THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR:

• Marching Band Shoes cost $35. A representative of the shoe company will be at the school to fit the students for shoes.

• Band Parent Association Fee of $200. This fee helps defray the cost of running the band and provides your student with a more enriching band experience. Some of the expenses covered by the band fee includes:                       

                  Marching Show Music

                  Marching Drill

                  Marching Drill writer               

                  Snacks for festivals

                  Beverages for festivals

                  Gloves 

                  Uniform cleaning

                  Automobile Insurance

                  Gas for the equipment truck for festivals

                  Competition T-shirts

                  Festival fees

                  Coaches

                  Band awards & engraving

                  Office supplies

                  Hotel cost for bus driver if needed during festivals                 

                  Drum Major uniforms

                  Drum Major Camp

                  U of A Band Day Celebration

                  Mobile Mini Rental

                  Accountant

                  Percussion Equipment            

                  Senior Night

                  End of the Year Banquet

These are just a few of the expenses in running the band.   This fee can be paid in installments.  The first payment of $100 is due on or before September 9, 2011 and the remaining $100 balance on or before October 14, 2011.

• Second semester WGAZ Drumline/Winter Guard fee of $275.00-$300.00. This is an extra-curricular activity.  Not all students join Drumline.   The fee associated with this pays for the student’s competition registration, costumes, props, drill, drill writer, equipment rental truck & gas, van rental & gas, competition T-shirts, insurance, etc.  This fee can be paid in installments.  More information will follow.

• End of Year Trip is approximately $375-$475.  More information on this will follow.

Mr. Switzer has called a band meeting for incoming Freshman and their  parents on MONDAY, MAY 23, 2011 from 7PM to 8PM in the band room. You may be wondering where exactly the band room is. When you enter the student’s parking lot the band room would be the room that is all the way at the west end pointing toward the parking lot. The door should be propped open prior to the meeting beginning. Just look for a lot of musical types.

There are many fundraising opportunities available to help defray these costs including working at the Sahuaro Marching Band concession stands at the U of A Football and Basketball games.  Below is the tentative Football Schedule:

            9/03/11 vs. Northern Arizona Tucson, Ariz. TBA

            09/17/11 vs. Stanford Tucson, Ariz. TBA

            09/24/11 vs. Oregon * Tucson, Ariz. 7:30 p.m. MST

            10/20/11 vs. UCLA Tucson, Ariz. 6:00 p.m. MST

            11/05/11 vs. Utah Tucson, Ariz. TBA

            11/05/11 vs. Utah Tucson, Ariz. TBA

On an average, a student or parent who works a U of A football game can earn between $45.00-$55.00 per game.  The only criteria is that the student has to be 16 years of age.  There is also bottle water hawking.  Hawkers are paid $1.00 for every bottle of water they sell.  Those working Basketball are paid minimum wage per hour. These funds are paid by the University of Arizona Concessions to Sahuaro Band and are inputted into the student's Charms account.  Student may use these funds to pay for their Band Camp fees, Band fees, End of the Year Trip, Spaghetti Dinner, or Awards Banquet Dinner.  These funds can ONLY be used by the student or a student's parent who chaperones either the end of the year trip or Band Camp if it is held outside of Tucson.