Good morning band parents and students,

At this year’s “Music Under the Moon" event, on April 26th, we are once again featuring a silent auction fundraiser to help raise money for the entire band program. If this fundraiser is successful, some of the money raised will be used to help enhance the band banquet as well.

As part of the silent auction, we would like to have an “Ensemble Basket Competition”. Each ensemble (Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Percussion Ensemble, & Color Guard) was assigned a “theme” in class Friday for their ensemble's basket. The groups will need to work collectively at contributing items that go with their chosen theme. The ensemble(s) with the most student participation will win an Ice Cream Party! …Who doesn’t love that idea and opportunity?!? ;)

Some ideas and each theme assigned are as follows:

Concert Band = “Summer Fun" - towels, sunglasses, beach balls, sunscreen, frisbees, pool/outdoor toys, volleyball net/ ball, slip n slide, gardening items, tickets to summer event, gift cards to Target/ Lowe's/ HomeDepot, Pikes, etc.

Percussion = “Movie Night (In or Out)” - DVDs, movie tickets, popcorn, candy, restaurant/uber eats gift cards, cozy blanket, gift cards to Target, Regal, AMC, Netflix, etc.

Symphonic Band = “Camping/Road trip” - camping gear, sleeping bags, hats, reusable insulated water bottles, sunglasses, sunscreen, bug spray, flashlight, binoculars, snacks, cooler, smore kits, travel games, gas gift cards, etc.

Wind Symphony ="Book Worm" - gift cards to local book stores, new books, kindle/e reader, reading glasses, fuzzy blankets, book marks, floor pillows, reading/book light, etc.

Color Guard = "Coffee & Chocolates" - mugs, insulated travel cup, assorted bags of coffee beans and/or ground coffee, coffee press, coffee flavorings, caramel/mocha drizzle, assorted hot cocoas, assorted chocolate truffles or candies, chocolate stirrers/spoons, biscotti, gift cards to Starbucks, Target, Godiva, etc.

Donations of new items that align with the assigned theme for the ensemble should be sent in the week before Spring Break (3/25-3/29). There will be a donation list in the band room of what's brought in and which ensemble it is for, so please label the item and give it to Mr. Borger or Ms. Groves during said week. If you are sending in gift cards or cash, please send it in an envelope marked "ensemble basket" with which basket and ensemble, then have your student drop it off in the black box in the band room. If cash is sent in, our parent volunteers who will be assembling the baskets will purchase themed items to go in that ensemble's basket.

As a side note, please also include the receipt for any gift cards sent in, and the retail price of any items being donated, as we need to include this important information in our auction listing. We will be keeping a list in the band room of the number of students who have participated from each ensemble as this will be how we determine the winning ensemble(s) (not judged on value of donations, but by numbers of participates). The winner(s) will be the ensemble(s) with 100% participation!!

This fundraiser benefits the entire band program, (not just jazz band or marching band, but everyone!)…So that is why we need everyone’s participation! Let's make these baskets great!

** Donations will be due during the week of 03/25-03/29, BEFORE spring break!!!

Parents-we are also in need of ~35 baskets, larger planters/pots, decorative bins/buckets, and wooden boxes to put silent auction baskets together for the event so please send in any you can part with, ASAP.

We will also need a few more parent volunteers for the event so please be on the lookout for a Music Under the Moon signup genius to be sent soon.

Thank you in advance for your help with this very important fundraiser! Have fun with it and let's see which ensemble(s) will be able to enjoy an Ice Cream Party!!

Thanks! Cindy Harrell & Cameron Congleton