Belton Middle School Band

Just a friendly reminder about our Band Social next Tuesday from 5-7pm at Spare Time.  Please don’t arrive before 5pm because we need to set up ahead of time with the event staff, and students will need to receive a wristband.  We suggest students bring around $40-$50 for the games, but we will feed them 2 slices of pizza and unlimited drinks free-of-charge starting at 6pm in the big party room.

Please pick up your child no later than the 7pm ending time, unless you email Mr. Pulley giving permission to leave your child unsupervised at Spare Time after that time.  Students may not participate in the outside Shaker’s Backyard events unless a parent is present for supervision and to fill out the necessary paperwork. 

Students may bring a sibling or non-Band friend along, but we are only feeding band students and the chaperones who signed up ahead of time, all of whom will have a wristband.  *Chaperones* I will be sending you a separate email with instructions.

We’re looking forward to a fun evening as a way celebrate our students’ hard work so far this school year!

This past Saturday, members of the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band competed with over 300 students in the TMEA All-Region Auditions in College Station.  They have been working on their scales and etudes since before school started, and this is our most individually-competitive event we participate in for the year.

I am proud to report that 14 of our students earned in a spot in the All-Region Band!

• From the bassoon section, Kenna C. placed 2nd out of 4 bassoons and is 2nd Chair in the Symphonic Band
• From the clarinet section, Jaden A. placed 20th our of 35 clarinets and is 10th Chair in the Concert Band
• From the alto saxophone section, Mackenzie M. placed 2nd out of 17 saxophones and is 2nd Chair in the Symphonic Band
• From the trumpet section, Hope B. placed 5th out of 37 trumpets and is 5th Chair in the Symphonic Band
  • Javier E. placed 8th and is 8th chair in the Symphonic Band
  • Jayden H. placed 10th and is 2nd Chair in the Concert Band
  • Daniel B. placed 15th and is 7th Chair in the Concert Band
  • Elijah S. placed 18th and is 10th Chair in the Concert Band
• From the French horn section, Andrew R. placed 13th out of 24 horns and is 7th Chair in the Concert Band
• From the trombone section, Nathan W. placed 9th out of 32 trombones and is 3rd Chair in the Concert Band
  • Charlie W. placed 14th and is 8th Chair in the Concert Band
• From the euphonium section, Aubrey E. placed 3rd out of 19 euphoniums and is 1st Chair in the Concert Band
• From the percussion section, Alyssa N. placed 2nd out of 46 percussionists, is 2nd Chair in the Symphonic Band, and is a 2-Year All-Region Member
  • Will B. placed 8th and is 1st Chair in the Concert Band
• The following students were named alternates as an honorable mention:
  • Zander O. placed 15th out of 24 French horns and serves as the 1st Alternate from this section
  • Iris M. placed 16th out of 46 percussionists and serves as the 2nd Alternate from that section

Please note this information is intended only for students and parents of the Beginner’s Ensemble:

It’s time for our first band concert! It will take place here at the Belton MS Cafeteria next Thursday, October 14. Students will need to report to the school no later than 5:45pm, and be in their seat ready to perform by 5:50pm. This is when roll will be taken and determine who is on time and ready to go. Please click to read this attachment that gives all necessary details.

The concert will start promptly at 6:00pm and last until 7:00pm. Please invite any family members and friends you would like to since all of our performances are admission-free. We hope to see you there to enjoy and support our student musicians!

Thank you for helping out with this year’s fundraiser.  So far, our students have earned over $5,000 in chocolate sales, and we just checked out our last box today!  Currently, 9 of our students have won the $20 prize drawing and we’ll pick 3 more names this Friday and next Monday for those who have turned in their money.  

Remember, all money is due on Wednesday so we can hand out the 3 grand prize winners for the 1st Place Seller ($100), 2nd Place ($80), and 3rd Place ($60).  The grand prize winners will be named only from those who have turned in all of their fundraiser money by Wednesday at 4:00pm in the Band Hall. 

Many of our students only have one box to left sell, so please encourage them to sell their remaining chocolate this week and weekend since it is due on Wednesday.  If they haven’t finished selling the rest of their box by Wednesday, please “buy” the rest of the remaining chocolate and turn in all of the money, and then keep selling to replenish what you paid.  Please message Mr. Pulley if you have any questions.

Thanks again for your help and support with this year’s World’s Finest Chocolate fundraiser!

Our 8th graders had a great time at MS Band Night last Friday, and it was great to be able to interact in-person for this performance!  Thanks to the parent chaperones who came out to help and supported our students. 

A reminder to those who have not yet paid for their uniform shirt and/or the school-owned instrument usage fee that payment is due by this Wednesday, September 15 via cash or check made out to BMS with a phone number.  Please have students put their payment in an envelope and write their name and the item on the front to be turned into a director.  Parents can also drop these off at the front office if they feel more comfortable.  We will email you a receipt when processed.  Alternatively, you can choose to pay using our RevTrak site online (4% fee) using this address: tinyurl.com/beltonmsbandstore.

The polo shirts for Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble students will be distributed this week, and our Beginner shirts are currently being made and will be available soon.  Still coming a bit later are the Jazz Band uniform shirts and Auto Decals.  If you are not sure if you have paid for any band items, feel free to email Mr. Pulley to ask.

Starting this Wednesday, September 15 is our annual World’s Finest Chocolate Fundraiser!  Students will be given a hard copy of this permission slip, which must be filled out and returned before students will be given chocolate.  The profit we earn will be used for student awards and band activities, such as the Spring Trip on Saturday, May 14 to Typhoon Texas in Austin. 

Please help our students understand that when we check out a box to them, we are in essence “loaning” them $60 that must be paid back.  We cannot take back any opened boxes of chocolate, and students must turn in the full $60 from their box before they can check out another box.  Students cannot sell chocolate at school from 7:00am to 4:00pm as per state nutrition guidelines, so we will confiscate any boxes that are caught selling during school and those student will not be allowed to participate in the fundraiser.  Also, Belton ISD policy prohibits the selling of fundraising items door-to-door.

Our goal is for every participating student to sell at least 2-3 boxes of chocolate, and each item sells for $2.  We will have boxes of King Size chocolate bars (purple), and boxes of variety packs that include chocolate-covered almonds (green).  Both types of boxes are worth $60 each, and each item from either box sells for $2.  This year, we have ordered an equal number of both types since last year the green ones seemed more popular than we anticipated.  Students and parents can choose either type when they check out a box.

The fundraiser ends on Wednesday, September 29 and all money collected will be due on this day.  We will have several $20 bills to give away to those students who win the drawings from those who turn in their money after selling chocolate boxes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday starting on Friday, September 17.  We will also have cash prizes of $100, $80, and $60 to give to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place sellers, respectively.  Students must turn in all of their money by the deadline of Wednesday, September 29 in order to be eligible for the Grand Prize Drawing.

Please let a director know if you have any questions, and thank you for your support!