Elkins Band and Guard Family,

Happy Wednesday! Please take a moment to read through the entire email, as we have

several upcoming events as we come to the end of the semester.

Please do join us for “Shoes and Tunes,” a special shoe drive and live music event featuring the Elkins Gold'n Blues Jazz Ensemble, taking place on Saturday, November 15, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the Elkins Student Parking Lot. Drop off pairs of gently worn, used, and new shoes and stay to listen to the live performance. Our goal is to gather 100 bags of shoes. If you have shoes to donate, but are unable to drop them off on November 15, please drop them off at the school’s main entrance by December 5.  We need your help in advertising the event to the community! Please tell your friends, family, co-workers and neighbors about the event. Also, spread the word on social media!

In this week’s newsletter:

Saturday, November 15^th – Shoes and Tunes (Elkins Student Parking Lot)

Tuesday, November 18^th – Spirit Night at Chipotle

Tuesday, December 2^nd – Volunteer appreciation event (EHS Band Hall)

Thursday, December 4^th – Holiday Concert, Booster General Body Meeting, Cocoa and Cookies

Volunteer Needs:

• November 15^th - Shoes and Tunes (Elkins Student Parking Lot)
• November 17^th and 19^th - Region Band Tryouts (Clements High School)
• December 4^th - Holiday Concert Hot Cocoa Bar (Elkins Commons)

Coming Soon:  Mary Kay Fundraiser through December 12^th

Concert Uniform Fittings

Save the Date:  Thursday, December 18^th – Spirit Night at Mod Pizza

Purchase Elkins Band and Guard Event Photos

Tuesday, November 18^th – Spirit Night at Chipotle

Take a night off from cooking and support the Elkins Band & Guard at Chipotle (6245 Highway 6, Ste 100, Missouri City) on Tuesday, November 18th from 4–8 PM!   Show this flyer in the restaurant or order online for pickup using code AXGQP7M. (Delivery orders and gift cards don’t qualify.). Chipotle will donate 25% of event sales back to the band and guard—so grab your family and friends and join us for a delicious way to give back! 

Tuesday, December 2^nd Volunteer Appreciation Event

We made it through another marching season! The board and directors are thankful for all the sweat, tears, money, and time you put into making it one of the best in the band program's history. Come celebrate with us after the December Booster Club Meeting! We will serve some light bites and drinks.  Please RSVP here:   https://band.us/band/97297969/post/109

Thursday, December 4^th Holiday Concert, General Body Meeting, Cocoa and Cookies

Join us for this year’s Holiday Concert on December 4th from 6:30–8:30 PM!  We’ll also be holding our first General Body Meeting during the concert.  To make the evening extra special, we’ll be serving hot cocoa and holiday cookies for everyone to enjoy.  We’d love your help to make the night a success — please sign up to volunteer:  https://elkinsband.boosterhub.com/calendar/10321#

Volunteer Needs

We still have a few events till we break for the holidays where we need volunteer support.  Please check out these opportunities on the Booster Volunteer Calendar:  https://elkinsband.boosterhub.com/calendar/10321#

• November 15^th Shoes and Tunes – Greet community members as they come to support the jazz band and the shoe drive. Help us gather and count shoes.
• November 17^th and 19^th Region Band Tryouts – Region tryouts will be at Clements High School.  We need volunteers to supervise and safeguard students’ personal items bags, instruments, and belongings while they attend their auditions.
• December 4^th Hot Cocoa Bar - During this year's Holiday Concert, we will provide cookies and hot cocoa during intermission!  The Booster Club will purchase the regular hot cocoa packets, but we need your help with the rest! Please donate items for the cookie spread and hot cocoa bar. We also need volunteers to help set up, serve cookies, and clean up.

Concert Uniform Fittings will start in the coming week

We will start concert uniform fittings in the coming week.  Boys will be fitted for concert black pants and a coat. Girls will be fitted for a long black concert dress. Please keep in mind that the pants, coat, and dresses are the property of FBISD. Any damage or loss to these garments will be the responsibility of each student's family to replace.

In some cases, alterations may need to be done, and we will let your student know during their fitting.  Alterations are the responsibility of each student's family and are due back within 1 week of their fitting.  

Guidelines for alterations:  

• NO FABRIC can be cut from the garments 
• DO NOT use hem tape - it damages the fabric.  
• Alterations must be made in matching BLACK thread. 
• Be sure to have your students wear the black dress shoes they will wear with the uniform when being measured for alterations. 
• You can use any tailor or alterations shop of your choice, or you can choose to do them yourself.  Any alterations that do not meet standards will be sent home and we will require you to redo them.  We recommend using Brite Touch Cleaners 4680 Highway 6, Sugar Land, TX 77478, next door to Bagel Express
• Dresses should be hemmed to the middle of the ankle bone & no higher.
• Dress Pants should be hemmed to the top of dress shoes
• Coat Sleeves should be hemmed to the bottom of the wrist bone

Girls will need to have long KNEE-length solid black dress socks or solid black tights as well as closed-toed back dress shoes.  Formal black flats are highly recommended.  We highly discourage heels that are above 2 inches.

Boys will need to purchase a long-sleeved button-down SOLID BLACK shirt (no patterns) and a solid black necktie to wear with the Black Coat & Pants.  Please see the examples below.  As well as Long Black Dress Socks & Black Dress Shoes.

• Men’s Black Shirt:  https://a.co/d/08uBQPX
• Men’s Black Tie:  https://a.co/d/8RQVCyT

Purchase Elkins Band and Guard Event Photos

How lucky are we to have a talented band parent capturing all the amazing moments this marching season?   Band dad Jonathan Nelson has generously set up a website — JonathanNelsonPhoto.com — where you can browse and purchase his incredible photos of our students in action!

High-resolution digital downloads are available for $2.50 each, and print options include 4x6 ($3), 5x7 ($5), and 8x10 ($8) sizes.   Once purchased, you’re welcome to print your downloaded images in any size or quantity at home or through your favorite photo lab.

Fundraising: RaiseRight

Help us earn more for our organization by buying gift cards, eating at local restaurants, and shopping online through RaiseRight.

Just in time for holiday travel: You can now go on RaiseRight to book tickets to attractions, like Disney, zoos, water parks, and city tours, in addition to hotels and cars! Find out more.

Not a part of RaiseRight yet? Join now: Registration Link

Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions that may pop up. The board is here to help!  

It’s a great day to be a Knight!

Zia Anklesaria

EHS Band and Guard Booster Secretary